Wits End with DS Poo Withholding. Any tips?

[Drogonssmile]

5 year old DS has now gone for a week without a poo. Prior to that over the space of two weeks he had 4 soiling accidents i e full poo in his pants once he couldn't hold it in any more.

I'm at my wits end.

Over the last week he's been on lactulose and calfig. I have a GP appointment for him on Tuesday to get some paediatric Movicol. At least I hope they'll prescribe it.

He's avoiding baths because it makes him want to go. He's very clingy. He's eating and drinking as usual and seems relatively happy until we mention poo

He said he's scared of it hurting so I know he's been constipated, it's hurt and now he won't go at all. We're now on day 7.

School have been warned and have been brilliant with support but it's not been needed yet. They are on standby though if the worst should happen.

Does anyone have any advice? I've tried sympathising, cheerleading, shouting, bribing, cajoling, reassuring and this morning just crying out of sheer frustration and worry for him. Please help!?

@MrsJBaptiste you hit the nail on the head with it being the hardest thing, I'm only five years into parenting but usually I have a fairly reasonable idea or plan of action for things. This floored me and just this morning I didn't know which way to turn. Thank heavens for Mumsnet

Dd not dad

You need the ERIC website and helpline.
Google The Poo Nurses and watch the video.
The advice re movicol is excellent, but the online information will be very helpful too.

15 days @stoplickingthetelly

if he has held on for a week chances are hes very impacted quite far up , you can start by feeling his tummy if the impaction is high you can feel the lumps , I'd bypass movicol tbh and ask for picosulphate and also a referral to paeds for more investigation rule out hirschprung disease ect xxx

Steve hosges book 'its no accident' is really really helpful

Hodges

www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Hodges-Its-Accident-Breakthrough/dp/B00NBI9JSC

My DS used to really struggle, we did the movicol route and found it really difficult getting the dosage right.
I downloaded an app, I can’t rememver much about it now to be honest but I know it helped him and he still mentions it now, it’s called Poo Goes Home To Pooland I think.

in addition to all the excellent advice upthread you might find [[https://giantpledge.bandcamp.com/track/do-a-big-poo
this song]] helps to lighten the mood for your son and helps him feel a bit more positive about the toilet. It is very juvenile and really plays to kids' toilet humour, but maybe it will help in combo with the other more serious advice.

Massive poo number two today. Thanks for the continued excellent advice! Still giving him lactulose which is what produced #2 today. Still going to GP on Tuesday though despite MIL and DH thinking I'm stupid for doing so

You can buy Movicol, don't need a prescription. I just checked and saw it on sale at Amazon but you can probably buy it over the counter at a pharmacy.

I was continually constipated right up until I had a baby, then I seemed to relax and 'go' regularly. No idea why.

My son was inclined to be constipated as a baby but not that bad. The only time he didn't go for days was when he was 2.5, we were on holiday for a week in Pembrokeshire. I don't know why it was like that, could have been to do with a strange toilet. He seemed absolutely fine but I even put a nappy on him and told him it was OK to use it while we were away. He didn't like that.

As soon as we got home, he went! It was all quite normal too. Phew!
He's never had constipation problems since.

Bowels are strange things.

I'm glad your little son has done a big poo and hope things improve, op.