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Please help! Son not eating after facial injury

SP1983

My son is 8 and awaiting an asd assessment. We are right at the beginning of the process so a long wait yet.

Last summer he was hit in the face by his brother and knocked a tooth. This led to him not eating or drinking, refusing to close his mouth, talking funny etc. This was during a heat wave, we ended up in a&e, not much happened but they managed to get him drinking using a syringe. It took 5 days for him to eat and another 2 for him to close his mouth and talk properly.

Yesterday at school he was kicked in the face playing football and caused an injury to his mouth. He is behaving in the same way again. He says he can’t eat or drink etc as he is scared and it hurts and he thinks he will die. I’ve tried reassuring him but I’m getting no where.  I feel so useless and don’t know what to do to help him. He won’t take medicine (that’s not related to this, he never takes any anytime) so I can’t help with the pain. Each time I try and get water in him it’s a huge battle. I’ve tried to get help from the neurodivergent team but they didn’t give me any advice.

I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar and has any advice they could share. I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall! Thanks in advance. 

Parents

  • It was a sudden trauma, it hurts, AND he has sensory issues, so it feels very strange for him, and the best way to deal with that is to do nothing. He doesn’t know what else to do, and doesn’t feel ready to, as he’s still processing the situation.

    It will get better, he just needs time. Continue to leave drink and soft foods that he likes. He might eat and drink, or he might not. Just didn’t put any pressure on him to do so. And hide your anxiety about it, as it will make things worse. 
    Sorry, I understand how you are probably feeling right now.

  • in reply to Catlover

    ^ This. (What Catlover said.)
    All of it really, but especially:

    Catlover said:
    It was a sudden trauma, it hurts, AND he has sensory issues, so it feels very strange for him, and the best way to deal with that is to do nothing. He doesn’t know what else to do, and doesn’t feel ready to, as he’s still processing the situation.

    Even as an adult getting wisdom teeth out I didn't want to eat anything solid for days afterwards. My kid is also the same when losing baby teeth because the new gum area is exposed it can hurt and they are afraid it will keep hurting if stuff touches the area so they dodge eating like it's the plague, but it never lasts longer than a few days to a week tops, eventually hunger set in and we plated up kiddos fave (pizza) and that ended that. Sometimes it's teh working up to the harder crunchy food that does it and you need to just let them live on soup and dipping bread for a bit until they get used to the idea that teh pain doesn't actually last forever adn it's safe to eat as usual again.

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  • in reply to Catlover

    ^ This. (What Catlover said.)
    All of it really, but especially:

    Catlover said:
    It was a sudden trauma, it hurts, AND he has sensory issues, so it feels very strange for him, and the best way to deal with that is to do nothing. He doesn’t know what else to do, and doesn’t feel ready to, as he’s still processing the situation.

    Even as an adult getting wisdom teeth out I didn't want to eat anything solid for days afterwards. My kid is also the same when losing baby teeth because the new gum area is exposed it can hurt and they are afraid it will keep hurting if stuff touches the area so they dodge eating like it's the plague, but it never lasts longer than a few days to a week tops, eventually hunger set in and we plated up kiddos fave (pizza) and that ended that. Sometimes it's teh working up to the harder crunchy food that does it and you need to just let them live on soup and dipping bread for a bit until they get used to the idea that teh pain doesn't actually last forever adn it's safe to eat as usual again.

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