My son "makes" himself throw up?

[LJRaymond]

It seems each time our son eats something he has told us he doesn't want to eat, he ends up throwing it up a couple of hours or so later. Today, for example, he had a little amount of turkey w/ketchup, a biscuit and some milk. He loved the biscuit but didn't want any turkey, he wanted chicken instead. We asked him to eat it and he did, though it seemed he took a very long time to chew each mouthful - and I mean chew. It's like he's afraid to swallow it and send it down to the stomach. Anyway, he ate it (we ate around 2:30 or so), and he just now threw it all up. He had nothing else besides the biscuit and milk. We're baffled and concerned - we've been here before but we have no idea how this is going on. It really seems as though he's making himself throw up somehow because he ate something he didn't want/like. He's not sticking his finger in his throat or anything; in fact, he was watching Tom & Jerry when I heard him wretching in the bathroom.

Has anyone else ever had this happen? If so, what did you try that finally worked (besides chicken nuggets every time something new is introduced)?

Thanks much, everyone :)

[MamaRita]

A lot of Children with ASD has sensory issues with certain foods, it's like the texture is more than they can tolerate, Lane is 11 today & still sometimes will make himself throw up. These Children usually also has stomach issues, Lane has Pica, I have seen him stick his finger down his throat to make himself throw up. I feel when he does this, his stomach is not agreeing with something he has eat & this is his way to make it feel better?

Good luck mama

[MommyJanice44]

My son also did the same thing for awhile , until he learned what it is that his stomach  can tolerate , He is down to about 5 foods .. He knows what makes his sick , The nuggets are out now .. ugh .. For awhile he would throw up every morning but that was due to stress .. Highly doubt your son is doing this due to stress , They no when something doesn't agree with there little tummy's .. Try maybe letting him pick out what it is he wants to eat see if that keep him from not throwing it up . They know what bother them and what doesn't . Hard due to the degree that might he be down to a very limited variety of foods .. good luck Momma .. 

 

[Japop]

Both my sons on the spectrum have gone through this.  It was stress.  So, what we do is now offer foods and praise any attempt to try them.  If not, that's alright.  Keep the pressure down.  The goal of food is to nourish and keep healthy.  Social eating will come, or not, but it is better to find foods that will stay down and provide the right vitamins and nourishment.  Believe me, I know how frustrating and maddening this can be.  Our oldest vomitted 6-10 times a day for 6 months before we figured it out.  He had a full work up by a doctor for tumors and stuff.  Then, we figured it out!  My younger son started vomitting when we potty trained him.  He was so stressed out by our negative approach that he was a mess, and not training.  Now we use only praise and neutral approaches (when we can think clearly).  This is all a learning process.  Good luck.

[Beth100]

My grandson also makes himself throw up.  It is disgusting and we can't figure out what to do about it.  No DAN doctors in this area.  We are going to confer with his regular doctor.  Good luck to you......and to us too.  You are sure not alone.  I have heard from a couple of other mothers about this problem, also.  Beth100

[Bellesan]

Our daughter was so excited to go to Grandma's for Thanksgiving that she made herself feel sick at school on the last day before we left.  She cried and everything and just wanted to go home.  So I picked her up and took her home.  The next morning she still said she was sick and cried and actually threw up.  I told her that we can't go to Grandma's if she is sick.  After she threw up, she was fine and we left that afternoon on a 3 hour trip.  She was fine the whole trip and the weekend.  I think it was just the stress and anxiety of going to see Grandma.

[LJRaymond]

Thank you all so much for your insights! I know for a while Joshua would throw up at the beginning of every month for a day, then he was fine. We know there are times he'll throw up but we aren't sure of the issues surrounding it (i.e., going to Grandma's, holidays, etc.). We do try to praise him when he does eat something "new". Thanks again! :)

[willsmomstacie]

Have you consiered journaling for a while?  Each day jotting down what he eats, his overall stress level, new activities, bowel changes, etc.  Sometimes if you do this for a month or two, you can look back and pick out what is triggering the vomiting - stress, foods he is not tollerating, attention-seeking, etc.  Also, have you had any allergy testing done?

Hugs to you.  I hope things improve.

[destiny29]

Quoting willsmomstacie:

Have you consiered journaling for a while?  Each day jotting down what he eats, his overall stress level, new activities, bowel changes, etc.  Sometimes if you do this for a month or two, you can look back and pick out what is triggering the vomiting - stress, foods he is not tollerating, attention-seeking, etc.  Also, have you had any allergy testing done?

Hugs to you.  I hope things improve.

    That's exactly what I was going to say. I'd look into allergies. If something upsets his stomach or like what another mom said- a texture issue- I know of other kids that did this on purpose. My son was doing that for a while when he was having constipation issues. The diet he's on has helped with that.