I have a 14 year old son. He's on asthma meds. He has difficulty gaining weight. He's 5'3 and only weighs 87 pounds. He eats constantly but still gains like a pound a month. He has developed extreme anxiety. I have him in therapy and have taken him to the doctor. The doctor did blood work and said everything came back fine. Should I ask for a specific test? They tested thyroid and for diabetes. Both negative. He is so depressed. I don't want to put him on depression meds. Therapy seems to be helping. Anyone else going through this?
Hi all: Thank you so much for all the kind word and helpful advice. My son is on a regimented plan now. I added in ensure 3 times during the day, and re-evaluated his diet. I realized also that I am always cooking low-fat, low-cholesterol foods, since I'm trying to get my own cholesterol down. There wasn't much fatty food around to eat. I've changed that for him. He's also going to therapy and learning some great meditation techniques. He's starting weight lifting and going out for track, and going to a youth group through the church. He's already gained a pound. Hopefully, he is well on his way to gaining some. His doctor said if he gains two pounds a month, she'll be happy. Thanks again for everything.
S.
Hi S.. I would suggest taking him in for a Cystic Fibrosis sweat test. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic illness that affects the lungs and weight gain, by hampering the body's ability to digest fat. My younger brother has this, and for a long time he didn't gain weight at the rate he should, especially through his teenage years. I hope this helps you.
depending on what medications he is on, this may be affecting his ability to gain weight. Steroids, in particular, can affect the body differently and can CERTAINLY cause anxiety-type symptoms. I would look into that, and perhaps consider other ways to control his asthma -- consider some alternative therapies such as acupuncture or herbs. His metabolism may also be revving up now that he is a teenager. You may consider visiting a nutritionist to evaluate his diet to make sure that he is getting the right combination of calories.
Dr. T.
Hi S.,
I'm sorry- I don't know much about asthma, but I would agree to look into the Singulair. I certainly respect that you don't want him on more meds (antidepressants/anxiety). As a social worker I've seen the pos. and neg. effects of these drugs on children and they're over-prescribed. I've also dealt with anxiety, depression & weight loss since childhood. It sounds like your son is really suffering. It may be worth at least researching psychotropic medication (side effects, drug interaction). Some of them cause weight gain as well. The diet suggestions are very good- cut sugar and caffeine - and omega 3 reduces depression by 20% (salmon, cod, herring, mackerel, tuna, anchovies and sardines). Flax is the common botanical source of omega 3, yum!
Hi S.,
Take a look at "The Makers Diet" by Jordan Rubin. In it he tells his story about bringing himself back from deaths door by changing his diet. He couldn't gain weight no matter what he did, the pictures are amazing. He went through horrible depression as he tried all the dr.s suggestions, and finally found a way of eating that healed him.
Blessings to you and your son.
Hi S.,
If you haven't already, have you thought of bringing your son to see a Registered Dietitian perhaps who specializes in Pediatrics? They are specialists who can evaluate what your son is eating, what he needs to eat in order to gain the appropriate weight. They are trained to work with your son's medical history and take into account all social aspects as well. I'm glad to hear that he is in therapy as well to help with the anxiety. My husband is a therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders, so I know therapy can be successful in helping your son. I am a dietitian, so if you need further resources I will be happy to help.
Sincerely,
A.
I would ask his doctor for alternative asthma meds. Different meds affest different people differently.
Also check your son's diet. See if reducing or cutting out dairy, wheat, processed food and sodas helps. My friend's sons anxiety and asthma was greatly improved with this.
Don't be afraid to go back to the doctor and tell him things aren't right as often as you need to until your concerns are addressed. Nobody knows themselves or their children better than parents. And we know when something is not right.
You're a great mom.
