Mother's anguish at son's anorexia

A 17-YEAR-old anorexic boy who almost died after starving himself has spoken out to raise awareness of the dangerous disorder.

When Ollie Roche collapsed and was rushed to hospital in November he was suffering from muscle wastage, low blood pressure and heart problems.

The teenager, of St Judes, said: "The doctor told me it was getting to the stage that, because I hadn't eaten, my body was eating my organs. He said I could die.

"I was terrified. It had needed to be said. I'd felt like what I was doing was natural; I didn't feel that I was harming myself."

His mother Debbie Roche, who cares for her son at their home, is campaigning for a dedicated young person's eating disorder unit in Plymouth.

She is calling for an end to a 'postcode lottery' for treatment and for increased awareness of how the condition can take hold.

Her Facebook campaign site has attracted 378 members since it was launched in January, among them city MPs Linda Gilroy and Alison Seabeck.

At a recent medical check Ollie, who is 5ft 11ins tall, weighed just over seven and a half stone.

Debbie, 48, said: "I want people to realise anorexia is a dangerous condition, not just a word.

"Initially, it was like Ollie was trying to take control of things by refusing to eat or controlling his intake.

"As he got weaker, the condition started to take control of him."

Debbie said the family was battling the disorder every day.

"Every day I wake up and my heart's broken because I know the struggles Ollie's going through. It's that fear of the food in front of him.

"We're fighting this eating disorder and it's going to take a long time," she said.

Ollie spoke out about his condition to discourage other young people from letting eating problems spiral out of control.

"Don't let it happen," he said. "It's the most painful thing, and whole families have to deal with it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

"When there's food in front of me I feel scared or angry – upset. I think about it constantly.

"I start worrying about breakfast when I go to bed – whether there'll be too much milk.

"When I look at myself in the mirror I hate what I see – but apparently what I see is the opposite of what there is.

"I think I look overweight and hideous. I never believe people who say any different."

Ollie said his eating problems started around two years ago, when he was being bullied at his secondary school.

"I don't know how it happened," he said. "I always felt I was overweight, but before the bullying I'd been fine with it.

"After that I just never felt hungry, started turning down food a lot and it just developed. Over time it became a lot worse.

"I feared whatever I ate would be a lot and I would put on weight; I'd feel unwell when I ate."

From early last year, Debbie repeatedly took Ollie to a GP who prescribed him nutrition drinks and referred him to counselling sessions at the Zone in Union Street.

The teenager was gradually worsening, suffering dizzy spells and poor circulation.

In October he was referred to Derriford Hospital, and was shortly afterwards diagnosed with anorexia by a psychiatrist from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

After being rushed to Derriford again in November, Ollie was admitted to the Cotehele young person's mental health unit at Mount Gould Hospital.

He stayed there for two months, with strict food plans, supervised meals and counselling.

In early January he was discharged to continue treatment at home with his mother, and his father who lives nearby – often supervised by CAMHS psychiatrists at mealtimes.

Debbie said her son's care had been good but a dedicated eating disorder unit in Plymouth – similar to the 12-bed Haldon unit at Wonford House Hospital in Exeter – could save anguish and lives.

MPs Mrs Gilroy and Ms Seabeck said awareness did need to be raised of eating disorders.

Mrs Gilroy said: "I think it's still very difficult for people to understand what the sources and solutions of eating disorders are.

"Focus and attention is needed to try and get to the problems at the earliest stages possible."

Ms Seabeck added: "It's important that people are raising awareness and we need to understand the nature of the problem in the city."

Debbie's petition can be found on the Government's No 10 website, at petitions.number10.gov.uk/youngpeopleandED