Is Dd constipated... how to make Dr listen!

[Whyismycatanasshat]

How can I be more assertive with my GP. My GP has form for dismissing me as an anxious mother. He’s right that I have anxiety but I’m not being anxious about my child and her health.

There’s something not quite right with Dds bowels. She was on a laxative until 6 weeks ago, when after a bout of diarrhoea she started pooing regularly for the first time in her life (she’s 10 months) so we stopped the laxative and she maintained the good pooing. But in the last 10 days she’s been grunting and straining and only pooing in her walker or high chair. And every few days it’s explosive, stinks and goes everywhere. She also has smelly wind. When cuddling her to sleep she’s uncomfortable on her tummy.

All points to constipation I think. So I assume we need more laxative.

The GP just keeps dismissing me whatever we go for, he was late helping with her severe reflux too, everything is dismissed as it’s just her being a baby. There’s no other GP available either.

Or is it me!?

Sorry but i eould not waste a doctors tiime with constipated baby you know what to do, there are leg exercises on the Internet and over the counter treatments as well as looking at her diet and maybe exclude a few things that may be causing the wind

Thank you for your comment, I admittedly feel like I could be wasting the GPs time but
Unfortunately over the counter isn’t a suitable solution for her when taking into account other meds and issues she has.

As it turns out I was being anxious for no reason as I was fortunate enough to see a locum today who took my concerns seriously, has adjusted her meds, prescribed an additional and requested an earlier consultation with the specialist.

Alls well that ends well this time!

Try using food to keep her movements regular, like kiwi fruits.

We’re trying prunes hidden in yogurt at the moment, but I think she has another bug as she is explosive at the moment!

If she doesn't like prunes try dried apricots. Work in a similar way but more tasty, my kids loved them when little.

Actually constipated children is quite common and definitely something a doctor can help with. It’s far better to do so early before they become impacted and you have massive problems as a result.

That said, is it just reflux and bowel problems or are there any rashes etc as both can be a sign of allergies?

What's she on for reflux?

No signs of allergy; just damned reflux.
She’s on gavison and omeprazole.

Most likely due to the gaviscon, We had issues with constipation and had her on a maintenance dose of lactulose, then she had a bout of diarrhoea/stomach bug and that seems to have sorted her constipation, that and more veggies, obviously flushed her through.

I currently think she’s been constipated last week and had a clear out but has also now come down with another stomach bug so obviously I’ve stopped giving her the lactulose We got yesterday for now!

We had the same with DS, the gaviscon seemed to bung him up. Even when he came off it he was on Movicol sachets, right up until school. Whenever he got a tummy bug we'd only lay off meds for a couple of days. Then back on as he one time we didn't, I spent Christmas day with a child in pain in the toilet.

Hhmmm, you say no sign of allergy but chronic constipation can be a sign of food intolerance, as can diarrhoea and reflux. They don’t have to have skin issues (though many GPs don’t seem to be up to date on this). Has dairy intolerance been ruled out? If so, how? Has she had a proper dairy free trial for at least a fortnight?

@Abibranning We have been told she may need the laxative maintenance dose for sometime after the reflux (hopefully) subsides; but she did seem to be managing well for those few weeks, lesson learned.

@Whyismycatanasshat@Tolleshunt she has had dairy intolerance ruled out yes; we had a dairy free month at 3 months and again at 7 with no change.
We have kept several food diaries and the only common denominator with the constipation was the gaviscon. We have tried her off the gaviscon but she becomes very distressed by the vomit and vomits more, often bringing up the medication she’s had prior to the episode; her consultant has reached the conclusion she is better on it.

There is a bug going around. Thought we’d dodged it but I was violently sick overnight and she has been explosive today!

I’m also suspicious on the intolerance front. I know you’ve kept a diary but sometimes symptoms take a while to resolve as gut has to heal so I’m sceptical of a month off here and there for things.

The only thing I would say about intolerances is that it could be multiple intolerances, in which case just avoiding dairy wouldn’t have solved the issues. My DD is intolerant of dairy, gluten and soya, and until recently was also intolerant to a lot of fruit and veg, which thankfully she now seems ok with. Obviously, working this out means an extensively restricted diet for a while, which is a major PITA, and also you don’t want to be restricting a child without good reason. As Hopping says, though, it can take a long while for the gut to heal and symptoms to abate.

With the symptoms you mention in combination - reflux AND constipation AND diarrhoea, I would be pushing for a referral to a paed gastro-enterologist , as that’s a lot of things going on at once, not just standard baby tummy problems.