DS 14 only eating carrot sticks and houmous or olives once a day

[TheLovelinessOfDemons]

Any more and he throws up, so now he's developed a fear of throwing up. He had 2 stomach bugs followed by anxiety over exams, this started in late November. This morning he was too weak to go to school. I took him to A&E on New Year's Day, they said his blood sugar wasn't drastically low and he was sent home after a few hours. How bad does it have to get before they keep him in?

You need to see a doctor for an urgent referral, to investigate the cause of the sickness, and also to treat the anxiety. Don't wait until it's an A&E issue!

Book him in to see GP asap, this doesnt sound good at all. Poor lad.

In the meantime can you get protein drinks into him?

OP if this is physical, or if it is now also psychological, he needs urgent help.

eating disorders need to be seen urgently, early intervention is key in success.

How much weight has he lost, do you know?

GP referral is the route I would go but I don’t know to whom he would be referred. Keep a daily diary for at least a week and weight loss info, expressions of anxiety, and any symptoms any clear evidence that you have that will help inform the referral.

So sorry that he is going through this.

He needs to see a GP urgently. There are eating disorder pathways in many areas. He might not be considered unwell enough for admission yet but at least he would be on the path to support.

I'd be worried this is a form of anorexia rather than a bug.

Maybe give these guys a call for a chat? www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/i-need-support-now/helplines/

A&E would not keep him in unless it a medical emergency....you need to get a GP referral ASAP

Did he have Covid? Friends son had this with Covid and it took months before he could eat much, was stroll being sick at least once a day

It did eventually pass, she just kept trying to find more things he could eat and drink

Definitely take him to the GP
My daughter is 14 and has an eating disorder. She's terrified of putting on weight and eats very little.
GP will want to do bloods to check calcium and nutrient levels and do height and weight, you can self refer to Mindmate too, I did with my daughter and they referred her to camhs eating disorder clinic. She has her first appointment next week

There was a charity featured on Stephs packed lunch for young people with eating disorders and their families called seed
seed.charity/

I've been through this, except she wasn't eating at all.

Get protein drinks like complan, anything he particularly likes eg ice cream, and each day increase the food intake. My patient mother coaxed dd to eat, took 3 full months and lots of antidepressants

liquid diet? milkshakes etc... i love the nourishment drinks

on the plus side what he does eat is nutritious.

I agree with pp.
he needs to see a gp.
he needs to be examined and bloods taken.

I had something similar following an episode of d&v.
it was awful and I didn't geg better for quite some time. being unwell triggered anxiety around food. I found a trigger (fizzy drinks and fatty carbs for me) and built up my food intake slowly.

good luck!

I second the recommendation for SEED, they were very helpful when I had anorexia.
OP woudl he eat nut butter? This is really nutrient dense and soft/non chewy.