Mumsnetters aren't necessarily qualified to help if your child is unwell. If you need professional help, please contact your GP or local mental health support services.
Mumsnetters aren't necessarily qualified to help if your child is unwell. If you need professional help, please contact your GP or local mental health support services.
Child mental health
8 yr old soiling, getting frustrated now
starsintheireyes · 08/01/2012 20:56
As title says. Ds1(8) has been soiling for about 18 months now, there doesnt seem to be anything that triggered it. Although weve had alot of life changes-new schools/relationship breakup etc the soiling started before all this.
Hes been seen by hospital whove done bladder/kidney scans (he was wetting occasionally too but that seems to have stopped) but couldnt see anything wrong. Hes had his tummy palpated etc but nothing suggests constipation or anything. The only thing the drs have done so far is prescribe lactulose-which he wouldnt take, and now movicol, which doesnt seem to be having any effect at all. I think they prescibed these as he often seem to (sorry tmi) have quite "sticky" poo and they thought maybe thats why hes soiling.
When asked ds1 will say many things- Im too lazy/I cant feel it etc etc...who knows?
Im getting quite frustrated with the whole situation now and his best mate has picked up on it at school, mates mum has spoke to him and hopefully it wont go round school, but if hes picked up on it, its only a matter of time before other children do, and then he will be prime target for bullying. he already has to have several changes of clothes at school, because he gets in such a mess and smells so bad.
His behaviour previously 1-7yrs was awful, convinced there was something very wrong...aspergers/adhd or something. in the last yr, his dad moving out, and him changing schools has resulted in a different child...hes still quite challenging but on a scale of 1-10, it was 10, its now about a 6, so much much better(to my relief), but it seems hes traded one for the other-behaviour overall has improved and now we have soiling instead.
Ive tried rewards systems, confiscating/removing privilages but nothing seems to work, he seems not bother by it(although i suspect he is really) and will leave dirty pants lying around on the bedroom floor if I havent noticed hes changed-also whilst friends round. I come down hard on him about this as i have ds2 and a toddler, so its not on at all for him to be leaving them on the floor when the baby could step on them/pick them up. i make him put his pants in plastic bags and in the washbasket and he has to clean the bath down after hes used it.
He was also smearing, on furniture, on his toys/teddies and once i caught him wiping his bum on the curtains
Im posting out of sheer desperation, someone must have experienced this!
Any comments/suggestions/experience very gratefully received, TIA x
starsintheireyes · 08/01/2012 20:58
just to add, the smearing seems to have stopped, or at least I havent found any poo anywhere since about november
Selks · 10/01/2012 20:48
Did he experience a lot of stress while his father lived at home (reading between the lines)?
I think you need to go back to the GP / Paediatrician and ask what they suggest next. They need to think about the next step. They could refer to CAMHS. You could also speak to your GP re referral to CAMHS.
starsintheireyes · 12/01/2012 13:29
Quick update
When dad was at home, yes the atmosphere was completely different to now, dad was often agressive/angry (not ness towards ds, but ds must have picked up on his mood)
Ive moved him onto 4x daily movicol(as opposed to 2) and hes taking it in a drink at school too now, Ive made a regular thing of him sitting on the loo and trying every meal time and before going out and ive set up an incentive of a week at kilve (summer residential) with his friend if weve tackled the issue by then... the other incentive being if hes clean by the end of the day, he gets to bath with his baby sister(his choice, hasnt ever been able to). unbelievably since monday weve had no soiling whatsoever!!!, im not counting chickens just yet but i cant believe it may have worked...hope it continues.
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