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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

More WWYD - re medical attention?

52 replies

heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 19:31

Sorry if TMI, and for posting in AIBU but know its high traffic area.

DS is 6. He normally empties his bowels every 3-4 days. Sometimes its not very easily but as he's never been in any pain I've just monitored it as I have IBS. DS eats a very good diet, drinks plenty and excercises regulary.

Yesterday he was very tearful and I noticed his stomach was noticably distended under his clothes. He wanted a poo when out but couldn't go nd I noticed smearing on his underwear - leakage?

He woke up this morning and discovered he'd poo'd in his sleep. It was quite hard and large and he is adament he didn't know until he woke up. TBH I have no reason not to think this is true as if he wets the bed (not very often) he'll just come in with me.

This morning a few times he declared he was desperate to poo but when he got there couldn't go. He has been now 4 times today and each time has had such an urge he has soiled. Sad

He is not in any pain or seeming to be bothered by this. He has not eaten a lot today but I've made sure he's had plenty to drink (non dairy) I think he has been constipated and this is the clear out?

WWYD from here?

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stoppinchingthedummy · 08/05/2011 19:33

Ah bless him poor little mite :( My ds gets constipated and sometimes has leakage when he is really bad, it sounds like he has passed the hard bit and hopefully he will get better from today. If he is still bad tomorrow pop along to your gp. hope he is ok

Odysseus · 08/05/2011 19:34

I'm afraid I don't have any experience of children's bowel habits over the age of 17 months, but such a noticeable change from his normal habits would make me seek doctor's advice - even if it's nothing you will get some reassurance of this.

coccyx · 08/05/2011 19:36

i would go to see gp, nothing to lose and would put your mind at rest

podsquash · 08/05/2011 19:40

I agree, go the the doc. Just to make sure he's ok. Probably not a good idea to send him to school with the possibility of embarassing accidents.

bubblecoral · 08/05/2011 19:41

I would see the GP, but not worry until then.

Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 19:42

Yes I thought GP would be the best option. I am a LP and work full time, my M and D can't have DS tomorrow.

My thought is if he is still bad tomorrow (so another soiling tonight/ nightime or morning) I don't think sending him to school is fair on him or teachers if theres a risk of soiling.

Before I rang in to be off work and made a GP appointment I thought I would check I wasn't over reacting!

I have made him drink lots of fresh orange and cranberry today hoping it would be some sort of detox. Grin

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podsquash · 08/05/2011 19:49

always tricky when there is work involved, but he might really have trouble tomorrow. You cld call NHS Direct tonight to talk to a nurse or doctor on the phone? Get a better idea?

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 08/05/2011 19:51

Sounds very much like constipation which is definitely not unusual in his age group.

DD1 has similar problems soiling etc and not realising (although she also wets as well, as the constipation seems to affect her bladder sensation too). DD is now on regular laxatives (movicol) which do help significantly.

It's definitely worth getting an appointment tomorrow for him as it's no fun being constipated (can cause an awful lot of pain).

Good Luck and If is constpation the eric website may be useful.

PinkIsMyFavouriteCrayon · 08/05/2011 19:53

Oh bless him! I also think gp is a good idea, sometimes with constipation there can be a blockage, with some overflow coming past this which is beyond the persons control. Have you tried a stool softener like Lactulose?

DorisIsAPinkDragon · 08/05/2011 19:54

Oh and be prepared for a longhaul rather than an overnight 'fix' iyswim, constipation can sometimes take a considerable length of time to fully sort (although symptoms do improve). DD alsways has several clean pants etc in her PE bag just in case (and her teacher is aware of her diagnosis and so more sympathetic).

Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 19:55

Oh yeah, if he needs to stay home I don't work. My DS comes first - my employer is very understanding but I think because most of the time I have back up childcare he knows I'm off for necessity not taking the piss iyswim?

Good idea re NHS direct - they may have some advice

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MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay · 08/05/2011 20:00

He definitely sounds constipated to me..and as he doesn't go very often anyway he may well have quite a bowel full and what he has passed in his sleep very probably isn't it clearing out (sorry) but just part of a colon load.

When there is long standing constipation the bowel eventually becomes over stretched and can't contract when the urge IS felt.. and that is impaction.

My son WAS going every day but still became impacted and needed hospitalising to clear him out.. we had NO idea because he went regularly! The xray showed he was literally full of poo.

I think you are sensible to keep him off.. go to the docs and ask for movicol (they usually prescribe lactulose first but movicol is way better and gentler too)
Hope he feels better soon...

Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 20:00

Sorry lots of x -posts.

I have a 500ml bottle of lactulose in the cupboard!! And 60 sachets of fybogel!! Should I maybe give him some? Even though he's now clearing and had lots of fresh juice? (s'pose NHS direct could advise?)

He looks quite bloated again. He is not in any pain - which I get when constipated.

I think he has had boarderline constipation for a while and has maybe built up to this? Movocol is excellent stuff - TBH I'd rather try something like this first as it seems more natural iyswim?

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Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 20:05

Also, he has had hoarse voice on and off for 4- weeks. He has hayfever and allergies and I've put it down to this as its been worse (or seemed to be) after being outside.

Someone on allergy board suggested silent reflux when we were discussing hayfever and I mentioned hoarseness. It would make sense if he has been getting 'bunged' up over the past few weeks he would have some reflux at the same time?

