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Children's health

constipated 7 yr old - what to do?

6 replies

roundabout1 · 06/12/2012 09:52

Title says it all really, she's been struggling to go to the loo & has tummy ache. Any suggestion please?

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DeWe · 06/12/2012 10:15

Lots of water. Lots of fruit.

But it may be worth seeing the doctor depending on how long it;s been going on for. He might give lactilose (didn't work for my dd) or movicol which is a long term treatment.

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roundabout1 · 06/12/2012 10:39

Thanks, it's only the second time it has happened but she's been struggling since monday. Have a 3 week wait for an appointment at the doctors, I rang this morning. She does drink lots of water though, unfortunately not big on fruit although I do keep encouraging it, she will have a bit but not much. We are seeing paeds about an unrelated problem nxt week so may mention it to them.

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roundabout1 · 07/12/2012 10:39

Lots of water & fruit & syrup of figs (which was all the chemist could give us) & still no joy although she has had some overflow. I rang the doctors yesterday & they weren't helpful just said go to the chemist. Am a bit concerned with it being the weekend. Is continuing with water & fruit ok, or would I be best ringing to see if the gp could prescribe some lactulose without seeing her. No chance of seeing a gp for about 3 weeks at our doctors!

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DeWe · 07/12/2012 14:11

3 weeks ... I'd phone and ask for some lactulose.
Mention it to the paed. Dd2 ended up under a paed for constipation, so they should know about it.

I think you can buy adult movicol off the shelves. The child dose is half the adult dose. (there's in sachets) but you probably shouldn't without checking the doctor.
What on earth do you do if you have an ear/chest/throat infection, or are you expected to book one appointment a week just in case you need it? Or do the receptionist have shares in A&E? (you can ask them that from me)

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PoptartPoptart · 07/12/2012 14:49

Prune juice mixed in diet coke always helps my DS

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roundabout1 · 07/12/2012 19:45

dewe - Thanks for the advice. At our doctors if you have an emergency you can see a nurse practitioner on the day but it has to be an emergency, other than that its a wait to see the doctor, in quiet times a week at the moment 3 weeks. Does make you feel like booking an appointment every few weeks just in case!
Well improvement for dd this afternoon, things have finally started moving - yay!