So frustrated!

[BeeRae22]

This may end up being just a rant and rave session, so I apologize ahead of time! I just got off the phone with the specialist's office... .they called me back in regard to my daughter. She has been on abx for 7 weeks now- we had a follow up appt at 4 weeks at which point she was making progress with all symptoms with the exception of the eating piece. (see DD still not eating post below) -- so anyway, I was calling because I wanted an undate on what to do about her not eating.... I don't know what to do, and need a direction to go in. This doctor doesn't take insurance and is incredibly expensive, and the answer I just got from some assistant was to "consult with the nutritional team I had been working with before because the doctor isn't familiar with treatment of eating issues like this" -- well, the eating piece of this puzzle is, and was, the most concerning piece-- her other symptoms were terrible, but eating is crucial to her health (obviously) and we aren't making any progress with it..... the nutritional team couldn't do squat, and I've told this doctor that before. I'm very disappointed with this response. I would expect a DO to concern himself will ALL aspects of her treatment, not just the ones that have responded to the abx he's prescribed.

 

Maybe I am asking too much of his medical treatment, etc. I know there isn't going to be one single medical/perscription/cure for this, but I was hoping for a better course of treatment to be suggested other than "go back to the team you were talking to before" !!! Wouldn't it make sense that if all of her other symptoms have improved with meds that there would be a medical course of treatment that would help the eating piece?? Or would you assume that that entire eating piece of it is now learned/habit ?

 

I'm trying to make an appt with Dr B. -- does anyone think he'd have a better suggestion or course of treatment than that???

 

I am trying to find a child ocd therapist in CT. I have a call into one in my area and am waiting to hear back. I'm really at my wit's end with all of this!

 

 

 

[MomWithOCDSon]

I don't have any solid suggestions, but I just wanted to let you know I feel your pain, and you're not alone! Hang in there!

 

Hopefully the therapist can help your DD with some of the anxiety/OCD-related issues behind her restricted eating.

 

I SO agree with you about wanting doctors to step up to the plate and treat the whole child, rather than passing the buck! This has been one of my biggest gripes/concerns for the last several years. If they don't have a ready answer, that's fine; but I feel like the least they could do is say, "I don't have an answer on hand, but let me consult with a colleague" or "I need to refer you to someone who has this skill set" or SOMETHING that's helpful! Especially with such an issue as basic as eating!

 

I'm told that integrative doctors are more willing to be more embracing of the patient's entire body of needs, so maybe that's a direction you could go at some point? I haven't tried it as of yet, since we (knock on wood) seem to have a pretty decent handle on things at present.

 

All the best!

[BeeRae22]

He is an "integrative" doctor of osteopathy! That's part of why I'm so disappointed with this response..... If I wanted that kind of answer, I would've gone back to the regular pediatrician, which the insurance covers!

[mama2alex]

I understand your frustration and fear, but 7 weeks is an extraordinarily short period of time in which to see the improvements you have. If she's more stable in other ways, she will probably be more open and cooperative with ERP, which is the therapy for OCD.

 

Your doctor is focused on treating the causes, and what you are telling him is that a symptom is still present. So he'll continue to look for the underlying causes and treat those, and over (a long) time (with luck and a lot of work on your part) the symptoms will all disappear. I wouldn't hop to another doctor this soon - I'd give this one a year and see how you feel then.

 

I read your other post and it sounds like there's been a slight improvement in the eating issues. I think that's what you should focus on - that something changed for the better, even if it's just slight. In the meantime, keep reading and looking for help specifically with the eating issues. I think that the Rothman Center in Florida works with OCD that manifests as restrictive eating, but not sure. We went there for school refusal which had been dragging on for 4 years, and it was miraculous for us. We had been trying to find a local therapist who could help, but no one had the chops. The people there REALLY know what they are doing. My only regret about going to Rothman is not going earlier.

 

The last thought I have it that it sounds like she craves sugar, which could mean that she has a yeast overgrowth. Is she on probiotics? Has your doctor checked for yeast? A sugary diet and antibiotics are not a good mix.