Not that I want him to be - just seems strange hes not complained about being in any pain.

He does have stri-strips and glue on his chin though as he cracked that open Wednesday. He only screamed cried then for about 5 minutes.

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mummyplum · 08/05/2011 20:11

The dr will prescribe paediatric versions of these medications, so don't give him those. In my experience with DD (has been constipated since 1 day old) lactulose and the like are sugar based solutions and tend to bulk & soften. If you are seriously constipated they are not ideal as they don't encourage your bowel to contract unlike movicol, which medusa advises too. It sounds like he is probably impacted somewhere and will need quite a large dose of Movicol to actually move it, and then a maintenence dose to keep him regular. The trip to the GP is definitely what is needed. DD is also full of poop at the moment, so you are not alone!

squeakytoy · 08/05/2011 20:14

Is he eating plenty of roughage? bran etc

I had a terrible time with constipation as a kid and I hated it.

TotalChaos · 08/05/2011 20:15

agree about taking him to the docs and not to medicate until you have had GP advice. paed movicol is a different strength to adult movicol so I wouldn't try and guess a dose

Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 20:26

Thanks. I'll leave meds for now then. The lactulose and fybogel are prescibed for me and although lactulose gives dose for child it does say not for use with 'bowel obstruction' of which impaction would probably be classed as a minor form of?

I would say he has a very good diet. I'll list it here and so those of you with DC's who have constipation can give suggestions.

Breakfast: weetabix minis or fruity shreaded wheet.
sometimes yoghurt as well
glass of fresh juice

Morning: piece of fruit and water to drink

Lunch: tuna or paste sandwich, grapes/ cumcumber/pepper/carrot (2 diff each day), apple or banana and cake bar or chocolate finger. Squash to drink.

afternoon: piece of fruit and wrap/ breadsticks and soft cheese/toast . squash/ water to drink

dinner: pasta and veg, or meat/ potato of some sort and veg or salad. yoghurt and/or fruit. Water or milk to drink.

supper: bowl of weetabix minis or fuity shredded wheat.

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Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 20:30

sorry just to confirm the afternoon is either wrap or breadsticks or toast. Grin

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IreneHeron · 08/05/2011 20:35

Movicol is fantastic stuff, we had to get it for DS. It will totally sort your DS out.

dipsymum · 08/05/2011 20:43

My daughter has been suffering from constipation for about 8 months now, this is only really being resolved for the last three months after finally being referred to the constipation clinic in the children's ward at the local hospital. One of the main things apart from fibre that they recommend to to increase the amount of water intake, for my four year old they said she should be having at least 8 glasses of water a day - she was previously having water from at cup with a lid and it had been really hard to monitor what she was drinking. She is also on a daily dose of movicol which we are now starting to very gradually decrease, as Medusa said the bowel will now be so stretched it can take months for it to contract enough for him to 'feel' when he needs to go again. Good luck from the GP but if possible I strongly urge you to try and get a referral to the hospital as soon as possible, it took months to get this for my DD and the results were seen within 24 hours.

squeakytoy · 08/05/2011 20:48

You could add some oat bran to his cereals, (although his diet sounds fine, and I am surprised he only goes for a poo every 3 or 4 days, I am sure it should really be more regular than that).

Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 21:49

Yes, I agree it should be more than 3-4 days. I have IBS and have to eat little and often, DS has just grown up eating the same as me.

I used to have dioherrea IBS and then constipation - despite the fact I was going 4-8 times a day Shock. Think I was probably like medusa DS. I Had lactulose (30ml), 3 fybogel and 50 ml magnesium hydroxide daily for a year and now although bowels have a mind of their own I am not on any medication. Grin I do drink 4-5 litres a day.

This makes sense that this is why DS has got to where he is. I can see how taking movocol will help to get him back on track. Although he can feel when he needs to go he is just not able to hold it iswim?

I am worried that today has had an effect on DS. Tonight I told him to toilet before bed (as always) and he said he didn't need to. I repeated he needed to try and he did and did a huge wee. I really don't want him to feel worried about the loo as I know this can cause problems. Sad

I'll ring GP first thing.

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Sidge · 08/05/2011 21:53

It sounds like he has a degree of chronic constipation.

Have a look here

He needs something like high dose Paediatric Movicol to get him moving, and then maybe a maintenance dose with lactulose to keep him going for a while.

His diet is good but he could benefit from more fibrous fruits such as apricots, pears, figs etc. Bananas can be quite constipating in some children.

It doesn't really matter how often he poos as long as when he does it's soft and easy to pass, and he isn't ignoring the urge to poo in the meantime. Many children of his age are far too busy to go and sit on the loo for long enough to poo properly, and so ignore the urge. The urge then eases, leading to impacted poo and a large rectum which then loses it's tone.

It can be worth making sure he is sitting on the loo for a decent length of time each day, usually 20-40 minutes after a meal.

Original poster
heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 22:09

sidge thanks for the link, it's an interesting read. (iyswim!)

Love the idea of 20-40 minutes peace and quiet why DS is sat on the loo.

Seriously though that is an idea, perhaps rearranging bedtime routine? So dinner and a glass of fresh fruit juice with that too, then quick shower and whilst relaxed sitting on the toilet? Then he can have his cereal after and maybe a 10 minute loo break before bed?

I'll give him his squash/water in a sports bottle so I can monitor how much he's drinking.

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