I am not going through that but I am a social worker who has managed a program largely to support teenage boys for the last 7 years. This will sound off the wall but I would recommend, in addition to the psychotherapy, yoga (there are classes for teenagers around), biofeedback or meditation practice for the anxiety and depression. He needs to learn healthy natural ways (skills) to manage anxiety and depression since we deal with those our entire lives. I would also recommend him getting a male mentor or having a male support person take him to some activity that builds identity and self-esteem such as rock-climbing or weight-lifting. I know I'm not responding to the weight issue directly, but if you get the anxiety and depression under control, everything will go better. Also, is he responding to your anxiety about the issue? That is, what do you say to him or in front of him about his weight/height? (My cousin was very petite and skinny until he was about 17, when he grew suddenly into a very tall man.)
Does he like his MD? Can you get a second opinions or see a psychiatrist just for a consult and evaluation, rather than going with the goal of getting meds?
Your note brought up some hard memories for me. I was about your son's age and missing months from school each year because of asthma. I was so skinny and eating constantly, frequently waking 1-2x/night to eat a peanut butter sandwich. When the doctor suggested the asthma was affected by stress, my mom became concerned and started nagging me to relax (of course this made it worse). When I was about 15-16 I learned (by myself) when I became anxious to go into a cool, dark room BY MYSELF and enter a deep state of relaxation and gentle abdominal breathing (f in public, usually a restroom). This technique has allowed me to stay off most of my meds most of the year. I also began journaling my day so that I knew what to expect each day. It also helped significantly to stop drinking and eating dairy products. You can show him this note if you think he would appreciate it. I know what he is going through.
A.:-)
Is he on Singular for ashtma? I have read that some of the severe side effects is depression. Worth to check the side effects of some of his medications. I have a two year old that is on singular for the first time and he has been on them for a week and I still haven't noticed bad things; however, the minute I do, I will take him off. The breathing has gotten to be much manageable and the coughing fits have stopped (for now, knock on wood).
I hope this helps.
I don't know a lot but I would suggest you question the asthma medications he is on a lot of them can increase heart rate, decrease apptetite, and so on. Go to a pharmacist at a smaller pharmacy and ask for their input then take that back to your son's doctor. If you live by one try calling a Costco they are usually slower then other pharmacy and the pharmacist are young and more willing to talk. I know Danville's Costco has a great pharmacist named Stan.
Good luck.
I will keep you and your son in my prayers. There are those with a healing anointing at Jubilee. I know healing can occur, as it has for so many. There are opportunities for prayer after every service. There are 'Encounters' for the youth and adults which helps to clear the cause of anxiety, as well as healing for any other symptoms. I am not familiar with all the medications, and I know some are advocated. I would suggest go to the source and begin there.
I would focus on the asthma medications. If you can use alternative medicines (nutritionists, acupuncturists, homeopathies) to get his asthma under control so that he could switch to a less intense western prescription, things would get better. Good luck!
I was the same at his age... The asthma meds really mess up your system - - - I don't necessarily advise depression meds either - it could just be the steroids in the asthma meds making him jittery - you might want to try a different med - - - but honestly try to isolate what his asthma triggers are so that you can try to avoid them - at that age mine was exercise induced....
Now that I am 37 the weight gain is no longer a problem - - - I almost wish I had that problem back :)
Hi S.,
This may totally off the mark, but have you had your son tested for food allergies and/or celiac disease? I ask because I have asthma and I also have had trouble keeping weight my whole life. Not until my late 20's did I start having digestive symptoms but I recently found out that I have multiple food allergies and a tentative diagnosis of celiac disease (which means that you can't digest gluten, the protein in many grains, mainly wheat, rye, barley, etc) - it can manifest itself in hundreds of different ways - including asthma, anxiety, and weight loss or gain - might be worth checking out anyway. Good luck, it must be very hard to see your son sad.
My ex-husband was like that and he still is for the most part. He is 6' and is just now weighing 140 and he is 28. We got together when he was 17 so he was still going through the problem of worring about it. One thing we tried was feeding him starhes right before he went to bed and when ever he got up in the night he would eat again something that was planned out that way he didn't have to look for somthing. Reason we tried that was they tell you when you want to lose weight not to eat before bed. That stopped him from losing more wieght in the summer. He started moditerly lifting wieghts and exersising and that built up some muscle and put a little more weight on him, but not much at least he stopped looking sick. Hope that helps alittle bit good luck
