And it just keeps getting better...NOT

[minkydog]

Where is my astonished icon? Found it...I took Christian to the neurologist for a recheck today. They weigh and measure him every 3 months. His weight was down 8 POUNDS!! Since April~OMG! He's 5'8" now, so that puts his BMI at 16.5-- 5th percentile! OMG! I knew he felt a little ribby, but I haven't had reason to bathe him lately so I hadn't really had a good look at him fully undressed. OMG! He looks like something from Auschwitz! His whole rib cage is sticking out. His hip bones are like little shelves and his scapulas stick out like little wings. He looks like he's wasting away! The neuro was pretty concerned and recommended that we follow-up with his ped immediately.

I don't understand. I mean,he did go through about 6 weeks where he vomited 2-3 times a week, but except for those days he's been eating well. He never pushes food away. The neuro suggests that we start him on Ensure right away and make sure he gets extra fat and calories. So no more sugar-free yogurt--it's time to eat ice cream! And 3 snacks a day! Pizza! Potatoes! Pasta! Cinnamon Apples! Peach Cobbler!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Where is my astonished icon? Found it...I took Christian to the neurologist for a recheck today. They weigh and measure him every 3 months. His weight was down 8 POUNDS!! Since April~OMG! He's 5'8" now, so that puts his BMI at 16.5-- 5th percentile! OMG! I knew he felt a little ribby, but I haven't had reason to bathe him lately so I hadn't really had a good look at him fully undressed. OMG! He looks like something from Auschwitz! His whole rib cage is sticking out. His hip bones are like little shelves and his scapulas stick out like little wings. He looks like he's wasting away! The neuro was pretty concerned and recommended that we follow-up with his ped immediately.

I don't understand. I mean,he did go through about 6 weeks where he vomited 2-3 times a week, but except for those days he's been eating well. He never pushes food away. The neuro suggests that we start him on Ensure right away and make sure he gets extra fat and calories. So no more sugar-free yogurt--it's time to eat ice cream! And 3 snacks a day! Pizza! Potatoes! Pasta! Cinnamon Apples! Peach Cobbler!

Oh man, my youngest is on medication that makes him not have any appetite. It's so difficult to keep pushing food on him all the time. We went to having him drink Ensure every day too. That seemed to help and he had gained a little weight. He's not classified as underweight but he is right on the borderline.

Good luck! Ensure worked really well for my DS

 

[minkydog]

That's the weird part--Christian eats more than anyone in the house. I swear, I'm going to get him a job at Publix just to get the discount! He's eating us out of house and home! And losing lots of weight. He was 116 in May. And 108 today!

 

[C.Ann]

Sorry to hear you have yet another concern to deal with..

Just wanted to add that I probably look as bad as Christian does - I have serious problems with gaining and/or maintaining any weight.. Anyhow - if for some reason Christian doesn't care for the Ensure, you might want to try Boost instead - with the doctor's permission, of course..

I couldn't tolerate the taste of Ensure - but I love Boost!! Especially the vanilla - kind of tastes like french vanilla.. I wish I could purchase it in a gallon jug - just like regular milk.. That's how much I love the taste of it..

I'm not sure that it's ever really helped me "gain", but unless I have other issues going on, I'm sure it helps me to maintain - rather than losing..

Also - if you go to the Boost web site, they have some pretty yummy recipes on there - so he wouldn't just be "drinking" it all the time..

Good luck!

 

[minkydog]

Ooooo, I had forgotten about Boost. My dad drank that when he had lung cancer. The summer camp Christian goes to(yay!) is taking the kids on a field trip tomorrow--to the movies first and then swimming--so he'll be busy all day (and tired all evening ). This is important, but it can wait a day so I'll just take him in Thursday morning. I'll go look at the Boost and Ensure and get him some cans tomorrow.

He's 15. You don't think he needs Pediasure, do you? I guess it's the same stuff...

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

That's the weird part--Christian eats more than anyone in the house. I swear, I'm going to get him a job at Publix just to get the discount! He's eating us out of house and home! And losing lots of weight. He was 116 in May. And 108 today!

