To take 2yo to the hospital for constipation

[Peekaboooooo]

Two year old dd hasn't been able to poo in 7 days. Been to the gp twice this week. She's been on a prescribed laxative and had suppositories which haven't worked. She's not eating now and through up a bit of apple she attempted this morning.
Dh thinks I'm panicking but we're on route to the hospital as I don't know what else to do. She's in a lot of discomfort and won't eat. Am I overacting? I guess I just want reassurance. Should add that dh is coming with us despite not totally agreeing.

I'm not sure what you expect them to do in the hospital? I'd give it more time for the laxative to work. As long as she's drinking enough and wet nappies, the not eating wouldn't worry me immediately.

I don't know that the hospital will be able to do anything the GP can't. Have the laxatives and suppositry not worked at all?

@Strawberryfieldsforeverrr not at all

YANBU, vomiting could mean it's an impaction, best to get her checked to be sure.

@Sagedragon that's what I'm worried about after she vomited on the apple this morning

I think the hospital is a good idea. My daughter years ago, I thought had regressed in potty training. Turns out she was so impacted it was squeezing her wee tube shut, and the poo she was doing was leakage. I thought she had diarrhoea. It wasn't til she had barely weed in 24hrs that it clicked. She was kept in and had an enema and then disimpaction. She still has problems years later.

Out of hours or urgent care centre

Not A and E

I’m not sure I’d have gone to a&e, I’d have tried 111 to try and get an out of hours appointment to avoid the a&e wait, especially as they’d need to refer a child on anyway. But I also wouldn’t do nothing so it’s better than nothing!

Vomiting after a week of no poo in a small child. Yes I'd go to A&E and tell them I was concerned about fecal impaction, which is an emergency condition.

How is she in herself? Tummy pain? Is her tummy soft or hard? Temperature?

I agree I would take her to A&E at her age and with that history. My DH used to work as a HCP in a paeds A&E and Im sure he'd agree that's reasonable.

Hope she's soon feeling better OP. My almost 2 yo DS suffers from constipation frequently too and it's rubbish for him.

I would take her to hospital OP x

I used to have to take my 6 mo to A&E once a fortnight for an enema as he didn't poo at all. With them that young it's the only place (other than the ward) they'd administer it. GP would clear it with them first tho, and they could sometimes get us in straight to the ward. As you're on your way now I think hospital is the best place, but in future (or for anyone else) your GP may be able to get you seen on the kids day unit bypassing the need for A&E.

Hope all's moving again soon

Yanbu OP. Impaction is an emergency and the vomiting I'd a warning sign. Anyone that's had a child with severe constipation would agree with you.

Also, going forward I'm sure you know to increase fruit/veg/fibre and the amount she drinks...

But when my DS was constipated and actively witholding we saw a lovely consultant who also advised us to get him moving more. More trips to soft play, swimming, the more running around the better because it helps move things along. And it's harder to withold. So much so that for a while if he went 3 days with no poo we went swimming or to soft play and within 30 min we had success!

I really feel sorry for some of the kids of mumsnetters at times.

OP YANBU to go to hospital given the situation you're describing

You're not sure what you'd expect them to do for a small child who hasn't pooed for a week and is vomiting when eating?
How about a scan, stronger laxatives, enema?

I’d take her to A&E as it is or could shortly be an emergency ; I spent a night in a&e recently with my dad for this as he was in horrendous pain and the paramedics insisted we go . The nurses told my dad they had seen a 20 year old the night before for the same issue so it’s not an uncommon reason to attend

YANBU to go to hospital especially with a child this small.

All of my children suffer constipation to various degrees and I did as a child too. Very sever constipation can make it difficult to pass urine and that can be incredibly uncomfortable coupled with the fact she has been sick I think it’s best to rule out an impaction.

Things that help my kids:

Laxido (prescribed)
Suppositories for when very bad
Brown sugar dissolved into cooled boiled water.
Prune sachets mixed in with porridge sprinkled with finely milled flax seeds
Apple juice (prune would be better but mine won’t drink it)
Raisins for snack
Avoiding too much dairy
Warm bath, lots of leg kicks and a tummy and lower back massage

People often tell you to just increase fibre intake but not all fibres are equal and some work by firming things up which in turn can make things harder to pass which you will obviously not want too much of.

My 5 year old has magnesium gummies which were recommended to help reduce her night terrors. The unexpected upside is that the gummies contain sorbitol and she really hasn’t had a problem with constipation since she started taking these daily (we do an hour before bed) and night terrors pretty much gone too.

It's fine to take a child to A&E if you are worried about them. Better getting her seen before the weekend than fretting until the doctor reopens on Monday.