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AIBU?

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.

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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Sidge · 08/05/2011 22:17

Sorry should have made it clearer, he doesn't have to sit for 20-40 minutes, but to go to the loo 20-40 minutes after eating. We have a gut reflex that causes us to open our bowels after eating but most of us ignore it and it's 'lost'. Sitting after eating can help us 'relearn' it.

But sitting with a book or something for 10 minutes or so is worth doing. Also, daft as it sounds, blowing bubbles is good as it relaxes the anus and rectum and can make pooing easier!

squeakytoy · 08/05/2011 22:21

Coffee is a good natural laxative, perhaps he could have a milky coffee if he likes drinking that.

I would be wary of too much fruit/squash, as that can be too laden with natural sugars which can effect the bowels too.

heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 22:22

LOL - I was wondering how I'd get DS to sit still for 20 minutes let alone 40!!

So routine of dinner, shower and dry then loo would work then?

DS will love sitting on the loo blowing bubbles - and a great way to keep him there. Thankyou they are brilliant ideas.

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heliumballoons · 08/05/2011 22:26

AIBU to go to GP and basically ask for/ suggest DS may need Movocol. (obv will explain the situation). I just want to avoid the pissing around.

DS has an appointment with his cons pead about his allergies in August, she is a gastro specialist so guess if GP feels he needs specialist at least we already know (and love) a good one so I can request a referral to her? She may agree to double discuss at his checkup?

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heliumballoons · 09/05/2011 08:48

So have appointment - which was a fight! Called in work to say I wasn't there and DS school - who wanted to know what was wrong . Is that usual? I had said DS not well so wouldn't be in. She went quiet when I told her constipation and loss of bowel control (not nice for them or him!).

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squeakytoy · 09/05/2011 08:50

I would have thought it normal for the school to ask the reason for his absence. :) Hope the appointment goes well.

valiumredhead · 09/05/2011 08:52

Glad you are taking him to see the GP because it needs sorting - you will probably be prescribed something that will need taking over a longish period and possibly reffered to the dietician - a friend is going through something similar.

Good luck!

valiumredhead · 09/05/2011 08:54

Oh and sorry to be graphic but if he is loosing control that means there is a hug 'back up' and it's leaking down the sides.

Going to the loo every 3 - 4 days indicates there is something that definitely needs sorting.

Again, good luck at the doc's!

valiumredhead · 09/05/2011 08:55

HUGE not hug

heliumballoons · 09/05/2011 12:32

UPDATE:

Saw GP, a lady who I've seen once briefly - very lovely.

Said I think he has constipation? Just mentioned past about how he only goes 3-4 days, and sometimes really forces. Told her about the weekend.

She asked if he had a good diet and I said yes - I did say I bet all parents say that but he really deos have lots of bran/ fibre cereals and likes his raw veg and fruit. DS pipes up red pepper is my favourite food so I think she did believe me.

She agreed it was constipation but his bowels are now clear Great news and he has 'laxido' to take for at least 6 months daily. I have looked at internet and its the same ingredients as movicol (macrogel 3350).

DS fine today - as I say empty so no problems but I'm still glad I kept him home.

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Sidge · 09/05/2011 13:12

Brilliant news

Yes Laxido is Movicol, but cheaper! Hence why we now have to prescribe it.

Hopefully with the Laxido, along with a toilet programme, will keep him running free

podsquash · 09/05/2011 13:26

Good news. Hopefully school will be no trouble for him to manage now.

valiumredhead · 09/05/2011 13:31

Oh good news, did she explain the importance of keeping up with the Laxido over a period of 6 months? Because the constipation changes the shape of the bowel?

heliumballoons · 09/05/2011 14:31

She did say at least 6 months then to reduce to every other day, every 3rd day etc over a period of time. Obviously to go back if theres any more concerns.

I am sending him to school tomorrow as she said he's clear so I know he won't have problems and the laxido will just help him.

She said if he needs more to do it at the weekend (pref Fri night) not a school night.

sidge LOL, it only comes as adult dose though so have to do 1/3 - 1/2 of sachet, can have a whole one if becomes inpacted again. At least movicol (the posh brand ) do a peadiatric version.

