My 6 year old is having a difficult time eating after a choking spell.?

Question

Couple of months ago, my 6 year old choked on a lifesaver at home and I had to do the heimlich twice to get it out. This freaked her out (which I don't blame her cause it freaked me out too). So she has been extra cautious eating so the other day, she "choked" on a peice of bacon (which I think was due to her taking a too big of a bite because she coughed it up and she was fine seconds later). Now she is completely petrified of eating. She states she is hungry but when it comes to actually putting it in to her mouth she starts hyperventilating and panicing. I have tried to give her her favorite foods, even tried baby food but she is so scared to eat. My husband has tried forcing her and she just pockets it in her mouth and cries. He has come to the point of yelling at her but this is not helping the sit. Can she be suffering from ptsd? (post-traumatic stess disorder) When asked why she won't eat she says she's scared to die. Is this a normal fear for a 6 yr old to worry about?

Answer 1

talk to a professional like her doctor

Answer 2

you might have to bring her to a pediatrician who can recommend a therapist that will simply councel her instead of try to diagnose or judge her(we've been to one that judged instead of helped- not fun).  i would try to sit with her and explain why eating is so important and how sick she'll get if she doesn't.  tell her she can take all the time she needs to eat and you won't leave her side.  you have to do everything in your power not to allow your stress to cause you to react or yell- this will only stress her out worse and make the problem worse.  it will take time, but she just needs to slowly learn that she can eat and be safe.  she needs you to be very calm, if she thinks you are OK, then she will feel OK, too.  if she thinks you are stresses, she will misinterpret this as a reason for her to be scared and associate that feeling with mealtime

Answer 3

Ask your doctor about that and see what he says.  But for now, give her foods like soup or pudding.

Answer 4

She needs to see a therapist

Answer 5

If you have ever choked on anything, you know how very scary it is.  No one wants to re-experience that feeling again.  You have to do what you can to get your husband to stop forcing her as it is only going to compound her fear, especially since "chipmunking" her food increases her risk of choking again.  Her fear is very real and very normal.  I'd start with some liquid foods such as smoothies or milkshakes that she can sip through a straw that present no choking hazard yet have a bit of nutrition in them as well.  She needs to regain her confidence in eating again and it may take some time and it will take a whole lot of patience and encouragement from you and your husband.  You may then need to move onto some soft foods she can eat without chewing such as pudding and jello.  Soup would be a good choice provided the ingredients are cut into tiny pieces for her.  Don't try to rationalize with her as she won't buy into it.  I would say if you take all pressure off the issue and let her take her time getting back into eating yet she still balks after a couple weeks that a call to her doctor is probably needed.  I would call first and talk it over with the doctor without her being within hearing.  Perhaps you will want to set up a consultation meeting where you go and speak with the doctor without her present at first.  He/she will probably want to exam her to rule out any physical problems that occured during the initial choking and it may be likely she needs a bit of counseling to help her ease back into eating again with confidence.  There is a real possibility this could cause some long-term problems so I wouldn't wait too long before seeking medical guidance on this.  Your husband really needs to be helpful and encouraging with her and stop yelling and forcing her to put food in her mouth.