My DS is 7 and was diagnosed with hypermobility at 18 months. Until recently he has had no significant health issues related to hypermobility.
About a year ago he began to complain quite frequently of tummy ache when going to the loo. He is a happy, settled boy and he has a good, balanced diet with loads of fruit, veg, fibre and water. He never seemed consipated and seemed to pass poo easily IMO, though over the year it had become less of a solid stool and more like slush puppy consistency.
We told his GP, who examined him and suggested keeping an eye on it. In July it got worse and worse, to the point where he was crying on the toilet.
The GP prescribed movicol for consitpation. Gradually the pain certainly improved, though it didnt go altogether, but the consistency of his poo stayed the same, with no definite stool.
We returned to GP in September. She did some blood tests including one for coeliac disease. All came back normal. She suggested carrying on for a month or two and watching.
A few weeks ago his repeat prescription was lost at GP and he was about 5 days without movicol. The pain returned with a vengence. Hes been back on it for two weeks and the pain has not gone. We are at our wits end. He is on the toilet for at least an hour in the morning after breakfast and again at least an hour, often more after dinner. He spends alot of this time sobbing. Not due to straining, but due to tummy ache.
We returned to the GP last week. She was very relaxed about it- said he can continue on movicol indefinately. I said that we are still having problems and surely a healthy child with a good diet should not have long term constipation?? Eventually she agreed to refer him to a pediatrician. I asked her about the link between hypermobility and bowel problems and she said she wasnt aware of any.
Mornings have become horrendous because of this. We are now getting him up at 6.30 (instead of 715) to try to let him have as long as he needs on the loo in a relaxed way. However, this has not helped- all that has happened is that he is spending longer on the loo and we have a very fraught time trying to get to school. He is not getting to bed to til at least 9 because hes on the loo. He is exhausted.
According to the hypermobility association website there is a clear relationship between bowel problems and hypermobility. Has anyone got experience of this?
I don't know how to help him. He appears to have symptoms of IBS - runny poo, mucus in it, feeling he hasn't emptied his bowels etc. But he is being treated for constipation. Should we change his diet?
Who should we try to see? A bowel specialist? Hypermobility clinic?
we are at the point where we will scrape the money together to go privately if poss.
Thank you for reading to the end.