Can a child's bowel problems affect behaviour - 4 year old boy

[sleepplease1]

Hi,
We discovered my 2.5 year olds chronic diarrhoea was actually overflow - consultant missed it saying it was toddler diarrhoea! Since then have been under bladder and bowel team (B&B team) who helped to disempact him - with Laxido and sodium picosulphate. He has been on both for about a year. B&B team have basically dropped us as no regular contact or real support just say to try and reduce both drugs ourselves.
I've reduced the dose to 1 laxido a day and less than 2.5 of sodium picosulhate. I'm really paranoid he'll get constipated again and disempacting him was a nightmare for us and for him too, BUT he is constantly complaining of tummy pain, especially around meal times.

His behaviour has become more challenging! He gets very angry and frustrated with us, he is quick to get angry too. He just wants to watch tv a lot and it's a challenge to get him to engage in other activities. When we are out and about it is very challenging, even just going to the library or the vets say with him he really struggles to stay in one place/room. Try's to get out of the consultation room and when not allowed to he will pinch, hurt me, seems unable to engage with the vet or what is going on/why we are there etc.

in terms of eating meals He's very reluctant to eat normal food other than sweet snack foods - it's a challenge to get him to sit and eat any kind of meal although he does eat some healthy foods if forced.
When he does go on the toilet he has lots of wind++ and still a very wet poo which isn't really formed. He is going every day though.

I'm thinking his digestive track is worn out he needs probiotics etc and wondering if anyone has had similar experience? I'm concerned that he's just been left taking this medication at 4 years old - I've tried speaking to nhs about this but get no where. I'd happily go private but don't know where to start.

Any advice on what to do about his challenging behaviour or is this normal at 4.5 years old?

Exactly same situation as my GD . Chronic constipation ,Movicol since aged about 7 months anxious,lethargic ,hiding when pooing,refusing to use loo etc …100% NT so all very baffling.
Now diagnosed with Coeliac and Anaenia . Has been GF for 3 months and the difference in her is amazing.Very slowly getting all related bowel problems sorted.

I was going to saw it's possibly an allergy too. Have they ever investigated what's causing the constipation? I've got CMPA and if I'm having a reaction I'm a right grumpy bitch. Although I would say hurting you is perhaps a bit extreme.

An allergy might explain only wanting to each safe foods too.

Has he ever been tested for Coeliac or have you tried giving him a totally DF diet. Is he under a Paediatric Dietician?

If not I'd try the DF diet, CMPA is one of those things that's usually diagnosed by elimination, and ask the GP for a Coeliac Test and a referral to a Paediatric Dietician and to test for iron levels.

In the meantime you could try the techniques in The Explosive Child to see if that helps his behaviour improve.

If he's starting school you could ask to speak to the School Nurse too

@Okokokok29 how interesting thanks, they did test him for Coeliac and it came back negative but I know he had low iron levels so not sure how that affects bowels?
I will try him on an elimination diet again (last time was when he had 'toddler diarrhoea' so didn't make any difference as he was chronically constipated). He starts school next week so I'll wait a while until he's settled in.

@PolaroidPrincess interesting you say about CMPA as I have that myself. Discovered it about 6 years ago and haven't looked back in terms of feeling so much better in myself. As I said in the last message I haven't done an elimination diet with son for a while so will look to do another one soon.
Do you know the significance of low iron levels on the bowel as he did have that come back on last blood tests?
Also thanks so much for suggesting the explosive child book, I've ordered it from Amazon. I've been listening to his pod casts on Spotify today and it's really useful info.

Hello

My daughter is in exactly the same boat. She’s also 4.5 and starting school next week. She was given lactulose from the age of 2.5 but her issue was that she was having so many wetting accidents; by November last year she was having 25 wee accidents a day and I was down at the GP every week. She was finally referred to the continence team and we’ve been under their care since. It wasn’t until I spoke to ERIC (an amazing bladder and bowel charity) whilst waiting for the referral, we realised she was impacted. We have done two lengthy disimpactions now and were referred to the peadiatric surgical team for further investigation. It’s been a really shit time (excuse the pun…) and it’s a daily challenge getting her to do toilet sits and get to the toilet. It definitely has an impact on behaviour and we often know if she needs a poo because she goes all quiet or hyper/cross. ERIC pointed out it massively affects behaviour because a. They’re in pain and uncomfortable, b. If they’re impacted it actually alters their body chemistry and c. the older they get the more aware they become of their toileting habits in comparison to their peers. There’s a link between neurodiversity and constipation too.

Has he been tested for allergies? Had a stool sample analysed? If not, go back to your GP or BB service and ask for this.

We cut out dairy but I’m not sure how much of an impact it’s had as she’s on such a high dose of laxido and pico still but considering your allergy, I’d explore that for your son.

We’ve ended up going private and seeing Dr Anne Wright down in London at Portland Street hospital. She’s one of the experts in the field. We were waiting for coeliac screening so they did that and have also tested for thyroid and vitamin levels. She’s just had a transit study and x-ray - we’ve not spoken to Dr Wright yet about the results so not sure what the next steps are. We were desperate and felt like we had been waiting for answers and help for so long - it’s really holding our daughter back and impacts her quality of life greatly. I totally empathise and sympathise with you because it’s such a hard and stressful situation to be in.

If you haven’t already, I’d speak to ERIC and join Movicol Mummies group on Facebook. I also recommend reading ‘It’s no accident’ by Dr Steve Hodges and ‘Stool withholding’ by Sophia Ferguson. Also speak to his school; my daughter had a care plan for nursery and will have one at school too. It is a medical condition so they have to accommodate it.

It sounds like you’re doing your absolute best for your boy 💛