DS will not take his Movicol

[StuntNun]

My DS has been prescribed Movicol for an impacted bowel and we just can't get him to drink it. He managed to choke down his first dose mixed with Fanta earlier but it took an hour of cajoling to get him to do it. The current dose has been mixed with Ribena and he has been having full on hysterics. We've tried getting him to hold his nose and given him a straw to drink it but we are currently at an impasse after 45 minutes where he is refusing to drink it even though he has been told he can't leave his seat until he has finished it. He's supposed to have three doses tomorrow, four the next day up to a maximum of six doses a day. How can I get him to drink this stuff?

Forgot to mention, you can dissolve a sachet in a really small amount of water. Let it dissolve until syrupy, then you can mix it into pretty much anything.

He took it mixed with milk this morning and it only took 25 minutes unlike yesterday. I tasted it to see how awful it was and tbh it just tasted like salty milk - not pleasant but I wouldn't have had any problem downing it. Methinks the lad doth protest too much!

To clear impaction you need to build up to 12 sachets a day. Perhaps get GP or other professional to explain to him the long term effect of not clearing impaction or show him online. It can cause bowel to stretch and lose any sensation of passing stools and hence soiling problem often require years of this medication to recover or in worst case even an operation. Obviously this may not work if he has special needs and cant understand the reasoning.

That's scary 6Dec, I hope it won't take years to sort out. He has already had some relief so hopefully he'll make a quicker recovery.

I put it in pure orange. He didn't seem to notice.

Am sure it wont if he takes medication and you are aware of the problem. Sadly for DS it has taken years and he has still not regained sensation so still soiling as was misdiagnosed for years and hence the impaction not treated.

Result - he drank it mixed with Fanta Orange!

Try it with milk and Nesquik it covers up the horrible taste!

Glad to hear that StuntNun! I hope for his sake that this regime sorts him out.

6Dec can I ask what diagnosis and treatment your DS has had? He sounds similar to my DS who is 6 and had bowel issues since he was 18 months and I have gone round in circles with the medical profession and tried everything and finally we have an apt with a paediatric gastroenterologist next month. He constantly soils and has lost sensation :-(

Rachel - DS has had bowel issues since birth. Only diagnosed with faecal impaction aged 6 but may have been that for years but if so only overflow as there was never any straining/hard stools. Rectum was stretched.

We have been under the leading private paediatric gastroenterologist for 3 years and still soiling and little sensation. Have had endoscopy/colonoscopy/biopsy/allergy testing etc and only found it stretched plus inflamed stomach.

Dr is going to do more extensive internal testing as it has become less and less acceptable as he gets older. Think it has greatly affected his self esteem and ruined his childhood really and certainly affected the rest of the family every day.

He is extremely bright so got distressed about it from a very early age and is very angry about it all. Sadly most GPs and paediatricians don't have a clue about treatment so treatment may not be prompt and it is very difficult to correct.

I really wouldn't bother with the NHS as they don't attach any importance to this condition you need to go private at least for initial appointment if you cant stay private and then get them to refer you back to the NHS to the most appropriate senior person once diagnosed.

6Dec you could be describing my DS in your post - very similar issues - he was an infrequent poker from birth and then started producing rocks at around 16 months and then we started the cycle of laxatives which i think ultimately have done more harm than good with him as he hasn't produced a formed stool since then. He's had x-rays, blood tests, we tried him with an psychopath when I was totally frustrated with the NHS and tried a gluten free diet which seemed to help but then went too far the other way and he ended up in hospital having an enema he was so backed up he was in agony for several weeks as it affected his weeing too. We had started to make some progress before then getting him into pants with an incontinence pad for his soiling but that episode put him back to square one - refusing to wee on the loo or even try pooing and back into pull ups full time which is where he is now.
He's in year 1 at school and has suffered teasing, it affects everything he does - can't do play dates or summer holiday camps as he always needs someone to change him - it affects everything we do too. We're also under CAMHS as it affects his behaviour with us hugely - constant battles to try and get him changed and to wee on the loo and he has major control issues and its causing stress for all of us. My DD (3) was born with impersonate anus and had a colostomy for 18 months and is also not toilet trained but has more formed stools than DS and is bizarrely easier to manage.
I'm hoping this appointment next month will finally start the ball rolling to get some answers a it's at DD's hospital where they specialise in bowel issues so fingers crossed - but it's been a battle to get to this point and his current paed is bloody useless.
I really feel for you as it just sounds all so familiar. Feel free to PM if you want to talk further. OP I'm sorry for hijacking!!

*imperforate anus good old auto correct!!

Dd has the chocolate flavour one that you mix with water and she says it tastes like choc milkshake!

aargghh and poker should read pooer and psychopath should be osteopath!! Long day.....

Rachel - Yes we have had the constant wetting as a symptom of the impaction, often 10 times per day but that has improved. School has been a nightmare but as you say it affects everything the whole family does ad especially behaviour and obviously gets worse as the child gets older and more distressed by it.

Please be very very careful with CAMHS - it is very common for them to actually be documenting that the parents are to blame and citing child protection concerns whilst not telling parents this to their face. Would recommend reading all their records before proceeding any further to ensure they are actually trying to help you and not misinterpreting what you tell them. You can request access or copies via their records office. Professionals often see toileting conditions with no medical diagnosis as being caused by sexual or emotional abuse.

Sounds like you've got it sorted, but just so you know it can also be mixed into gravy, sauces etc if you're still struggling. Good luck with it all, hope it clears him out and he feels better soon.

6dec that is terrifying DD has had chronic constipation for about 9 months now and the GP doesn't take it seriously at all, though at the moment the Movicol is working. It's unpredictable though.