My 7year old has an eating disorder

LegacyUser

My 7 year old daughter has an eating and nobody seems to help.
The GP no help.
The hospital no help.
Everyone seems to fob it off and nobody takes it seriously.

The stress levels are unbelievable cos i feel shes missing out on her childhood.

Nevyn

What type 'eating disorder'?

http://www.bodywhys.ie/

LegacyUser

She picks and chooses when she eats.She refuses pont blank for weeks on end.
She also vomits her food. Makes a point to do it at the table. She's had physical tests done and there's nothing physically wrong with her that she'd do this.
Thanks for the link

Butterflylove

Surely she would be underweight? Maybe change GP's?

Might sounds liek a silly question but have you asked her why she is doing this? If she has issues with her body maybe think about trying to get her to talk professionally to someone?

Hope it works out for you xx

LegacyUser

Yes i we have tried asking her why she does this. She just says she doesn't know.
It always seems to be triggered off after she's been naughty and got told off. Nothing major just what all 7year olds might do and the punishment tends to be lenient cos of her reactions.
We have changed GP's and its the same.
She is underweight but just above the critical level before they take you seriously enough.
She always seems to just start gradually eating again when it gets really bad.
Nobody takes us seriously.
Thanks for your support and concern.
I think its cos its not your regular eating disorder that we're not taken seriously

How Strange

OP have you made the diagnosis of an eating disorder rather than having it diagnosed by a medical professional?

I'm sorry to get all supernanny on you but is your daughter using eating/ not eating/vomiting as a power thing over you because she gets attention from it? If this behaviour has you all stressed out then she might see that it means her mammy spends much more time on her. Vomiting at the table would indicate to me that she has learned a way to control her parents and ensure she gets your undivided attention.

Does she have siblings or have there been any changes in your family recently?

As someone else asked is she underweight or unhealthy looking?

Why is your GP being dismissive and what did the hospital say?

I suppose if you honestly feel this is an eating disorder then you should get a referral to a professional specialising in such things.

Dali art

How Strange wrote: »

OP have you made the diagnosis of an eating disorder rather than having it diagnosed by a medical professional?

I'm sorry to get all supernanny on you but is your daughter using eating/ not eating/vomiting as a power thing over you because she gets attention from it? If this behaviour has you all stressed out then she might see that it means her mammy spends much more time on her. Vomiting at the table would indicate to me that she has learned a way to control her parents and ensure she gets your undivided attention.

Does she have siblings or have there been any changes in your family recently?

As someone else asked is she underweight or unhealthy looking?

Why is your GP being dismissive and what did the hospital say?

I suppose if you honestly feel this is an eating disorder then you should get a referral to a professional specialising in such things.

I'm not having a pop at you 'How Strange' but refusing to eat for weeks on end must be some kind of eating disorder. I'm not an expert though just my opinion.
I do agree though that she seems to be using it as a power tool as you call it to gain attention imo but don't know how to remedy it i'm afraid.
I've found myself some GP's can be dismissive on certain things. So i'd encourage you to be a little more demanding and maybe persuassive with medical staff cos afterall you do just seem to want whats best for your daughter
Ps, try to stay positive.... I know its easy to say from here

Nevyn

worriedsickparent32 wrote: »

It always seems to be triggered off after she's been naughty and got told off. Nothing major just what all 7year olds might do and the punishment tends to be lenient cos of her reactions.

This sounds like a power struggle and a tatic she has learned will get the result she wants and the fear of her doing it is keeping you from punishing her and she knows that.

For some kids they go through this stage, often they are younger but it about power and control. Children often feel that they have no control over anything in thier life and when they find something they can control and use it to get what they want they do it.

Have you brought her to the dentist and told the denist about her doing this?
Having a dentist explain to her the damage the stomach acid is doing to her teeth and her smile may help.

worriedsickparent32 wrote: »

She is underweight but just above the critical level before they take you seriously enough.
She always seems to just start gradually eating again when it gets really bad.

Children generally won't starve themselves and will go back to eating what they and their body needs.

worriedsickparent32 wrote: »

Nobody takes us seriously.
Thanks for your support and concern.
I think its cos its not your regular eating disorder that we're not taken seriously

I think it's a serious enough behaviour that if it's not checked will lead to a life living with an very unhealthy relationship with food and her body.

I hate to say it but you may have to harden yourself to this behaviour and learn to not be effected by it and not give it the negative re enforcing attention it gets. You do need help and support with this, it's not easy at all.
I would push again on the dr but do it from a mental/emotional aspect rather then just a phyical health issue and as for help dealing with it and putting a plan in place to deal with it and discourage it.

Chuchoter

Sounds more like a very effective power play than an eating disorder to be honest.

I think what you should do is pay no attention to her when she won't eat. if she's not going to eat, fine, if she wants to throw up, she can go clean herself up and then go to bed. Be really positive otherwise, lots of hugs, praise for eating etc, but completely ignore the not eating thing.

seriouslysweet

Has she actually been diagnosed with an eating disorder? It could be a behavioural issue?

Gillo

It does sound like a tactic to get attention alrite, a guy I used to work with told us that as a child he used to hold his breath to get attention, he claims that he managed to pass out a few times so his worried patents brought him to the doctor, who told them to ignore it. As soon as he stopped getting attention from it he gave up using it.

If my daughter was in the same situation I'd make her clean it up and not play up to it, if she comes back a hour later complaining about being hungry nicely point out that she made herself get sick and dinner will be in a few hours or maybe keep whats left of her food in case she gets hungry. I'm not saying intentionally starve your daughter but let her see the consequences if her actions.

On the suggestions of sending her to bed as punishment, I wouldn't recommend that as punishment as subconsciously children will them start to link going to bed at any stage as a punishment.

tootired

There is a parenting slot on Sean Moncrieff's show every Wednesday from 3pm to 3:30 ish. Usually the professional is Dr David Coleman, people can ring in or send in an email about the problem they are having with their child. The advice is always very good, logical and practical. It sounds like you need professional help and maybe not a GP's help. Checkout the Newstalk website for the email address.