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Children's health

Poo withholding

8 replies

Mollmoo · 27/07/2016 21:20

DD1 suffered really bad constipation when she was 18months. She is 4.3 now and since then has feared pooing as she associates it with pain. So she holds it in. She has been on movicol but it doesn't really help. We have seen a specialist but that was a waste of time. She was doing really well, pooing every day / every other day for about 2 weeks but now hasn't pooed in 5 days. The last 2 days she has tried to go but either stops cause it hurts, because she's been holding it so long, or just can't push it out. It's been going on so long and I'm just lost. We've tried everything. Has anyone
else been through/ going through something similar?

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BITCAT · 27/07/2016 21:32

I have and am still going through this. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news my son is now 13 and still on movicol. We had overflow and has been on it since about 18mths. They weaned him off and he went right back to square one. Noone can say what the actual issue is..I had to fight to get any tests done. He hasn't had a proper solid poo for a long time. Can I ask how long after birth did your dd1 have his first poo. Mine was 4/5 days he has struggled since day one..they said it was his diet..he was breastfed..he is very picky now refuses fruit or veg of any description and is being diagnosed with aspergers. They classed him as chronic constipation. Now trying to wean him of it again and I'm terrified he will go.back to having overflow and get clogged up again. Do you know why your dd1 is/was constipated?

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BITCAT · 27/07/2016 21:37

The bowel needs to be retrained to go to the loo because the muscles may have been stretched etc and weakened.
Have you got access to a clinic, we had a special constipation clinic..I was advised to get him to sit on.the toilet after food to try have a poo. So maybe try that

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Mollmoo · 27/07/2016 21:42

Hi, I'm fairly certain she had a poo on the first full day. In fact when she was little she had quite loose bowels. We have no idea what caused the original constipation, but it definitely made her fear going. It makes me so sad and it's terrible having to fight the Dr's to get taken seriously isn't it. X

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BITCAT · 27/07/2016 21:55

Oh yes it really is. The way they look at you and speak to you..it's like it's your fault.
Its so stressful you just want your child to be able to go to the toilet without medication and pain.

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bangingmyheadoffabrickwall · 27/07/2016 22:14

I've just posted (again!) too about this.

Frustrating isn't it?

I fear my DS aged 4 being ostracised because he is now 'happily' going about his day wet and soiled!! He holds it but claims he doesn't know he needs to go which to me is an obvious lie as his holding is so blatantly obvious! He has now started to wet himself too.

We had a dreadful time from being 2.4 years up to 3.7 years and everything was good for a year up until a few weeks ago.

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BITCAT · 27/07/2016 22:23

It's a nightmare. There's nowhere near enough help and it's much more common than you think.

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Mollmoo · 27/07/2016 22:58

I really do empathise with you and feel your pain. I feel so frustrated and helpless! Yes absolutely like it's your fault or that you are just over reacting about it. I generally get "it's very common" or "she'll grow out of it" which may well be true but that doesn't help right now. I actually had one dr ask "have you tried a reward chart?" !!!!!!! WTAF! Really? No, never thought of that!!!
I also really fear her being ostracised and bullied about it. I'm already dreading the day it happens. This evening she was trying to go but couldn't and she told me she was scared and then that she was too little to be able to do it. It honestly broke my heart!
Thank you for relying though, it means a lot. X

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Mollmoo · 18/08/2016 14:12

Hi, I just wanted to give an update as I am so so so so happy. A few days after my first post DD woke in the night very uncomfortable, I managed to persuade her onto the toilet and she managed to push out a few huge boulders! She was in agony. By the next morning it was obvious she still needed to go. I increased her movicol, I got some syrup of figs, we made Sundaes out of natural yogurt, dried fruit, honey, bananas and sprinkles. I made her a worry doll that I told her she could tell her worries to and she would take them away for her and I dug out my old baby massage notes and we played a "tickle" game and I performed the moves that are good for bowel movement. On day 2 of this she had a huge poo and although she clung onto me, she passed it quite easily. She has been every day since. Every. Single. Day!! Yesterday she even went twice! And she will happily go without having to hold onto me. Also we stayed with my parents for a few days last week and she went several times at their house and also in a cafe toilet! This is the best she has been in probably 3 years. I'm sure this isn't the end of the struggle but it's so nice to have a bit of respite.