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Feeling full 10 year old
Hello,
My daughter who is 10 years old has been having complaints of abdominal fullness since August 2019. It was occasional complaint then and wasn't affecting her eating then. Started in October, the complaint grew stronger and she wasn't able to eat her school snacks, but still finished all her food. In December, it got worse to the point she wasn't able to eat much at dinner and complaining she feels really full. Dinner was a big struggle, she still managed to finish all her breakfast and lunch. Up to January, daughter couldn't take any food at all, she says she feels really full all the time. She is also experiencing constipation, she also experiences headache when she feels really full. We have done all kinds of tests, x-ray, CT scan, endoscopy, ultrasound, upper GI test, blood tests, all have come back normal. Now they diagnosed her as eating disorder. I understand that she has some anxiety/fear over eating due to her fullness in the tummy, but it's not due to anything else. Is this a form of eating disorder?
She was admitted to the hospital 3 weeks ago, tube feeding was started on her as she was
malnourished and had lost lots of weight over the months. She is experiencing severe symptoms towards the tube feed. We were told the symptoms should get better over time as she adjusts to the feed, but after a week, she was still feeling awful. She experiences burning in her throat, pain in her chest, stomach, fullness and sick feeling in her stomach, nausea but not able to throw up, she also burped lots with acid reflux coming up. She felt really distressful with the tube. When offered the food, she is not interested at all. She said she feels really full. She has started on the solids 5 days ago with the eating disorder program, she can only eat minimal amounts, she threw up almost on all meals. She was offered anti nausea meds after, have not thrown up but felt lots of discomfort. I can see that she hunches down with lots of discomfort. I wanted to help my daughter but don't know how. Should I get a second opinion on her abdominal fullness? She said the full feeling is not the same as a full feeling when you eat lots of food. When she has a bowel movement, she does feel a little better. I am really lost at this point and desperately wanted to help my daughter.
Any advise you can offer is much appreciated.
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I have Gastropaneisis...it is a slow emptying stomach... My problems sound like your daughter's problem.. Except that my condition was the result of a surgical procedure error that damaged the hairnet like nerves that pulse to empty the stomach... That condition is accompanied by GERD... Mayo MN GI doctors administered a test to time how fast a standard breakfast takes to move along the GI system... My granddaughter has a similar problem...her doctors are at the University of Iowa..
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2 ReactionsThank you so much Ken! I was wondering about the test you had mentioned, why they didn't perform this test on her. I will ask the doctor. We are located in Canada. Thank you!
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1 ReactionThey put a radioactive tracer in the food, but maybe they don't have enough data on 10 year olds. They need the patient to eat the entire meal in 10 minutes... That was very difficult for me..After you eat the do like an x-ray...then every hour after that for three or four hours.
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2 ReactionsI was thinking the same thing
I also have gastroparesis and I can feel full even just drinking liquids.
I hope you are able to get her the test.
Prayers for you and your daughter.
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2 ReactionsThank you for your reply! I will follow up with the doctor tomorrow as we have an appointment tomorrow. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
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1 ReactionThank you Ken! I am wondering if this test is only available at Mayo? I am worried about my daughter, she is not able to eat much on her own, she threw up after they added supplement called 'resource', they think she is throwing up on purpose. She has lots of discomfort, acid reflux, abdominal pain, nauseated. It's hard to see her struggle and not knowing what's going on. Really hard for the parents.
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1 ReactionI lost 50 pounds ...down to 150#.. before Mayo gave me a way to cope.. now back up to173.. 5'-10"...do you live near a major medical school../ University...? Call them.
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1 ReactionHi Ken, They did an upper GI test on my daughter where a fluid was given to her to drink and they observed thru the xray to see how quick the fluid travels down to the intestine. I am wondering if this test is similar to the one you had? But we didn't have a food swallowing test though. Thanks!
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1 ReactionWe live not too far from Mayo Minnesota. But we can't go if my daughter doesn't eat.
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1 ReactionJust did this test about 6 weeks ago at Mayo Phx. You go in, eat an egg sandwich with a carton of milk within 10 minutes. They have you stand in between this machine where you can see the radioactive stuff lighting up in the stomach. You leave, wait for a period of time , then they x ray you again, seeing how much is traveling out of your stomach. You have to report if you have had a bowel movement. This continues on and I got a voucher for lunch and had to go eat something. It was tough to go swallow stuff. I was x rayed after lunch and then went home. I could not eat anything else the rest of the day. Had to go back early the next morning where they did one last x ray.
Saw Dr 2 weeks later, gastroparesis diagnosis.
Even the eggs were in my stomach 6 hours later. Saw dietician, recommended low residue diet and several meals per day versus 3.
One small meal works for me with drinking Boost Breeze to get my protein and calories
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