It's all about the poo

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

Ds(10) has always had bowel issues. He was recently diagnosed as having a fecal impaction and treated with movicol. He has been on a maintenance dose of two sachets a day for the last fortnight. He is still soiling. The GP has referred him to a paediatric gastroenterologist for further investigation. The appointment is in 3 weeks.

I'm glad it's being taken seriously and is being looked at. But I'm struggling with the poo. He has no control, but refuses to admit he isn't clean even when it's obviously the case. I don't get cross about soiling, but it's getting harder not to get annoyed at him leaving filthy underwear on the bathroom floor, poo on the floor and dirty loo paper in pieces all over the place. At 10, I get that he's embarrassed but he won't meet me halfway at all. I just had to change his bed because it was full of dry crumbs of poo. He would have happily slept in it :(

I am sorry that both you and your son are going through this. It must be frustrating for you both. I have no advice to give as I have not had to face this problem but did not want your post to go unanswered.

How does he manage at school? Does he have to change underwear at school? If he does and puts soiled pair in a bag to take home can you set up a routine where there is a laundry bin just for him in the bathroom/other agreed place?

Hopefully you will get some advice coming through.

Thanks for the reply. He manages at school by...not managing. He just ignores the problem. Sometimes I pick him up and know he has to get cleaned up :(

Oh that is very sad for him and you. I wonder why the gp is not referring him more urgently than that? It cannot be good for him emotionally or physically. Would it be worth either pushing your GP for an earlier referral or getting the paed gastro's secretary and ring her everyday to see if you can get a cancellation? My son has other problems and I have found that you need to be assertive and keep reminding Drs/Nurses/Secretaries so they do not forget you or they deal with you quicker to get you off their backs.

If he has been diagnosed with fecal impaction I don't think I would be happy to let waste sit in his colon for so long? Are you able to increase the movicol? When my son was in hospital on chemo the Drs were more worried about constipation than diarrhea (sp) and they increased his movicol until he was going daily.