Eating Disorders Hospitalization - Eating Disorders Treatment and Hospitalization

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

BloomBiz: What made her finally WANT treatment?

Donna Huddleston: It came down to going into treatment or the state hospital. Her moods were becoming more violent, and that was not Sarah's real personality. Also, a friend from the net with a long history of struggling through her eating disorder talked to Sarah, encouraging her to get help.

Rick Huddleston: Bob, we did not mean to say all eating disorders treatment centers ask for cash up front. Remuda is a "highly" advertised facility, which I believe leads parent into a false sense of help.

Bob M: I understand your position. I just wanted to clarify that for the audience because I didn't want anyone to think that if they didn't have $71,000, they couldn't get treatment.

HelenSMH: They will not let her leave right? She has to stay for the entire 9 to 12 mo. right?

Rick Huddleston: As a minor, yes, she has to stay, or "run away". This is NOT a lock down facility, and they keep the girls in public a lot. It is the staff and Sarah who must decide when she is ready to leave, and Sarah (when not engrossed in her disease) agrees.

Donna Huddleston: Also to clarify, all other places we called would accept insurance. The problem was that the other residential programs were of short duration, and we knew Sarah needed a longer, extended stay to deal with her problem.

Bob M: The treatment facility though has a policy about what happens if you go back to your old eating disorder habits. Can you explain that, Donna?

Donna Huddleston: If Sarah skips one meal, she is "out" technically. They are really strict about that. We managed to get her to agree to eat after our conversation today. She was on the verge of refusing. We have had to go to "tough love" at this point. Sarah knows if she does not cooperate she will be escorted home by State Police Marshals and taken to the state hospital here. It is extremely difficult being that "hard", but if we give in, I know we will lose her.

Coral: Do you think that being there for so many months in the long run is going to be more help than a shorter program?

Donna Huddleston: Sarah is very stubborn and I hope someday she uses it to her benefit. We knew a 1-2 month program would not work, and we are seeing that already as she is in week 11.

Bob M: And she is still being combative and wanting to get out of there at times. And remember, we are also dealing with a 13 year old, not an adult who can rationally think things through based on experience.

Donna Huddleston: She is not combative physically with them, just mentally, stating at times she is not going to eat.

Rick Huddleston: It is not only the age, but Sarah has been through more than most adults...medically and emotionally. Her natural father left many scars which are taking their toll as well. If she can get through this in 3 months, or if it takes 3 years, all we want is for her to get well.

Bob M: Here are a couple of audience comments, then more questions:

HelenSMH: Oh god. I've also been to the state hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. I wish she could know that's not a place she wants to be. I was only there for three days. That's the minimum stay. It was awful.

Jordyn: Remuda looks at each case individually and does financial interviews with each case. How did you start your search for a treatment center?

Donna Huddleston: You are right Helen! Right now she is in a plush, beautiful house, on a golf course, in a regular bedroom with a room mate.

Rick Huddleston: We started by searching the web. We called and interviewed many facilities. We called the National Eating Disorders Organization, and also contacted our internet friends who are recovering for their help also. In Columbia, the doctors and hospitals were of no help. We were left to our own devices. Also, my insurance company did a lot of research for us as well.

Gloomy: I don't know if I can ask this, but what started her eating disorder?

Donna Huddleston: Sarah feels abandonment with her natural father. She is now back in touch, but it was a bit too late. There was no other kind of physical abuse. He was just never a "father" to her. Rick has adopted Sarah since we married.

Rick Huddleston: Briefly, problems with her biological father leaving her with a feeling of abandonment, a divorce, a new marriage, a move, medical problems, which together gave her a sense of total loss of control.

Bob M: Well, I have to say the two of you are wonderful parents. I know this must be exhausting, physically and emotionally for you. But you have done everything possible and a whole lot more. By the way, is your insurance covering the whole bill, or are you having to pay out of pocket now. And what do you think the bill will come to when the 9-12 months is over?

Rick Huddleston: Our insurance is paying the bill at Montecatini (which is about 20% the cost of normal hospitalization), but....does anyone have a lot of frequent flyer miles they would like to donate? :)

Donna Huddleston: By the way, we have 4 other kids that have survived all this. We constantly strive to keep communication open, as all of them are feeling the loss of our attention for the last few years.

Rick Huddleston: The stay alone is approximately $20,000 per month, plus our expenses for travel, meals, lodging. I haven't totaled it yet, but I would estimate out-of-pocket will be around $30K. To put that in context. Sarah went thru $12,000 in groceries in less than a year, $4000 in clothing, and several thousand in destruction of property.