4yr old DS holding in his number 2's!!!

[chocciedooby]

This problenm started a couple of months ago.DS held it in for 4 days and was in so much pain I took him to the Dr to get him checked out. I ended up having to administer an enema to flush out the blockage and then had to give him Lactulose for a week to keep his stools soft.
All went back to normal again until last wk. He held it in for 3 days again and Lactulose was started again. On day 4 at another childs Birthday party the laxatives kicked in and it was, lets just say,a messy afair and embarressing for him.
I know that he has a mental block about doing a poo as he does feel the urges but refuses to go saying that it will hurt. No matter what I do or say he will not go and we are falling into the same cycle again. He hasn't gone for 2 days and keeps asking me to wipe his bottom (it is soiled and getting sore)
Is there anyone else that is going through this or has been through it and has any advice?

[car25]

We have been going through this since August. We were on lactulose which wasn't very effective for us, and we are now on Movicol. Some days my child is fine, and other days my child withholds. There seems to be no reason as to whether it is going to be a withholding day or not. Recovery seems to be a very long process. This all started from one painful poo.

My only advice is to be calm and understanding and not get cross/irritated, and be prepared for a long journey ahead. I was also a withholder when I was a child, and it went on for years!

[chocciedooby]

Oh No, Years!!!!????
You poor thing going through it for so long already. It is so stressful.
Our DS's problem all started after a painful poo as well. They get a mental block and just fight against their natural urges. My GP did say it could be a long time.I'm going to check out Movicol and see if I can get my hands on some to try. Is it over the counter or prescription only?
How quickly does it take effect?
DS can be on Lactulose for 4 days and still nothing.

[car25]

Movicol is prescription only, and we have it on repeat prescription. It is very effective, depending on the dose your doctor advises.

I am surprised that you were only on lactulose for only one week. We have been on stool softeners every day since August. We wont come off it until my child is not withholding at all and has not withheld for quite a while. When this eventually happens, my doctor said to keep some sachets in the cupboard, just in case my child gets a painful poo over a weekend when I cannot get a prescription.

I'm resigned to the fact that I'm probably in it for the long haul. It can be so hard to stay calm when you are changing nappies 8 or more times a day with just a tiny smidgen of poo in each, but hey ho, I put my mum through it as well.

[chocciedooby]

I will check it out with GP in few days time and see if I can get it over here (Ireland).
Yes, we were only told to use Lactulose for the week after the enema and his bowel movements went back to normal. Now he is having a relapse so I think I need to try something a bit more effective as we could also be in for the long haul.
How old is your DC?
I really feel for the poor thing as it is affecting his sleep, he keeps complaining of tummy pain and has dark circles under his eyes.
If I'm honest, DH and I have been getting irritated with him about it today and that is only going to make things worse. We must try harder to be patient and calm.

[car25]

My child is 3. Your right it is so very irritating, and your life can revolve around your child's poo.

I have got a book out of the library which I have found very interesting, it is by Anthony Cohn called Constipation, Withholding and Your Child. There is a lot more to Withholding that you may think.

[chocciedooby]

Just ordered myself that book online.
Look forward to having a read to try and figure out what is going on in my little mans head.
Good Luck with your DC!
Thanks for your help.

[Othersideofthechannel]

I think my DS might not have some kind of chronic constipation.

He is nearly 5 and has been in full time school four days a week for over a year. He has never pooed at school. Usually goes every other day at home. Will use public toilets if we are out and about, seems to need to be with parents or grandparents when he poos. He is definitely worried about falling down the toilet and we travel with an adaptor seat in the car.

Over the last couple of months he has been complaining of stomach ache on and off, often just after meal times. He has a lot of wind.
About three weeks ago we had four poos in pants incidents, usually after he had complained of stomach ache but not felt the need to poo.
Since then no accidents but I have forced him to sit on the toilet when he has complained of stomach ache.
Sometimes when he undresses he has tiny poo stains on his pants (they look like a cartoon drawing of a fart).

But the poos are never hard or dry looking, they seem normal to me.