URGENT child constipation

[frostedviolets]

For traffic.

I am of course going to call GP but they always take ages to respond.
In the meantime I am hoping I may get additional help on here...

Or is 111 necessary?

My DS (11) is really constipated.
He’s been trying to ‘go’ for over an hour and can’t except for a tiny bit of diarrhoea.
He’s in a lot of pain and a bit nauseous with the pain.
Have given 1 movicol, I know he can have 4 but don’t know if it’s safe to do 4 in one go.
I am assuming it has to be spaced and plan to give another sachet in a couple of hours.
Currently sitting in a warm bath.

Is there anything I can do for him in the mean time?

I am worried about impaction?

I really recommend the child glycerin suppositories for crisis situations, and longer term, I find fresh cloudy apple juice to be great for keeping it going. My 3 year old suffers from this and these are the things we've found to be the most helpful. Sympathies!

Definitely try a glycerin suppositories

Glad to hear he managed to go OP!

I battled with constipation a lot as a little kid (and now I'm a Reception/yr1 teacher I realise how common it is!). I spent quite a number of years on and off lactolose!

My child was hospitalised 3 times last year & had 6 months off school until they diagnosed an impacted bowel - 4 movicol is his maintenance dose - it’s not absorbed so safe. Even if your child is passing stools, he can still have an impacted bowel! Check out Bristol chart - stage 4/5 is where he wants to be. Good luck! & insist on getting help ASAP

Another recommendation for glycerin suppositories-my ds is a similar problem when he was about 12

@frostedviolets

Well, I’m still waiting on a call back! Fortunately the Movicol has actually worked really well and quickly. Very relieved!

He’s had two sachets so far, he can have 4 so I’ll give him 2 more later then all being well 3 tomorrow then 2 then maintenance dose of 1 for a few weeks.

If he is impacted he’ll need a higher dose than that for longer.

www.eric.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=2b77da4b-077f-4798-bdda-7b8f65e4173c

My son has chronic constipation so 4 would be fine. The diarrhoea is overflow. As others have said feet up on a stool whilst on toilet, def helps my son sits with legs crossed how he does it I’ll never know. Getting him into healthy bowel habits is really important see Eric for advice, so glad movicol worked and he took it. Would he let you do a suppository? As they get older kids tend to refuse (paeds nurse) we can give pain relief this way but have to have consent as it’s PR so not the nicest route.
Anyway glad things are sorted and Maintenance dose works as I know how Uncomfy it can be, warm baths help move things/relieve pain too.

Another update.

I have asked HQ to remove as it’s not really AIBU and DS wouldn’t be at all happy if I knew I had been discussing him online.

But for the meantime..
it’s now 17.30 and I haven’t had a call back!
Really, really annoyed.
Our GP surgery has always been poor anyway but I’m really not impressed at all.
They knew how much pain he was in, they knew I was unsure how much to give him.

I have had to do the dosage from reading up on google, I’ve attached the website I’ve based his dosage on 😡

Further further update...

My youngest DS has messed about with the house phone and put it on silent!
So the GP probably has been trying to phone after all..

Must try and find a spot higher up where he can’t reach!

Oh bless him OP! I was a bit younger than him when it ended up so bad I was referred from an emergency GP to the hospital in the middle of the night for an enema. Not a situation I'd ever like to repeat!

Awful to have something that's both painful and deeply embarrassing at that age (or any age really). Hope he's feeling better very soon x

@frostedviolets

Another update.

I have asked HQ to remove as it’s not really AIBU and DS wouldn’t be at all happy if I knew I had been discussing him online.

But for the meantime..
it’s now 17.30 and I haven’t had a call back!
Really, really annoyed.
Our GP surgery has always been poor anyway but I’m really not impressed at all.
They knew how much pain he was in, they knew I was unsure how much to give him.

I have had to do the dosage from reading up on google, I’ve attached the website I’ve based his dosage on 😡

It’s frustrating that there isn’t an accepted process for treating impaction, personally I would trust the ERIC charity. My nephew has had to go through disimpaction twice and it has worked both time following the ERIC guidance. Their helpline is brilliant too, I guess it may be a bit more difficult to get through at the moment though.

Another vote for ERIC or follow the directions on the package leaflet. You can view it here if you don't have it to hand: www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/52/pil