Could he have some other medical issue that is causing him to lose weight? My DS is 14 and last weigh in he was 124 lbs and 5'11. My older DS 19 started lifting weights and drinking protein shakes and managed to go from 155 to 175 in about 8 months. He's 6'4 and has a hard time keeping weight on too. He's working out about an hour a day and eating 4,500 to 5,000 calories. (I just wish I could get away with eating like that- I keep finding the weight they can't keep on).

 

[minkydog]

Could he have some other medical issue that is causing him to lose weight? My DS is 14 and last weigh in he was 124 lbs and 5'11. My older DS 19 started lifting weights and drinking protein shakes and managed to go from 155 to 175 in about 8 months. He's 6'4 and has a hard time keeping weight on too. He's working out about an hour a day and eating 4,500 to 5,000 calories. (I just wish I could get away with eating like that- I keep finding the weight they can't keep on).

I don't know! That's why I want him to see his ped, to see if we've missed something. He weighs less than my 17yo dancer! And he's half a foot taller!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

can you freeze boost or ensure into popscicles? or freeze it and make it into shakes?

 

[pixiewings71]

Minky I hope this is easily fixed. I hope he likes the Ensure or the Boost. I had to drink Ensure after I had some teeth pulled, I didn't like it much.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I do remember your posts about the vomiting and wondered right away if that could have been the cause of his weight loss (and then you mentioned it in your post!). From the way you describe him, Christian seems like a very active boy. He's probably burning off whatever he takes in and also dropped some weight when he was sick. I would go with the Boost or Ensure over Pediasure at his age and height. I hope you get it worked out soon!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

That's the weird part--Christian eats more than anyone in the house. I swear, I'm going to get him a job at Publix just to get the discount! He's eating us out of house and home! And losing lots of weight. He was 116 in May. And 108 today!

Isn't Christian 15? I think that's what 15 year old boys do. If you think about neurotypical 15 year olds, they're eating non-stop and most of what they are eating is pure junk -- McDonalds, and chips, and sugary soda. I'm willing to bet you feed Christian healthier stuff than that.

I think you're smart to up his calories, and to check him out with the pediatrician. But don't be surprised if it's a typical teenage boy thing and what he needs is a healthier version of the typical teenage diet -- full fat milk, ice cream after dinner, etc . . .

 

[bballmom56]

Also look for Boost Plus or Ensure Plus. They have more calories than regular Boost or Ensure. I had to buy plenty of those for my mom who also had trouble keeping weight on.

 

[kellyg403]

I will agree with the others that Boost tastes much better than the Ensure...much. When I was going through my divorce I had an issue where I went from 115lbs to 89lbs in 3 months due to all the stress. It was horrible. Everytime I ate I threw up. Anyway, dr recommended both the ensure and boost, tried both and honestly the chocolate Boost, ice cold from the fridge was EXCELLENT. I drank it several times a day!

One side effect though, just and FYI to watch the number of drinks per day..constipation. Horrible constipation! So watch the amount he gets or you will have another problem to deal with!

Kelly

 

[golfgal]

That's the weird part--Christian eats more than anyone in the house. I swear, I'm going to get him a job at Publix just to get the discount! He's eating us out of house and home! And losing lots of weight. He was 116 in May. And 108 today!

If it helps, my DS15 is about 5'8" and weights about 110, fully dressed. He eats NON STOP too. Last night for dinner we had Orange Chicken and rice, he had a HUGE plate of it and 15 minutes later had a big bowl of cereal, a Dilly bar and a frozen dinner thing (chicken Alfredo). He went to golf practice for 2 hours and got a footlong sub on the way home and was STILL hungry.

He had some pretty serious vomiting and even if he was eating, nothing was getting absorbed really. Obviously you still want to check it out but it isn't THAT unusual for a growing teen boy to eat constantly and not gain weight. Looking at the kids on DS's golf team, they are ALL like that. We joke that when the kids turn sideways they disappear.

 

[minkydog]

If it helps, my DS15 is about 5'8" and weights about 110, fully dressed. He eats NO STOP too. Last night for dinner we had Orange Chicken and rice, he had a HUGE plate of it and 15 minutes later had a big bowl of cereal, a Dilly bar and a frozen dinner thing (chicken Alfredo). He went to golf practice for 2 hours and got a footlong sub on the way home and was STILL hungry.

