DS and his poo issues and skids (age 6)....possible tmi

[lollystix]

DS1 is almost 6 and has been having issues with skids since he started school a year ago. It seems to happen a couple of times a week and tonight he came home with quite a bit of poo in his pants. I've tried to talk about it with him but he just says that 'his body doesn't tell him he needs a poo'.

He goes about 2-3 times a week and usually after sitting in the bath and then he jumps out and it's all very urgent (and his poos are huge). So he thinks I'm angry and gets all agitated about discussing it. I think he has a phobia of going anywhere other than his own toilet. He was tough to potty train as he wouldn't poo in the potty for about 4 weeks - holding it in all day until he physically pooed himself and would be screaming about it (age 2.5). Got better after a few weeks and no further poo issues until he started school but it even happns on non school days when he can be hopping about a bit holding himself and I can clearly see he needs a poo. I've tried to take him into public toilets but he just says nothing is coming out. Will this pass?

It sounds as though he has chronic constipation, which can present confusingly - big lump of poo sits in the bowel, fresh poo flows past, the bottom becomes distended and stretched and the overflow leaks out. The child loses sensation and the 'urge' to go, hence leaks and skids

GP in the first place, he'll prob need Moivcol to clear out bowel

eric website v good for advice and tips

What's DS' diet like?

varied diet - lots of fruit and beg. I have to make him drink though - he's a bit of a camel and I'm aware that this could be one of his poo issues. Think I will make a GP appointment for him. Thanks

yes, upping water intake never a bad idea

good luck, ask anytime for help, there are loads of us in here with experience

My slightly younger ds was the same so now every night before bed he has to sit on the toilet and try for a poo whether he wants to or not. I sit with him and read a story or chat and most nights we 'get' something out. Seems to have helped his constipation and no more accidents.

What Raisin said. Sounds like constipation.

This can take a long, long time to sort out even once you ahve got them in a good poo routine because the bowl takes time to shrink back down. Either movicol or fybogel should work for you. Eric website is good. There is also a llittle bookelt you can get through NHS (they have it among the leaflets in the waiting room of the childrens outpatient clinc at the hospital here) called "Lets talk about constipation" which is great for kids.

Upping fluids is good, they must be water based drinks though not milk. Try to get him into a routine of sitting on the loo for a good 10 mins or so once a day, directly after a meal is best. Ds goes on the loo after dinner while we are running the bath. At first it took ages and we read book with him, he has read most of the works of Roald Dahl on the loo! Now he slips of by himself adn has usually done a poo within a few minutes.

DH doesn't believe there is any issue which doesn't help. Thinks just asking him to drink water will sort it. He is not the one cleaning the pants though. As usual he wants to stick head in the sand