my son is also this way. the meds make it so he isnt hungry. he does get hungry when the meds wear off thoough in the evening. we give him choices for meals like breakfast or dinner (lunch is at school) so he can pick what he really wants to eat. sometimes certain things dont sound good for him so he wont eat a bite. alot easier if its something he likes. in the evening when the meds wear off we give him a snack or a second helping of dinner with a carnation instant breakfast chic milk. we bought whole milk to mix with it to add more calories. we use it for his drink though and not a sub for a meal. then an hour later when he goes to bed we let him take a snack with him so he can eat right b4 he goes to bed. otherwise he will stay up. he gained 4 lbs in a month!! he originally weighed 49 lbs and got down to 46. now he weighs 50 yay!! offer him food whenever u can and explain to him that the meds might make him feel like he isnt very hungry but he has to eat atleast a little of something or he could get sick or un healthy. that helped for my son when he wondered why i was telling him to ea a few bites when he said he wasnt hungry!
kim
So Far So Good. I have told him he has to eat soemthing for breakfast so he has been having bacon and eggs. I reward him for eating his lunch (I make him a small lunch 1/2 PBJ and an apple or an apple and a small bag of doritoes) and this has been working - He usually will eat a snack when we pick him up from SACC (an after school program) and eat his dinner. I take him back next month for a med check! Thanks for all the suggestions.....YOU GUYS ARE THE BOMB!!!!My son just turned 11 and at his yearly the dr said he lost 2 lbs this year. 56 lbs. They were not concerned year after year because he was gaining some weight. His %tile dropped yr after yr. "Now" they are concerned. I have been for years. "Now" they say he is considered "failure to thrive' , "now" they are doing blood tests and a bunch of other stuff to see if there is a medical reason for his wt loss. My gut tells me he has a control issue with food not a medical issue. He is at a critical stage of puberty and can't afford to be FTT. I have been putting in Benecal in his shake drinks to add calories (+230). So just by drinking 3 a day has double or more than doubled his calorie intake. We are likely going to put him on periactin to help with appetite. He obviously needs more than just shakes to be healthy. He is ADHD on focalin xr, zoloft, and clonidine for sleep. The periactin might eliminate the need for clonidine since it is a antihistamine and should make him drowsy. He is a picky eater that analyzes everything that goes into his mouth and it is very hard to trick him. The benecal has only worked in thicker type cold drinks. Our psych told us another patient gained 9 lbs over the summer on periactin. We are crossing our fingers. Is there anyone else that has gone through a similar experience??? We just started the Daytrana Patch last week, and my 6 year olds appetite has really gone downhill and now the school is beginning to complain.. Tobi will usually eat a donut or egg cheese sandwich and drink a carnation instant breakfast before school, then skip lunch, around 7 he will eat a small dinner and have a snack before falling asleep.. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the school to stop complaining.. I know that they are concerned however we are doing the best that we can.. mlgift, does your ds have food texture issues? You might want to consult an occupational therapist to see if he or she could do anything to help your ds to eat more foods.