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Bowel issues!

5 replies

pigeonflyer1579 · 07/07/2024 11:59

Hiya, wondering if anyone has been through similar/ has any advice as not sure if I'm just being fobbed off and should push the issue.

So basically I have a 7 nearly 8 year old Son. Since potty training we have had issues with his bowels, getting constipated easily. He gets belly ache and temperatures, gets backed up, and then we get soiling and he hides it in his room/under his bed because he's embarrassed. He also doesn't seem to notice when he's had an accident and tells me he can't smell it even though I can from a different room! This has been going on years on and off, Back in February we did a disimpaction plan through our GP but I believe it had come from our local hospital paediatricians.
It worked, he got the feeling back of when he needed to go and the belly aches stopped. He was on 4 sachets of laxative a day to achieve this which he stayed on for 2 months. The plan then said to try and reduce the amounts over the course of 6 months. Well we managed to get down to 2 a day but as soon as I reduced to 1 a day he immediately gets blocked up and starts soiling/belly ache again.
I have tried a few times to reduce the amount with the same affect. I spoke to the Gp last week (albeit a different one to the helpful one back in Feb) who basically said that there's nothing that can be done and he just needs to stay on 2 sachets of laxative a day.
I feel like maybe he could atleast do with some kind of tests to make sure it's not a good intolerance/ IBS or something similar? Or is she right when she tells me that most people have children that can't go to the toilet without laxatives constantly?

His diet is not the best but also not the worst. He eats a lot of fruit and is getting better with drinking and is reasonably active so I just honestly can't see why they wouldn't want to make sure there's not something treatable causing it?
Shall I ring and try to talk to the original gp as he seemed happy to try and help?
Am I being over the top?

Many thanks for any advice

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
RappersNeedChapstick · 07/07/2024 17:01

That's a bit odd saying that most DC can't poop without laxatives. Maybe a lot of the ones they see but not the wider population surely?

Has he been tested for Coeliac Disease or have you tried eliminating Diary?

pigeonflyer1579 · 07/07/2024 17:29

Hiya no they haven't tested him for anything or mentioned doing it, coeliac and IBS are the 2 I'm wondering about mostly but they don't seem interested in checking wether there's a cause for it or not, I'm just wondering do I go armed with info and demand further investigation or am I being a bit sensitive and over the top and just have to deal with the fact my son needs 2 sachets of laxative a day to poop like a normal human (his younger brother has no issues which is why I'm skeptical that is as common as she tried to make out)

OP posts:
RappersNeedChapstick · 07/07/2024 20:49

I think you're probably best reading the NICE Guidelines and speaking to the School Nurse to see what they advise.

Is he otherwise ok? Following his centiles?

pigeonflyer1579 · 07/07/2024 20:54

Thank you for that! There's a nice paragraph that states if there's no improvement after 3 months they should be referred to a specialist so am definitely going to ring back tomorrow.

He is generally well, minus the belly ache and a constant tired feeling. But in all other areas thriving and no concerns, will definitely speak to doctors again I just sometimes feel like I'm maybe making a mountain out of a mole hill, but I'm hoping in this case I'm not!

OP posts:
RappersNeedChapstick · 07/07/2024 20:58

I don't think you are at all. The guidelines are there for a reason, he definitely shouldn't be suffering, especially if he can be helped Wink

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