What can I do to help dd2 (3) who I *think* is constipated and in agony :( :( :(

[oliveoil]

dh took her to A&E yesterday as she was so bad, doctor checked her over and said he thinks it is constipation (couldn't feel anything suspicious in her tummy)

gave her some liquid - I forget the name, supposed to 'soften stools'

but she has not pooed since Monday and is getting cramps that make me want to cry

I have been loading her up with fruit and veg and liquids

any tips?

thanks

[RubySlippers]

dried apricots seem to have a very laxative effect on my DS as well as prune juice which you can mix into yoghurt as well

what about rubbing her tummy - firm circular motion going clockwise and bicyling her legs whilst she lies on her back

she may be anxious now about pooing - poor little thing

[oliveoil]

I think you may be right about being anxious as everyone (ie MIL ) keep harping on at her to 'try and go'

will get MIL to try the leg thing (I am at work, but am leaving in a bit)

[GreebosWhiskers]

Was it lactulose the doc gave her? It's a clear yellowish syrup that tastes like pure sugar - horrible! It does work (I had horrible constipation when pg) but takes a little while to do anything. Only other thing is loads of fluids, maybe prunes if you can get dd to eat them or a freshly squeezed orange. The tummy rub/leg thing sounds good & a warm bath might encourage her to relax & let go as well. Also when dd1 was tiny the gp suggested putting loads of vaseline on my pinky & inserting it (was never brave enough to try it tho').

Your poor dd - constipation's agony. I hope she feels better soon.

[LucyJones]

Syrup of Figs is very good too
But I guess if the doctor already gave her something then you might not be able to give anything else - what did they say to do?

[Sidge]

Apricots, prune juice and diluted orange juice can help get things moving. She needs to drink loads of fluids.

Also try tummy massage - lie her on her back, and with you sitting by her legs rub her tummy gently in small circles in a clockwise direction. Using baby lotion or oil is nice.

Keep giving the lactulose, it takes a few days to get going.

[Sidge]

Just re-read, not pooing since Monday isn't that long really. Keep an eye on her for a temperature, and pain around her tummybutton. (Can be a sign of early appendicitis)

[DumbledoresGirl]

You can give other over the counter remedies with lactulose if that is the liquid your doctor gave you. My dd had chronic constipation for years and this used to be an all too familiar part of our lives. Lactulose only softens the stools so you can also give things that help you to go, eg Senokot.

The surest way to ensure an instant poo (and I mean instant) is a glycerine suppository but I am not sure if you need a prescription for those or not. You could try asking at the chemist.

[GreebosWhiskers]

DG - you don't need a scrip for a glycerine suppository (I know 'cos I had to use them when pg).

[oliveoil]

thanks all

yes it is lactulose the doc gave, he said he could give suppositories (sp?) as well but dh went for the liquid

I pretended it was Calpol but she knows that it is pink so I had to squirt it in (she was not amused)

she normally goes around 3 times a day (is fruit and veg fiend) so it is v odd not to go since Monday

[DumbledoresGirl]

Poor you. Personally, I was on lactulose through my pregnancies and I never felt it made the least bit of difference. I often went to the loo and felt I was practicing for pushing the baby out.

I only found out about the glycerince suppositories when dd had her problem. Do you agree with me that they are very effective?

[Furzella]

I suspect you've been given lactulose, which is quite good stuff. It isn't a laxative though so won't actually make her go but will soften the stools so that when she does go it isn't painful. My dd1 suffered from constipation dreadfully pretty much from when she was weaned to when she was about three. If it doesn't get better very quickly, I would recommend going back to the doctors and getting a child-friendly laxative as if a child gets a complex about it, the problem recurs and gets worse and worse. It becomes an 80% psychological problem and we're still dealing with the after-effects of this. We tried to treat it with fruit and veg, liquids, prune juice, etc etc over months when actually we should have been getting some medical intervention. Dd1 had to take a laxative and lactulose twice a day for months to retrain her bowel and still gets constipated when we go on holiday or after a tummy bug. A laxative does sound like an unnecessary medicine, but it's much better to sort it out quickly.

[amidaiwish]

Monday isn't too long, that in fact is quite normal for my DDs, but i guess what is normal for one isn't normal for another.

lactulose will keep the poo soft so that when she goes it isn't hard and won't hurt her

glycerine suppositories are excellent - if she'll let you - as they dissolve the poo so that it comes out liquidy.

if she still hasn't gone by tomorrow i'd go back to the doctor and ask for movicol - it bulks up the stool and makes the bowel contract

lay off bananas, white bread, yoghurt, cheese. i also wouldn't overdo the fruit now as it doesn't sound like a lack of fruit/veg is her problem and may make her more crampy.

make sure she drinks as much fluid as poss.

the cramps sound like trapped wind - would she drink peppermint tea? gripe water?

hope she feels better soon, tis horrid.

[maretta]

My ds suffers from constipation alot and gets very upset.

I don't rate lactulose at all. It takes days to get him going and doesn't seem to make hime more comfortable - it just makes him go.

We've recently been persciped Movicol Peadiatric. It's a powder that you put in their drink and it's so much better. He's not scared to poo anymore

[GreebosWhiskers]

DG - the glycerine suppositories were the only thing that really helped me. Not pleasant to use but they really do work.

OO - you can get the suppositories over the counter & if you're not sure just check with the pharmacist that they're okay to use on children (don't see there being a problem tho').

tbh I'd rather use a suppositiry than take lactulose anyway - it is unutterably vile stuff!

[TheArmadillo]

with ds we found that lactulose made very little difference.

I'd get a suppository or go back and ask for movicol (children's laxative).

Lactulose won't actually force out the poo or break it up or anything, it'll just make it a bit softer, which if bad is little to no use ime.

[oliveoil]

do you know if you can get Movicol Peadiatric over the counter, say at Boots?

[amidaiwish]

unfortunately no, its prescription only.

[happystory]

A quite deepish nicely warm bath.
Worked every time for my dd at the same age. So much so that she usually ooed in the bath- but I was delighted!!!!

[oliveoil]

oh, grrrr, I will attempt to get an appointment before Christmas then

or maybe back to A&E?

[oliveoil]

UPDATE: (if anyone is interested that is)

she has produced, and I quote my MIL 'something that had to be SEEN to be believed'

so hopefully the blockage has eased somewhat

(apparently she 'phoned' dh at work and said "daddy I did a big poo, bye bye")

thanks for listening to my worries

x

[RubySlippers]

yay!
i am sure she feels much better ...

[bundle]

we had a terrible journey from nr manchester to london in the car - had to stop eventually at rugby, dd1 in agony, unable to ahem, go. as we were waiting to see doc in a&e she legged to the loo and virtually exploded (she couldn't wee either by this stage, there was so much pressure) (we had to chuck the knickers!) - hasn't happened since thank god!

[happystory]

Oh the relief olive!

[thomcat]

Wish I'd seen this earlier, hope she's ok now. Poor little thing. My DD lived with this for years and years until I discovered Movicol. It's horrid isn't it.

So you think it's all OK? If not let me know and I can suggest about 112 things!

[oliveoil]

I think it is ok, normally she goes all day long , is practically veggie as she refuses all meat/chicken/fish, grrrr, lives on fruit and veg

yesterday was AWFUL, really bad, I was stuck here, MIL phoned dh, he went home and she was shaking and lying on the floor howling

straight to A&E, and typically, was fine when she saw the doctor...