Swallowing Problems

AliW220 · December 2012

I've been MIA from TB for a few months now, but thought maybe some of you great Bumpies would have some advice/words of encouragement.

My almost 11 month old I believe has swallowing troubles, and I'm wondering if any other moms have dealt with the same thing...

To put it simply, if food needs to be completely pureed (like stage 1 food, and non-textured stage 2)... if there are ANY chunks, texture, he instantly gags and projectile vomits.

This means no stage 3 foods, except for some like sweet potatoes. No yummy puff things, no cheerios, no yogurt melts, absolutely no table food. Even mashed potatoes are a no-go.

My pedi has ordered a swallow study - where he drinks contrast and they image how it goes down, then they will also try feeding him foods that usually make him puke. Joy. I am so extremely nervous, scared, terrified to put him through all this.

Anyone got any happy ending stories? TIA ladies!

JessieJH · December 2012

A friend of mine works in this field and they can get great results with swallowing therapy. It's great that you're doing the study. An added bonus is that it's usually a therapy that is covered by insurance. Best of luck!

ack2002 · December 2012

Are you going to an occupational therapist? Sounds like your lo has problems with food texture.

Eta: I'm a speech path. If he usually throws up immediately after eating specific foods they prob wont get a lot of information from the study. I am assuming he is going for a Modified Barium Swallow study where they add barium to different food textures to determine if there is any aspiration etc. I would highly recommend making an appt with an ot to discuss sensory problems not eating specific textures in a part of that.

ThebabyK · December 2012

I have a similar problem. My 10 month old has yet to eat the chunkier foods. He automatically gags when I give him anything more chunkier than stage 2 foods. Basically he still eats purees. I am really worried. Does that mean I should also ask my pedi about the therapy?
I've never heard of it. I was just told by friends that he will get it once he is ready.

AliW220 · December 2012

ack2002:
Are you going to an occupational therapist? Sounds like your lo has problems with food texture. Eta: I'm a speech path. If he usually throws up immediately after eating specific foods they prob wont get a lot of information from the study. I am assuming he is going for a Modified Barium Swallow study where they add barium to different food textures to determine if there is any aspiration etc. I would highly recommend making an appt with an ot to discuss sensory problems not eating specific textures in a part of that.

I'm not quite sure what the eating disorder clinic type of therapy is. I didn't get much details. I don't know if I explained it very well in my OP, it's not that he throws up after eating something, it's throwing up while trying to eat something. It's like he doesn't know how to swallow foods that aren't essentially a thick liquid. I think our pedi wants to rule out any narrowing of his esophogus first, and then take it to therapy if the imaging comes back OK.

Thanks for the advice on the occupational therapy!

AliW220 · December 2012

ThebabyK:
I have a similar problem. My 10 month old has yet to eat the chunkier foods. He automatically gags when I give him anything more chunkier than stage 2 foods. Basically he still eats purees. I am really worried. Does that mean I should also ask my pedi about the therapy?
I've never heard of it. I was just told by friends that he will get it once he is ready.

Sounds like our kiddos are in the same boat...

And I agree with your friends, to some extent. I was along the same lines, of thinking that he would be ready when he's ready. What triggered me to take him to the Dr to talk about it is that he is clearly interested in chunky foods and table foods. He really wants to eat things like crackers, and yogurt melts, and all that good stuff he sees us eating.

I still don't know exactly what the therapy is all about, since we haven't gone yet. But if your LO isn't progressing, it's worth a Dr appt to discuss it. Hopefully your little guy will get the hang of chunky food without any intervention!

ThebabyK · December 2012

AliW220:
ThebabyK:
I have a similar problem. My 10 month old has yet to eat the chunkier foods. He automatically gags when I give him anything more chunkier than stage 2 foods. Basically he still eats purees. I am really worried. Does that mean I should also ask my pedi about the therapy?
I've never heard of it. I was just told by friends that he will get it once he is ready.

Sounds like our kiddos are in the same boat...
And I agree with your friends, to some extent. I was along the same lines, of thinking that he would be ready when he's ready. What triggered me to take him to the Dr to talk about it is that he is clearly interested in chunky foods and table foods. He really wants to eat things like crackers, and yogurt melts, and all that good stuff he sees us eating.

I still don't know exactly what the therapy is all about, since we haven't gone yet. But if your LO isn't progressing, it's worth a Dr appt to discuss it. Hopefully your little guy will get the hang of chunky food without any intervention!

Thanks. I will ask our pedi about it. I do hope it will also work out for you. It is a bit frust rating but I think everything will be ok. Just imagine back in the days.... How did parents deal with these types of problems? Everything will be fine even if they have to seek a little help.

Mama2TwoBoys · December 2012

ThebabyK:
AliW220:
ThebabyK:
I have a similar problem. My 10 month old has yet to eat the chunkier foods. He automatically gags when I give him anything more chunkier than stage 2 foods. Basically he still eats purees. I am really worried. Does that mean I should also ask my pedi about the therapy?
I've never heard of it. I was just told by friends that he will get it once he is ready.

Sounds like our kiddos are in the same boat...
And I agree with your friends, to some extent. I was along the same lines, of thinking that he would be ready when he's ready. What triggered me to take him to the Dr to talk about it is that he is clearly interested in chunky foods and table foods. He really wants to eat things like crackers, and yogurt melts, and all that good stuff he sees us eating.

I still don't know exactly what the therapy is all about, since we haven't gone yet. But if your LO isn't progressing, it's worth a Dr appt to discuss it. Hopefully your little guy will get the hang of chunky food without any intervention!

Thanks. I will ask our pedi about it. I do hope it will also work out for you. It is a bit frust rating but I think everything will be ok. Just imagine back in the days.... How did parents deal with these types of problems? Everything will be fine even if they have to seek a little help.

That's what I thought about last night when pondering about all this stuff, too. Like eventually it's kind of sink or swim...

We got the word that he's ok as far as no narrowing of the esophogus, or any birth defects like that. Now we're onto therapy!

I'm debating how much therapy we will do... we are so tight on our budget right now with FI's medical problems, we really can't add more bills. I'm kind of wanting to just give him more time, and see if he outgrows it... since he's still gaining weight just fine.

storybooklove · December 2012

My son had the same problem. The pedi told us to call IU and have him evaluated. He was approved for food therapy and has a speech pathologist see us once a week. She's been great and after only 2 months he can sat everything. The state pays for the service I don't know how all states work but its based on child's need not what you make. First thing she had me do was put dish towels on the side of him in high chair to support him and it helped immediately...

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