to go to A&e with my dd3 *pictures*

[littlemaemae]

My DD who is 3 has been having stomach/bowel problems for the last year. Diagnose as constipation. She can not pass a stool for weeks despite fantastic diet and laxatives and weeks is in severe pain most days. She is very petite and skinny but her stomach has swollen to look 9 months pregnant. Getting no where with doctors/hospital etc.
Aibu to think this is not how a heathy child's stomach should look.

She has eaten like a horse this last few weeks. I have been giving her all the foods I should. Tons of fibre. Fruits and vegetables which she loves.
Lots of water and very careful with how much milk she has. She is not a chicken nuggets and chips child.
I was pleased her appetite was back then very concerned where this food is going.
I can hear in her voice she's struggling

Sometimes lots of fibre and roughage isn't good though, especially if things are slow moving - I often get put on a low residue diet (basically white stuff - White bread, White rice, chicken etc), and have to avoid vegetables almost completely.

Ask at GP about dietary advice due to her bowel trouble (it is often the complete opposite to the accepted 'healthy' diet).

Def go to A&E though with the current problem.

Please just go to A&E. They aren't going to dismiss a child who hasn't pooed for 21 days. With any luck, this will precipitate the further tests/scans you've been wanting.

Please go, and let us know how you get on. She must be so miserable and in so much pain - but probably used to it. It's her "normal", poor kid.

I would take her to A&E and politely "insist" on a scan. If that is what will help this awful situation go and do it.

If it helps I had stomach problems/bleeding and was sent for a sigmoidoscopy - or i think that was what it was called (a small flex with a camera attached that is inserted in your anus). They had to abandon mission due to it being very painful. I was then sent for a colonoscopy (which is a huge tube that is inserted) There was no way I was going to cope with that whilst awake so I insisted on a full anaesthetic. I don't feel at all guilty one bit.

Your child is in constant pain OP and that's what they're there for.

Can you pay for a scan privately?

My little brother looked like that when a baby (he's 18 now). He was finally diagnosed with Hirschprung's disease and I can remember it was just like you describe, weeks with no poo, big stomach with stick like limbs and screaming in pain on regular basis, especially when trying to poo. My mom kept being told to give him laxatives and wait, until she finally threw an ungodly ruckus, my brother got scanned, sorted and now he's a strapping 6 foot and muscles wherever you look.

Go to the paeds and demand justice... I can't believe it, the child is screaming in pain and they keep dumping her into someone else's care and she isn't a priority to her consultant, so an August appointment is deemed sufficient!!! It makes me pout steam through my ears in rage... A 3 year old!!!

to you OP, kudos for putting up with all this...

Thing is, a scan may only prove the obvious - that she's badly impacted. The key question is what's causing her gut to function so abnormally.

Hirschsprung's is diagnosed with a biopsy of the bowel IIRC. They need to check the bowel tissue for nerve cell damage.

If she is in lots of pain then go. Not drinking is also a worry as she will become dehydrated and it will not help with the constipation.

It could be severe constipation, dietary issues but chronic pseudo-obstruction is a possibility and there are other GI motility disorders they should be ruling out. Has she never had any scans at all?

Poor girl, her belly looks rock hard at the bottom. She must be in awful pain.

Do take her to A&E. I swear some people on here think everyone should wait until they need resuscitation!

Have spoken to 111 who advised I call gp. Currently waiting for a call back.
I will beg gp to call the pead ward and get her seen as the doctors on the ward are fantastic.
She has pneumonia over Christmas which was put down to constipation and a cold. And the doctors on the ward were amazing once we finally got there.

I am so grateful for the support I am receiving. And will use all the information you have given to to push for the help she needs

Please go to A&E OP. I worked for paediatric gastroenterologists & they would always say to take to A&E with distended stomach, no bowel motion in a week AND abdominal pain.

If anything, you need something different to Movicol & she may need an enema or even colonoscopy.

Don't take 111 as gospel as they haven't SEEN your DD.

A&E can refer her to the paed ward as well. You don't need to call the GP for that. And it's late, do you think they'll even call back?

Agree with Vagueideas that a scan could well show impaction and that cn be relieved pretty quickly, but it's what is causing her bowel to be like this that is the bigger question. I think there's often a dismissive attitude to bowel problems, unless total emergency. DD was misdiagnosed for 5 years with IBS when she actually had ulcerative colitis. She was away at uni at the time and moved around a lot and was brushed off constantly with stress related IBS, despite having mucus and blood in her poos and losing weight. It just wasn't taken seriously and it really should have been.

If you do take her to A&E, it's ok to be assertive and ask that a scan and some tests be done for coeliac/hirschsprungs/allergy etc to be run. If she is is skinny yet eating well, I really would be questioning how she is absorbing the nutrients from her food. Really hoping you get some answers. It's awful for you both.

I think direct referral to the paeds ward, or paeds observation unit is a good plan. Somebody medical needs to look at her very soon.

Given what you've described I would take her to A&E. However, pick a time that won't be busy and overcrowded or you may come home with worse than you went in with - I have recent experience of this.

Bring her to the hospital. Go with your gut instincts on this, she needs help and shout on her behalf if you have to. Best of luck x

OOH GP can refer directly to paediatrics inpatients.

I was in a situation as Leta86 described with Ds,I had already had my eldest misdiagnosed with a condition that should've been picked up at birth then shockingly correctly diagnosed at 13.
I told the doctor I had had enough & if anything went wrong with Ds that I would sue (different issue ,not stomach),they admitted him & as it happened he took a turn for the worse & was operated on the next day... So much for being a virus.

I believe sometimes you have to trust your instincts,she surely can't be left until August.

I see the thread moved on whilst I was posting,good luck Op

screw it. I'd go. there's something they ate missing.

allergies
coeliac

or hirchsprungs as suggested

or a blockage/growth of some sort.

if none of that's crossed a GPS mind by now then it's not going to.

at the very least a&e can give her a scan.cray and/or an enema and buy you some time to get hold of the consultants.

I absolutely wouldnt wait incase I increased risk. of permanent damage

That's not normal toddler tummy and I'm amazed that anyone thinks it is. A&E is now often referred to as 'urgent care' and constipation can be an emergency. It sends older people into delirium. The toxins back up.

I would want a proper assessment very soon. Regardless of cause, symptomatic constipation lasting 21 days needs investigation.

While you are waiting for a call back I would be packing as if you are going to hospital and staying overnight.

I really hope you get the help you need for your DD.

Had a call back and he suggested adding lactulose and wants to se where at 8.30am tomorrow.
Feel like banging my head against a wall.
I'm going to get a bag ready and go to a and e.

See her I mean!