How long did it take Movicol to work for your child?

[ColourfulOnesie]

DD (4) has been on Movicol sachets since Wednesday and so far it’s done nothing!

Tbh I was expecting it to be quite quick and intense like when you need to clear out for a colonoscopy, obviously not
I purposely kept this weekend clear thinking she’d be going all day but nothing is happening

The paperwork in the box says it can take 2-3 days and we’ve passed that now so I’m just wondering how long it took for your child if they have used it?

DD had this when she was younger and it worked within about 2 days. Might be worth getting back in with the GP on Monday if there’s still no sign of it working. Hope they’re not too uncomfortable!

Movicol is gentle for me and doesn't cause cramping. How many sachets are you giving a day?

@Ejk1990 shes been on 2 sachets so we’re going to give 3 today, but that is the max we are to give her so I’m praying for something today

The ERIC website is useful.

2 sachet is a maintenance dose.

The third sachet should do it, then you can drop back down to two.

What do you mix the Movicol with? We were told to mix it thoroughly with water rather than something thick like yoghurts as it needs to be well dissolved to work. Just thought I'd mention that in case you didn't know. You can then mix it with other things but it has to be in water first. It took 2 or 3 days for us.

For a 4 year old?

Definitely up to 3, if that doesn't shift them go back to your GP. Bless them! I have chronic constipation, so I know how it feels. I'm only on one sachet now and regular.

Also make sure they're drinking enough in the weather 🙂

Assume you are also doing Exercise and
Tummy massage?

Ds1 at 3 had to keep upping his sachets every day for about a week until he was taking about twice an adult dose (consultant advised). Then it worked.

Our consultant said he'd seen grown men unable to leave the bathroom for a day on a lower dose...there's no rhyme or reason to it, it just takes longer for some.

Are you doing a disimpaction or just a maintenance dose? My DC is on 3 a day to keep him going. But it can very much be a trial and error thing.

You need to make sure they keep their fluid intake up and also make it up with the correct amount of water. We also add squash to it to hide the taste.

For my DD it took about 4 days initially but then she pooed constantly all day!

@GreatCuppa That’s how we’ve been making it, measuring out the right amount of water and then adding a splash of squash so it doesn’t taste ‘salty’
Shes supposed to be disimpacting

@becausetrampslikeus yes I’ve been doing tummy massages, had to reach right into my memory bank from baby massage classes for that one, she really enjoys them actually they seem to soothe her

@Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas that website was very useful thank you

Thank you all for the advice and well wishes, thankfully she isn’t too uncomfortable and is still chatty and playful, I will definitely up the dose and cross my fingers for her

You won’t get anywhere disimpacting on two sachets. A disimpaction regime is going up to about 8 until they’re passing ‘rusty water’ then going back down again. Depends what your doctors are aiming for.

I agree with looking at the ERIC website or phoning them for advice. I found them really helpful.

You need to follow this guide
www.eric.org.uk/pdf-a-parents-guide-to-disimpaction

Oh wow she’s having nowhere near enough then
Now I’m wondering what the doctors plan was as he said start on 1 sachet and go up to 3?!
She literally hasn’t been to the toilet once since starting the Movicol - can I just keep upping it myself, or best to go back to the GP?

It depends on the child. My nearly 3 year old has 1 1/2 as a maintenance dose.

Does the squash have sugar in it? Because the balance is meant to be very precise - it works on an osmotic basis.

Which is why you have to be absolutely precise with the amount of water it's mixed into, and not have any other drinks around that time.

Go up to the 3 today and tomorrow and if still no movement, go back to the GP. Don't go over 3 without their advice.

The squash we add is sugar free. If we didn’t, he wouldn’t drink it.

I don’t want to advise what you should or shouldn’t do, but the ERIC disimpaction is very good and is how you ‘should’ disimpact. I guess if you do go back to the GP you could show them that. It may be that your GP isn’t aware.