8yo pain in tummy - only during term time

[crosspelican]

My nearly 8yo dd loves school. She is popular, has a fab set of friends who love her, and she loves them. She does well at school. Everything is great - EXCEPT she has pains in her tummy and regular constipation with lots of poo accidents and which periodically leads to a slightly impacted bowel, overflow poo (yuck - so much TMI) and a whole bunch of Movicol to whoosh things along. We're going through this right now. I don't think she is inventing the pains - you can see she is gassy because her tummy sticks out etc.

However, we are lucky enough to go somewhere really lovely for the whole of every school holidays, so for 8 - 10 weeks of the year we are by the beach, swimming, digging in the sand, generally having a heavenly time and needless to say, there isn't even a suggestion of any pains, and although she has the odd accident (away from a familiar loo, reluctant to interrupt play on the beach etc) there is NO comparison. Broadly similar diet. Probably a lot more ice cream!

If she was my other DD who is more anxious and doesn't enjoy school quite so passionately, I'd say it was stress, and yes, it is stress, I suppose, but I am at a loss. She just loves school and everything that comes with it. But then has these pains and constipation unless we keep her at home, and ideally, take her to the beach for 6 weeks.

I don't think she is trying it on, but I don't know how to help her. GP says it's just one of these these, and possibly anxiety about school.

Has anyone had something similar and worked it out?

& to anyone who got that far. Not a poo troll!!!

(Long hols are when we go back to my home country - I work from home, so it's easy to just head off. I'm just trying to illustrate the circumstances under which she has problems/no problems - obviously we can't maintain the "no problems" environment year round!)

Is she happy and comfortable using school toilets? Does she drink enough at school?

I second Edu's questions, is it an issue with not drinking enough (my eldest is very much guilty of this) or maybe an issue with the toilets themselves (I had this as a child, and I think it is quite common).

DS2 spent the best part of half a term complaing he felt sick. Fine in holidays. On our second Dr's visit, we worked out that it was because he wasn't drinking enough. His brilliant teacher then did a daily water drinking challenge with him - end of problem.

Worth a trip to the gp. Sounds like anxiety related but should be explored for other bits. Take a look at the ERIC website too.

Could be a combination of factors diet,fluid intake, more movement on Holiday,stress. I’m also drawn to the digging in the sand which promotes a crouching position very helpful for a healthy bowel. Have you tried a squatty potty toilet stool at home. They can be great for helping anyone with constipation.

More exercise during the school breaks, more running around which makes it easier to go?

Her fluid intake isn't amazing - you're right to suggest that. It's nigh on impossible to get her to drink during the day at school (water bottle comes back full) and you have to stand over her to get her to drink a glass of water at home. Today we sent her in with Pukka cinnamon & liquorice tea in her water bottle to see if that will induce her to take a swig!

Good point about the loos in school, although she says she doesn't have the urge at school, and on the occasions when she DOES do a poo, it's in the early evening (although Saturday morning is a good time, and suggests otherwise). I think she ignores the urge as much as she possibly can.

Also a VERY good point about movement. She does do a sport but it's only twice a week. And the crouching thing! Yes - she spends several hours a day crouching and digging, or swimming during the holidays. Also because it's hot in the sun she drinks a lot more then too.

Thank you also for pointing me back to the ERIC site - I need to revise my reading there!

Lots of food for thought - thank you all!

School lunches? My ds has an allergy that gives him tummy pain, toileting accidents, etc, sounds just the same. For him it's a wheat allergy/intolerance. He can have small amounts with no repercussions but larger amounts or daily and it goes wrong . School lunches (either school meals or packed lunches) could be different to what you eat when at 'home'

My DS gets stomach ache during term. It’s because he refuses to poo at school! I even had to leave work to pick him up knowing full well he just needs to go to the loo!