Eating Disorder

I think it's a mistake to assume that his parents aren't doing everything they can. In the end, they are right that they have limited ability to do anything he doesn't want them to.

Are you sure the vomiting is an eating disorder? There are many physical illnesses that can cause this and weight loss. People with ED are usually pretty discreet about their habit, not so obvious.

It may not be a traditional eating disorder as it is a common side effect of ADHD medications which are based on amphetamines that used to be used in slimming pills/appetite suppressants.

It can take some months and some trial and error to find the right dosage, and he should be being monitored He needs to speak to the GP or clinic that are prescribing the meds

I have spoken to DS, who is actually the staff member who deals with mental health issues in his department!

He says, the personal tutor is not the person to talk to as they are not allowed to talk to parents because their students are legally adults - and sometimes the parents are the cause of a students problems.

What they should do is contact the mental health welfare unit at the university and also speak to the 'Undergraduate Adminstrator' in the department he is in.

The one thing he said again and again, is that the university can do nothing about something they do not know about and neither can they do anything in retrospect. If they know a student is having problems, they can postpone deadlines, arrange any support they need and, if they consent let the lecturers who teach them know. They can note that a student has gone through a severe mental or physical crisis and this can be taken into account when marks and degree classes are being assessed .

He said again and again, that they can only help if they know there is a problem and only from the point at which they know there is a problem. There are absolutely no points to be gained for being brave and suffering in silence.

So your nephew should be encouraged to talk to the mental health unit at his university, and let them know the problems he has and about his recent diagnosis. He will not be marked down or written off because of his problems, but will find that the university will do all they can to help him. They do not want students to fail and will do all they can to help.

Ihope this helps.

He is talking about the sytem as it works in his university, but all universities have similar systems.

I am think he needs to put his study on the back burner for now . He needs to be at home ! Your sister is doing the right thing in trying to get him home. Many students struggle at university and often it is not an academic struggle! Once he is able to access the help he needs he can go back to university or study close to home.

This is a strange one because you say he vomited after each meal now if he was anorexic you wouldn’t know he vomited, it is a very very secretive illness the vomiting would be well hidden and you probably wouldn’t know at all

This sounds very much like a result of the medication he has been put on for ADHD it can be a nasty medication Did he want to go on medication it can take away a lot of the persons personality in the quest to calm
In my opinion there are better ways of dealing with ADHD but takes longer and is hard work

This sounds very positive BigBertha. I hope your nephew gets some good help.
The university will be familiar with student struggles but they have to know.
It must be awful watching these changes to someone you have watched growing up.
Sending hugs

BigBerther PLEASE don’t go down the anorexia/ mental health worry route until he has talked to his doctor about the tablets he has been put on
This doesn’t sound at all like anorexia

MOnica gives the most helpful advice here

Agreed Iam64 -
Monica has offered a wealth of knowledge from her DS which is sound advice for a starting point Bertha .
Please let us know how things go - and wishing your GS well very, very soon. ?

Good luck, glad you are going to see him. I don’t have any experience in dealing with this type of situation. He is probably very frightened at what is happening and doesn’t know how to change things himself, your support will be invaluable.

BlueBelle

BigBerther PLEASE don’t go down the anorexia/ mental health worry route until he has talked to his doctor about the tablets he has been put on
This doesn’t sound at all like anorexia

As the heading is Eating Disorder it's easy to assume that this is something that had been previously diagnosed.

If it is not the case then I apologise for mentioning bulimia.

I agree it could be the new meds or something medical. He really should see a doctor in case it is a medical emergency as losing so much weight over a shortish period of time can affect the heart and blood pressure regardless if it is an eating disorder or a medical problem. If it is an eating disorder then that takes over the thought process and he will not be able to control it.