3yr old still wet at night and other toilet issues!

[birchykel]

My 3 yr old daughter has always had issues with pooing! It's either been rock solid or very sloppy. (Sorry). It was getting better but lately she is either constipated and hides in a corner in pain or it's falling from her. I a writing everything down that she eats and drinks as know doctors will want to know. But wondered if anyone has advice or has ever had this problem?
Also she is still wet at night a lot!! At 6pm I stop her drinks, she goes to bed between 7-7.30pm and sleeps through till anytime between 5-7am. But her nappy is very full almost bursting. During the day she wee's constantly. Fishes as had a drink she will do a huge wee if she hasn't it's little wee's. There's no infection as been tested. Is this normal?

Any advice would be great.
X

The loose stools are due to her constipation - sounds like it's impacted and that is the stuff leaking around the sides.

Being dry and night is down to hormone/chemical maturity not training at all.

You need to up her fluids as much as possible and probably get her movical to treat her constipation.

She drinks loads during the day and she was taking movical which helps but as soon as she stops it goes back to constipation. I'm not sure actually if children can keep on movical or not.?

As for keeping dry at night would you suggest not to worry then? I just don't understand if she's had no drink from 6pm how she can be so wet in the morning, nappy bursting.

Thanks for advice

Medically they will not be concerned about dryness at night until age 7 , in my experience 3 is still very young to be dry at night.

It does sound like a constipation problem and impaction, I would go back to your GP and get them to investigate further

I don't want to scare you, but has your GP ruled out diabetes? Im sure it's unlikely, but it might be good to check. Good luck!

I too did think about diabetes (they drink and wee loads) however I think the impaction could be pressing on her bladder and making her need to go more frequently.

It takes a long long time for a child to get fully over impaction caused my constipation often dc end up on movicol for over a year? I think you need to go back to your gp and get some more specialist advice.

I would be getting a referral to paediatrician. It could be an intolerance or low levels allergy giving her bowel problems

Thanks for the replies,
I did go and see the nurse about this and she took a wee sample for infection and to see about diabetes, she didn't seem worried when she got the results and said she wouldn't take it further. But I am going back to doctor Monday as the poor girl has been in pain today and soiling her knickers, but tiny amounts of grain like poo. Her bottom is so sore.
I put a nappy on her at 7.30 this evening and ten minutes later it's quarter full. Doesn't seem right.
In fact if she's in pain tomorrow I may even go walk in centre.

Am I over reacting?
Xx

Take her to the GP not the nurse. She may need a long term strategy to manage the bowel problem and that may mean taking Movicol or another laxative for a long time - but you need to be dealing with someone who knows about constipation, impaction and over flow problems.

The night time wetting is totally normal and to be expected but please don't restrict her fluid intake. If she wants a drink let her have one. It will help with the constipation.

It sounds like she is witholding because she is in so much pain and discomfort and she may well associate that with wearing knickers so is more relaxed in a nappy.

A 3 year old not being dry at night is neither uncommon, nor cause for concern.
So don't worry about that aspect.

I'm so worried about her being wet at night but just how much is in her nappy come morning, or like this evening within ten mins her nappy is quater full.
It started off with her being in so much pain that she would hold the poo in until she had no choice but to go, now she is in pain but doesn't ever do a solid poo normal or rock solid it's just small grainy like bits coming away throughout the day.
Gp Monday and see what happens.
Thanks again for replies

I think she's withholding everything wee & poo etc. I had horrific constipation as a child and it affected my urinating too. She sounds as though she's horrifically constipated from what you've just written.

Yes I think so too, poor girl. I feel so bad for her. I'll take her Monday and see what they say.
Thanks.x

Movicol is safe for long term use. A child can be on it for years and years.

my dd had impaction. she took movicol everyday for 5 years and even now as a teenager has to use it occasionally.

Thanks, I need to be educated on this as yesterday she finally did a poo and it wasn't too hard, but then today all small grainy bits coming away from her in her knickers throughout the day making her very sore. So I suppose I think taking movical will make it worse?
Going doctors tomorrow so hopefully I'll learn some more.

My DS was very similar but has been on Movicol for nearly a year now. Our GP said that it doesn't work like an adult laxative, in that it won't make her go more. It gently softens the stools though making it easier for them to pass.

I also had to change to the 100% water/ no chemical wipes as he was getting so sore. That seems to have helped a bit.

Well being constipated will make her far worse in the long term her bowels will stop functioning at all properly!

Movicol won't make things worse. If her bowels are blocked, it won't get better on its own. You need to her her seen by a GP, or preferably a gastroenterologist, to properly investigate whether she's impacted and put together a treatment plan. Most likely it would involve high doses of Movicol to shift the blockage, and a daily long-term maintenance dose to prevent it happening again.

What diving said

Once the constipation is sorted, she'll probably become dry at night but 3 is still very young for night time dryness.

Yes I understand long term she could get more serious problems, I just didn't understand how movical works.
Thanks Estella I think the 100% water is a good idea too although my girl will have a moan about this but it's for her own good.
I couldn't get her into doctors yesterday so trying again today, doctors are a shambles for getting an appointment. Thanks again for all the advice.

I'm really going to have to research though as I do feel a little thick.....she spent all morning having little grains in her knickers, then about 2pm did a poo in the toilet and then still had grainy poo in her knickers again, so it must be that she's impacted right? Hope the doctor can shed some light for me.

Just completely forget about achieving dry-at-night, its perfectly normal for a child not to be ready for that till age 6 even. The amount of wee can't be stopped by cutting off liquids, kidneys have to make wee and stopping her drinking will just leave her thirsty.

Sounds like others have given you the info you need on the constipation. Glad you are seeing a Dr but don't expect this to change overnight, you need to stick to treatment long term to see a difference and it will take a while to get to an unclogged and properly functioning bowel.

Thanks fish, yes I'm not worrying at all about dry nights now. I don't cut her liquids during the day, I only stop them by about 6pm although recently I haven't been doing that, I've been giving her water to take to bed.

I know it won't change overnight I just need to know for peace of mind that it's not just me being a crazy parent and worrying about every small thing.
But on this I don't think I am being crazy, I just want someone to explain it all to me and hopefully give her anything she needs to make her bowels better in the long run.