Poo and bottom issues with a 5yr old DS

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DS1 is 5. For last few months we have had a few poo issues. It started just after DS2 was born and we put it down to be a bit of regression and nothing too worry about. He was just pooing his pants and it more or less stopped after a few weeks.

However, since he started school last January, more poo issues have arisen. More poo in pants, and on some occassions just pooing on the floor. This has stopped, thankfully, but still poo issues remain.

In the last week,he was complaining that his bottom hurt and wouldn't sit down. The night before he had done the most enormous poo (ie wide) that I guess would have really hurt. Another one the evening he was complaining about his bottom and it seemed another huge poo resolved it. It happened again yesterday but this time he either couldn't or wouldn't poo. It worries me as I think he holds it in, especially when he is at school and it can't be good for him. We've talked to him about it, and he says he knows where the toilets are at school and so on.

Am I worrying over nothing? Or what can I do to help him as the times he was complaining about his bottom, he looked so upset and in distress. I can't work out what is going on.

see this siteThis is a national site who are trying to spread information about this very common problem.

I think your son is constipated see here for poo size

Make sure he's drinking enough at school and eating properly and having lots of exercise.

Take your ds to the GP and hopefully get him referred if necessary to a continence clinic. If he is constipated, you will need to treat it sooner rather than later as once the bowel is stretched, it can take months or even years to get it back to its normal size. Once on a stool softener, he will be able to go for a poo more easily without it hurting and then he'll get into a pattern.

One big though, never tell him off for having accident. Try to get him to sit for 5 mins on the loo after his dinner and if he finds it hard to go, put a footstool/phone directory underneath his feet and give him a warm drink before he tries.

I have 3 DS with IBS. What you describe sounds quite familiar to one of them. It's worth investigating with GP if this continues. Some IBS is stress related, some food related and can come and go. New baby, new school - can be very stressful times and make any underlying problems worse. We also had investigation for food intolerances - all 3 intolerant to different things. No harm in making a dr.'s appt and might put your mind at res.

This book is very, very good too. Most libraries have it.

Ignore that it's the kindle one. It's like a drug pusher now Amazon. Every book you look for, here buy this electronic thingamujig. Bastards. The actual book is very good.

Thanks all.

I will take him to the GP I think next week and having had a look at the blurb on the book ShowofHands recommended, keep a poo diary until then.

If the poo is large and fills the toilet, then he is constipated, no matter what the underlying cause.

Also, if he has runny poo accidents, it's 'sneaky poo' that trickles past the stuck lump.

lucie yes the poo is very large. An enormous poo last night again, and he was clearly in a bit of pain. I agree he must be constipated. Off to the GPs we go!!!