9 year old - toilet problem

[pw2212]

Dear All,

Apologies for the title but I could really do with any suggestions / advice for my DS who is 9 years old. He complains that he has tummy ache a lot and we have taken him to see the GP on a number of occasions without any real success. We thought he might have a lactose intolerance and have started buying lactose free milk and other products which seems to have helped with his tummy aches.

However now we have a problem with going to the toilet and soiling himself. Today has been a particularly bad day - I know that he has been to the toilet at least 3 times and he currently in his 5th set of shorts / PJs. We have wet wipes for him as at first we thought he was not cleaning himself properly after going to the toilet but this does not seem to have helped the problem.

He is now becoming a real problem as he is starting to smell slightly despite having 2 showers today. I am also having to change his sheets and bedding every day due to this problem.

I think the best course of action may be to take him back to the doctor but we just don't seem to get anywhere.

Once again apologies for the nature of this thread but I am not sure what else to do - any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,
PW2212

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Google chronic constipation

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Sorry, that sounded a bit curt - on phone. Constipation often to blame for soiling and may not be at all obvious.

[pw2212]

Thanks for your advice - as you say I would not have thought of constipation - I will have a look online.

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Constipation can make children wet themselves rather than just creating poo issues btw - basically the bowel gets so distended it pushes on the bladder and the constant feeling of fullness means they can't distinguish when they really need to go.

[Tigerblue]

I think I'd get a different doctor in the practice to see him and explain how things have changed. My friend's daughter has a lactose and wheat (can't remember the exact name) allergy, but you need help assessing if there is something else involved. A doctor will be able to tell by examining his stomach whether he has much in the way of stools in his system. Hope you sort something out for him soon.

[Inkspellme]

Hi, I have a ten year old son who is lactose intolerant. He has been intolerant badly since he was about 3 to 4. It manifests itself in bowel problems. Exactly as you have described. I'm not trying to be too graphic here but it is distinctly offensive in odour? From anybody I've talked to this is a common characteristic. There's a few things we have found to help.

Regular emptying of bowel - even if he reckons he doesn't need to. It stops the bowel becoming too full and basically "leaking" poo.

If the bowel is too full, the nerves at the exit point can be stretched to the point at which the poo leaking cannot be felt leaking. The daily emptying of the bowel helps this in my experience. This really helps when you're dealing with your child being soiled again - when he says he didn't realise, chances are he didn't. (although my son was not immune to abusing this one due to sheer bad habits, thankfully that seems to be a stage that passed)

Watch for lactose - it's in everything! We buy lactase tablets for my DS. They are not a cure but definitely help. Google lactase and see what you think.

Do PM me if you think I can be of any more help.

[MissBurrows]

I too have this problem with DS (9). He has been soiling himself for a couple of years now and has been seen by and given laxatives by his doctor, many time, to no effect.
I'm at the end of my tether.