DS gave me the look when I said its for his drink to help him poo, actually more of a fuck off mother look. So I think it will go in there silently.

Also good news his stri strips are hanging off his chin by the glue!! Hopefully that will fall off later. He is desperate to go for his swimming lesson later and I think the excercise will help his tummy too.

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SarahStratton · 09/05/2011 15:02

DD2 is on Movicol for the same reason, again 6 months then a hospital follow up. It is truly disgusting stuff, but fairly well disguised in orange juice.

heliumballoons · 09/05/2011 15:06

Its orange flavoured so yes orange juice may work - thankyou. I'll try that.

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flyingspaghettimonster · 09/05/2011 15:54

This is really gross, but what I did for my little girl was to put olive oil on a flinger and, um, remove the blockage manually. Totally horrific experience, but it worked without ripping her or causing the pain passing it would. She was 5. I would also see a doctor if it is going on a while...

heliumballoons · 09/05/2011 17:53

Not totally gross - a bit maybe!- but I have used a suppository on DS before - can't be any worse.

Only problem I had was I didn't realise it was so bad until he'd passed the blockage. He wasn't in pain.

Hopefully now he has laxico it won't happen again. He can have increased dose if it does.

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chocolatehobnobs · 09/05/2011 20:07

I'm a surgeon and often deal with this sort of thing. Definitely did the right thing seeing GP. He might benefit from some suppositories too (like glycerine supp) they are good if there is a hard stool sitting in the rectum which the child can feel and is desperate to pass (softens it and helps it to pass gently). In general we try to avoid bottom end treatments as children don't like but might be useful if the situation you described happens again even when taking movicol / laxido.

smsm · 09/05/2011 20:29

yes, sounds like he's constipated and needs some movicol. This is fantastic stuff which softens the poo and make it easier to pass, without encouraging a 'lazy bowel' or anything like that. it just adds water to the poo without being absorbed. he might need quite big doses at first, to clear the impaction, but it should get sorted fairly quickly (maybe needs a few days off school though, as soiling can get worse at first, whilst the blockage is cleared.)then just a small amount for a while will keep things sorted.

heliumballoons · 09/05/2011 20:51

He actually did another poo this evening before taking any laxico. He never goes 2 days in a row. He did however have to go as soon as he needed - maybe that is the loss of feeling/ urge other posters have mentioned?

Hopefully this means its all starting to move in the right direction (south!) and now it seems the impaction has moved he'll continue to go regulary?

The GP said his bowels were clear which is positive. TBH though he must have been very backed up the amount he's passed in the last 48 hours.

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DorisIsAPinkDragon · 10/05/2011 22:14

tbh without an xray I don't think the GP can say the bowels are definitely clear (fingers crossed they are tho') They can store a LOT of shit (sorry!) up there!

Hope he'sfeeling a bit better about things today

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5318008 · 10/05/2011 23:12

my top tip is to avoid banana and weetabix as they can (anecdotally and IME) produce a dry hard stool that is difficult to pass

heliumballoons · 11/05/2011 07:11

Thankyou. I have said no bananas in his lunchbox. He has asked for raisens instead but iirc they can cause constipation too?

He has fruity shredded wheat at the mo so will probably stick with that. Cereal is the only think I don't buy supermarket brand!

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heliumballoons · 21/05/2011 22:02

UPDATE:

DS has been on the laxico for nealy 2 weeks now. First off he didn't open his bowels again for days so I gave him 1/2 sachet daily and then whole ones. . He did eventually go but was a struggle. Tried 1/2 sachets again but nothing so went up to a whole again. He then had a very watery stool (he told me this but was at school). Today he had a formed stool but he still had to push fairly hard.

We have been doing bath and toilet every night. We have been blowing bubbles, blowing up balloons and letting them fly around the bathroom, blowing bubbles in water with straws etc. Its not worked to get him to go - still waiting for sudden urge then the rush to find a loo but I'm hoping it will help him to get the feeling of how to go back.

Does anyone think going every 2/3/4 days on laxico (movicol) is normal or should I be aiming (as I am) for him to go daily/ every 2 days without effort?

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