Hello,
Was just wondering if anyone had difficulties with getting their child to drink. Patrick has athetoid CP and has been unwell on and off since Thursday last week and has not wanted to drink at all since, but is almost back to normal eating. I am trying in vain to get him to drink as when he doesn't, he has more difficulty than usual in moving his bowels.

Could this be something to do with the CP or could it just be down to the virus he's had?

Would be greatful for any suggestions
Thanks
Angie x

have you tried a thickener call Nutilis ( think that's the correct spelling) we get it on presciption. Matthew eats for England(!) but cannot drink or cope with runny things like yoghurt. You mix a spoon of this into anything, liquid or solid and it thickens it so you can spoon the liquid into his mouth in a semi solid consistency. It doesn't change the taste and can be used in hot or cold food, liquids or solids.

One word of warning, it takes about a minute to fully activate so don't put too much in or be inpatient as you end up with solid water. Try it in a bit of coffee, it's very odd!

Dear Angie

We wouldn’t want to speculate on the specific reason why Patrick isn’t drinking but over a week sounds like a long time for anyone not to be taking a their normal amount of fluids.

Unless he has only just been seen by a medical; professional (and his condition is unchanged or improved since then) we would suggest that you have him checked over as soon as possible. If you are unable to contact your GP’s surgery today we would suggest you take advise from a nurse at NHS Direct on 0845 46 47

Dear Helpline Team & Bears Mum
Thanks for your response's. I meant to add to my posting that he has been taking sips of fluid and on and off during the days since, so I'm not unduly worried, but the problem we have is that when you give him a drink and ask him if he wants it, he turns away or shakes his head and then you almost have to make him have a drink. We think that there could be a link with something that happened at his grandmothers when she burnt his mouth by accident and I'm wondering whether this has something to do with it also.

We have had a GP out to Patrick and he says that it is just a virus and is nothing to worry about. He's never been a huge drinker anyway, but seems more noticeable since Thursday

Thanks for your quick response

Angie x

Thats Good!

Lets hope that he makes a full and speedy recovery

Hi Angie

We can sometimes have the same problem with our son, also called Patrick. When he is slightly under the weather we find it difficult to get him to drink. We have put it down to the fact that co-ordinating drinking is hard work and if he is under the weather then he isn't up to doing it. I find giving him pureed fruit is a good way of giving him some indirect fluids and he loves that too. It will also help with the bowels too.

Hope this is useful.

Liesa

Hi Liesa,
Thanks for your response. We don't know what to put it down to and there seems to be a number of possible reasons for this also.
1) We had our second child Daniel 5 weeks ago on Wed and was wondering whether this is a touch of the green eyed monster.
2) His nana keeps microwaving his food and milk to really stupid temperatures and know that she has burnt him at least once.
3) I am not able to lift Patrick for another week, due to having his brother via c section and he is not happy with me at all at the moment.
4) Due to the virus he's had, even though he's over the best of it and has no temperature, he still is sleepy and has a runny nose and a really bad cough.
5) Is it down to the CP?

My money is on the virus and the fact that his nana has burnt him so he may associate milk or juice as hot stuff. She has been told countless times that he doesn't need food as hot as ours and my husband has really lost his temper with her over it.

Like you've said, if your Patrick is under the weather, he doesn't want to drink. Strange isn't it. Must be something about the name I guess!

Thanks again for your advice and will try that.

Love to Patrick also

Ange x

Hi Angie

Philip found drinking difficult due to his inability to control fluids in his mouth, but since Patrick doesn't normally have this problem I wouldn't have thought that it is due to his CP. Our SALT suggested making his drinks thicker by using things like fruit purees in juice and yoghut/fromage frais in milk to see if that helped. It didn't help Philip but I guess you could increase Patrick's fluid intake by diluting his yoghurt with a little bit of milk etc. There is quite a lot of fluid in stuff like custard which always goes down a treat when Philip's older brother is under the weather and not keen on eating or drinking.

I hope he perks up again soon.
Dom

Getting Ethan to drink is the bane of my life! And when he's ill it gets much worse. I try all sorts of juices and squashes. Some days he drinks hardly anything and other days he drinks loads. He coughs on his drink and that generally puts him off. If you're not scared of the sugar, one good way of getting fluids down when ill is jelly, ice lollies and syringing fluids down him. If Patrick does wet nappies there is no need to worry, I guess. You could also try and give him more soupy meals. Hope he's better soon.

Thanks for your advice Mafala,
He's had a little to drink today, but he didn't drink gallons, but I will try anything as he can be very stubborn when he wants to be.

Thanks & I hope that Ethan is well

Angie x