*TMI alert* Desperate and sick of changing pooey nappies!

[grumblealltheway]

Just wondering if anyone had any similar experience as I'm about to lose the will to live with my 14 month old DS2 and his bowel/sleep problems.

DS2 goes from straining and pooing hard stools to having major flatulence and diahorrea in the space of a couple of hours. His bottom is constantly sore because he poos, on average, 5/6 times a day. EVERY DAY.

He night wakes constantly - no problems settling himself off, but something keeps waking him up. Up to ten times a night He has taken to being awake for 2 hours of the night this past month also. Our whole family is shattered.

People keep suggesting allergies/food intolerance but I have no knowledge of this area. Anyone out there whose children have the same problems?

Sympathies, I'm currently changing lots of pooey pants (ds2 - 4) - seeing a specialist this week as he's just lost control after being potty trained for 2 years. GP thinks maybe coeliac disease but I guess we'll find out.

Ds2 has always had very active bowels, and was constantly sore as a baby - plus terrible wind - but it was put down to good appetite, toddler runs, too much fibre - you name it. Though the loss of control is a new one.

Does he drink lots of milk? I can't drink it myself as it gives me terrible cramps and the runs. Just an idea as to his being awake at night, as I know ds2 used to drink loads of milk just before bed?

He does drink lots of milk and has 8oZ before bed every night.

The way you describe it - very active bowels, sore, terrible wind etc sounds very much like my DS. If your DS has coeliacs would his consumption of milk affect it? Did your DS's poos settle down after he was potty trained?

Sorry about the many questions but I'm interested to know your DS's history.

I'm not sure about the link between coeliac disease and problems with milk, but I guess as coeliac disease involves a damaged gut they may be connected.

Certainly milk gave ds2 loads of diarrhoea, and we found cutting it out for the couple of hours before bedtime made a difference. We give him lactofree milk now, and he seems to be able to tolerate it a bit better.

Yes, he settled down a bit after potty training - in fact potty training was easy - but now seems to have lost control again which is really distressing for him - and for us!

Just wondered how you are getting on?

It sounds very much like my DD, we eventually worked out it was lactose intolerance. Symptoms were 3-4 loose, quite explosive poos a day, usually kind of undigested looking and acidic smelling. Very sore bum, lots of wind, odd small patches of eczema, and disrupted sleep.

Basically, with lactose intolerance, the body does not produce enough of the enzyme (lactase) that breaks down the milk sugar (lactose) - which is in all types of milk, even breast. So the lactose passes into the small intestine and ferments, causing wind and bloating and diarhorrea.

Anyway, just thought I'd mention it, but you've probably got a diagnosis by now.

Hi Bodkin - thanks for asking. No diagnosis yet but GP has referred to paed consultant after watching him poo and having a look at (in the surgery he filled his nappy, yes!) Funny you should say about the undigested food because that (and the foul smell) made the GP go from 'It's a virus' to 'Oh yes, think we better refer him.'

He is now really constipated and straining all day and then the diarhorrea comes at night. Did you just totally cut out milk for your DD?

coeliacs can suffer a degree of lactose intolerane due to the damage done to the gut, but once the gut has started to heal it should go. Depoends on the degree of long term damage done, which won't be much in such a young child.

My immediate thought on reading your OP was coeliac disease.

It can be detected using a blood test, but it's tricky in children apparently as one of the tests can often show a false negative, but I can't remember off the top of my head which one.

If you contact coeliac uk on their helpline, they will be able to advise. there is also some stuff on symptoms there too.

Poor thing, I hope you get it resolved soon.

LackaDAISY cal is right about the gut damage.

You can't go gluten free until after tests but you can try adding lactase to their diet to see if that helps. Available as Colief.