Esoph. Dysmotility/severe dysphagia...thickening - Support Group for Moms, Dads, Grandparents and other caregivers of Babies with Infant Reflux and GERD

JessicaLynn · 10-12-2009, 01:11 PM

Does anyone here have any experience on thickening an older childs liquids, I mean beginning thickening when the child is older, mine I am referring to is almost 10.
Trey's esophageal dysmotility is progressing, and he has begun choking daily on liquids in addition to the solid foods. GI wants us to start thickening his liquids to honey consistency because in addition to the choking, he is highly suspected to be aspirating due to the dysmotility and has been put on daily steroids and abx for his breathing problems. He has also been referred to our pulmonologist.We are up to 4 asthmatics now!!
Anyway, I have started thickening and he loathes it, and that is an understatement LOL(not that I blame him)..He actually started vomiting the past 2 days, which I am thinking might be more viral stuff, it is sick time around here, but I slightly wonder if it may be from thickening..
Any advice on making the thickened liquid more appealing for a 10 year old?

My biggest fear is where this is headed if it keeps getting worse, tubefeeding is a wonderful thing but I just could not bear to watch him suffer, he is so much older and it would be extremely hard for him if he had to go NPO..

Thanks

:hug :

Mary · 10-12-2009, 03:31 PM

Oh boy. I don't even own a 10-year-old (LOL), much less know how to feed one thickened liquids.

Um, the only idea I have in my feeble brain at this point is consulting with a feeding specialist...? Unless you're giving me a milkshake, I don't like thick liquids, either. I can imagine that a 10-year-old would be less than thrilled about this. When your doc suggested this, did s/he also suggest you work with an SLP, OT or feeding person?

JessicaLynn · 10-12-2009, 03:59 PM

LOL, 10 year olds are awesome...but he acts like he is 16 already!

He has seen ST, and also passed a swallow study a while ago, the ST said all his problems were coming from the esophageal weakness and not something that she could help with in terms of improvement.(Same boat Brent has been in really except his is even worse.). Although Trey's liquid choking has worsened since then...

GI said to thicken as we wait for the pulmonary appt, but he also sees GI again in just a couple weeks, so I am going to ask about that(OT) more in terms of helping to get him to drink it. He may just need some adjustment time though. I don't blame him,I drank some and didn't care for it either.
He says it's slime.

I have to agree, that is what it looks like lol.
He hasn't refused to drink it, but complains and you can tell it makes him nauseous to drink it.The only thing he has said was ok was strawberry milk, but at least that's a start I guess.

AvasMommy · 10-12-2009, 04:08 PM

Oh, I cannot even imagine...that would definitely make me vomit, too.

I have no idea how to make that appealing, just a

.

Mary · 10-12-2009, 04:21 PM

Gosh, if it's esophageal weakness and not anything connected to his swallow, then I'm at a complete loss. I think it is a good idea to connect with the OT; however, I'm not sure this will solve all your problems. Wait, that was supposed to read along the lines of "The OT is a good idea but I'm not crossing my fingers that your life will be happily ever after". Nevermind. I still sound negative...

Okay, moving on. He said he likes strawberry milk. Good. Is that a consistency he can tolerate? If so, can you do chocolate milk, or perhaps milkshakes that are beefed up with good stuff (like frozen yogurt, a little flaxseed oil, etc.)? I have to tell you that the prospect of drinking a glass of slime sounds like, um, something I would rather eat glass than do. *LOL* However, a tasty thick milkshake (even if it has some nutritious stuff blended in) sounds heavenly.