He had some pretty serious vomiting and even if he was eating, nothing was getting absorbed really. Obviously you still want to check it out but it isn't THAT unusual for a growing teen boy to eat constantly and not gain weight. Looking at the kids on DS's golf team, they are ALL like that. We joke that when the kids turn sideways they disappear.

I remember when DS23 went through this stage. He ate everything that didn't eat him. Christian is constantly hungry. I swear, if we just sat at the table all day he would continue eating for 24 hours.

I guess whats bothering me is not that he weighs 108-lbs at age 15. DS23 didnt top 100-lbs until he hit 16, but he was always slight and tiny(he's 6'1" now, still slender.) Christian has always been broader and more "substantial" (for lack of a better word--if he were a normal boy, he'd be playing football.) Christian was weighed in May when I took him in for that four day vomiting episode and he weighed in at 116. So that's a pretty significant loss in just 6-8 weeks.

I bought some Boost, a few Ensures, and a Kroger brand nutritional supp. We'll try them all and see how he likes them. Christian loves sweet stuff. I've got him a doctor appt tomorrow. I think I'll make him a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight. (I guess I better start packing him an extra big lunch for summer camp, too.) And I'll take him and Samuel(his nurse) out for ice cream cones tonight.

 

[C.Ann]

I remember when DS23 went through this stage. He ate everything that didn't eat him. Christian is constantly hungry. I swear, if we just sat at the table all day he would continue eating for 24 hours.

I guess whats bothering me is not that he weighs 108-lbs at age 15. DS23 didnt top 100-lbs until he hit 16, but he was always slight and tiny(he's 6'1" now, still slender.) Christian has always been broader and more "substantial" (for lack of a better word--if he were a normal boy, he'd be playing football.) Christian was weighed in May when I took him in for that four day vomiting episode and he weighed in at 116. So that's a pretty significant loss in just 6-8 weeks.

I bought some Boost, a few Ensures, and a Kroger brand nutritional supp. We'll try them all and see how he likes them. Christian loves sweet stuff. I've got him a doctor appt tomorrow. I think I'll make him a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight. (I guess I better start packing him an extra big lunch for summer camp, too.) And I'll take him and Samuel(his nurse) out for ice cream cones tonight.

Be sure to let us know what the doctor says tomorrow..

 

[bigbabyblues]

Sorry to hear this. When I was pregnant, I had trouble gaining weight, and my doc told me to make a milkshake with Ensure....it did help. Two scoops of vanilla ice cream, one can of Ensure, and there you have it. The strawberry was the best, but vanilla and chocolate weren't bad either.

 

[scrapquitler]

I guess whats bothering me is not that he weighs 108-lbs at age 15. DS23 didnt top 100-lbs until he hit 16, but he was always slight and tiny(he's 6'1" now, still slender.) .

Am I reading this right? A boy at 15 being only 108 lbs seems small to me. My SKINNY 13 year old daughter is only 4'11" and weighs about 95lbs. I'd think that your older son at 16 and 6'1" would look very sickly at 100lbs.

I hope that you find out this is just some kind of a growth spurt, lengthen then thin out... but have they checked his thyroid?

 

[golfgal]

Am I reading this right? A boy at 15 being only 108 lbs seems small to me. My SKINNY 13 year old daughter is only 4'11" and weighs about 95lbs. I'd think that your older son at 16 and 6'1" would look very sickly at 100lbs.

I hope that you find out this is just some kind of a growth spurt, lengthen then thin out... but have they checked his thyroid?

She didn't say he was 100 lbs at 6'1"-he was 100 lbs at 16 years of age and is NOW 6'1" and slender. Boys don't have the body fat that girls have. When our twins were the same size, DD15 was always heavier yet she is still plenty skinny(she is 5'7" and weighs about 115 now. At 4'11" and 95 lbs, that isn't all that "skinny" but she is probably just normal. When our DS15 was 4'11" he weighed MAYBE 70 lbs. When my DH was in college he weighed 115 lbs at 6', yes, he was skinny but not sickly looking.

 

[npmommie]

Last night for dinner we had Orange Chicken and rice, he had a HUGE plate of it and 15 minutes later had a big bowl of cereal, a Dilly bar and a frozen dinner thing (chicken Alfredo). He went to golf practice for 2 hours and got a footlong sub on the way home and was STILL hungry.