5 year old struggling with constipation

[Michell19]

Long story.
5 year old son was really good to potty train, but since having bad constipation, we've gone backwards massively, where we've resorted to pull ups again. Not sure whether it's due to the constipation and encopresis he is struggling. He knows when he needs a poo as he will tell us and tell us not to look, but just doesn't want to use the toilet after passing big stools previously.
He's also got a sacral dimple, he was cleared with any issues to do with this when he was a baby, so not really concerned just at a loss with what to do.

We had this with DD when she was about 3, although in her case the constipation was as a result of withholding. It was horrible and so stressful! I ended up contacting the charity ERIC who were brilliant and suggested GP, who prescribed Movicol and a disempaction regime followed by maintenance dose daily. It wasn’t fun while we were doing it but quite quickly made a difference afterwards, as I think the laxative meant it was no longer uncomfortable for her to poo. She went back to pants, using the toilet and no more accidents remarkably quickly afterwards, I was amazed. Good luck!

I think the advice to speak to ERIC and then visit the GP is very good advice. If he knows when he wants to go but doesn’t want you to look you could ask him to sit on the potty, still in his pull ups, whilst he poos. This should her him used to pooing on one place.

How is he coping with the constipation at school and is he showing any other signs of CMPA?

Thank you both for the replies. We're still struggling with it, i try and talk to him about it, but he'll just put his hands over his ears because I guess he's sick of talking about it now and hearing us talking about it. He's the same at school where he has a pull up on otherwise he will just have accidents and not change himself at school.

Following as we’re in the same situation!

Sorry you're in the same position. How are you getting on now?