Can anyone advise? 10 yr old DS suffering fecal incontinence

[CrockedPot]

I've noticed my last few loads of washing from DS (10) washing basket had a strong smell of poo so did a bit of exploration and found a couple of pairs of soiled underpants. I've just gently asked him about it and he got very upset, said it's been happening for a while - he goes to the loo as normal but will later realise that he has had an accident, and has been changing his pants and trying to clean himself up. He said he doesn't have the feeling that he needs to go, and only realises he has when he feels it in his underwear. I feel so bad for him, have told him we need to go and have a chat with GP and it maybe a food allergy or something. He feels relived he has discussed it with me now, as he has been worrying about it for some time. Has anyone got any experience of this and any idea what might have caused I? He has previously had no health issues/allergies so this has come from no where really and I am so very worried.

[Littlefish]

Google "encopresis" - it could be that he is constipated, and is getting some overflow poo escaping.

[CrockedPot]

I thought that but he says he does go every day - could he be doing that and still be getting an overflow?

[Littlefish]

From what I've read, yes, he could still be going a bit each day, and still get overflow.

It depends how much of a "plug" there is, I suppose.

I think going and having a chat with the GP is a good idea.

Would he feel comfortable about talking about what sort of poo he does every day. Is it hard, rabbit poo sort of poo?

[CrockedPot]

he will talk about anything usually, which is why I am feeling a bit heartbroken that he has been worrying and hiding this...I didn't think to ask about that but will have another chat with him tomorrow, hopefully now that we have had this initial chat he will be more open about it - I have asked him to tell me every time it happens so I can sort out the washing situation (he is desperate for his 8 year old brother not to know) and we can work out if its something he has eaten. I will definitely make a doctor appointment on Monday though. Many thanks for replying, I really appreciate your help.

[iwouldgoouttonight]

Yes you can be constipated and still poo every day. My DS (8) has had encopresis for years but it's only just been diagnosed. We (and our rubbish GP) assumed he couldn't be blocked up if he was going every day.

If that's what it is its easily sorted with movicol or similar laxative to clear the impacted poo and allow the bowel to return to normal. With DS because it had gone on for so long it is taking a long time to get better so I think it's best to go to your doctor as soon as you can.

Apparently 'slow transit', where the poo takes longer than usual to travel through the bowel so it dries out and becomes stuck, can be caused by lots of things or not even have a cause at all. We've found DS is better when he cuts down on wheat/bread. Regular exercise had also supposed to help stop constipation happening in the first place.

Hope your DS gets it sorted soon.

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Yes it could be encopresis. See your doctor, and be aware it can take a long time to resolve fully.

[CrockedPot]

Thanks iwouldgoouttonight - that helps too...I will definitely seek medical help but that does make sense. I will try and stop worrying for now and see what the doctor says.

[CrockedPot]

SchnitzelVonKrumm, thanks for replying...I saw the doctor who examined his tummy but couldn't find evidence of anything impacted in his bowel but prescribed a laxative powder for him to take twice a day anyway. Since then he has only had two days where he hasn't soiled. He has been to the loo regularly (often twice daily) so clearly it isn't due to constipation. I have done some research on Encopresis and it is usually due to constipation though not always and if not, is usually behavioural. This doesn't seem to fit with him though - every time it has happened he has literally stood up and then realised he has done it. Has anyone got any suggestions? We are going back to the GP next week but is there anything else I should be doing? His diet is varied and good, with plenty of fibre and vegetables, he drinks plenty of water and he exercises daily. Many thanks in advance,

[clairewitchproject]

My son (8) has / had fairly chronic encopresis, it would come in clusters like your DS, and he never knew it was coming. I was very sceptical that it could be constipation as he has always had rather 'porridgey' poo that tends to come on very urgently. It seems to have been improved after a month of movicol though. However the other thing that we find that helps is avoiding lactose - we switched to lactose free products and saw a clear improvement though not a complete cure. The doctor said some people can react with loose poo to fruits esp bananas as well. In DS' case I think it is exacerbated by his very low general muscle tone, I think he has poor body sensation awareness and rather single track attention and it tended to happen when he was very intently focused on something else (usually on the computer).

Is there any pattern to when your DS has his accidents?

And maybe try going low on fruits and off lactose for a while to see if that helps.

[CrockedPot]

Hi claire that's really useful, thanks - he does eat quite a lot of fruit so I'll give that a go. In terrms of patterns, it seems to happen around tea time, so I have started reminding him to go when he gets in from school,and we've had a few good days in a row now. He is taking two doses of movacol a day at the moment.