Ongoing poo problems in 8 yr old - anyone have any success stories at this age?

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My ds was constipated as a toddler whern he started refusing fruit and veg. He started withholding and the cycle became worse. We eventually ended up at Great Ormond Street. He's had lots of tests, lots of meds and psychologist sessions but nothing has been resolved. He can go on the loo but we have to remind him twice a day. He's on movicol and senna. He leaks even when not constipated. We tried to cut down on movicol in the summer but it was a disaster. We had to up it again and add in senna.
He won't talk about it much and is often in denial. He also has a terrible temper which may or may not be linked. He's getting better at cleaning himself but is not that efficient. He managed a i night residential last year but has a 2 night one coming up and I'm not sure if he should go.

Someone on another thread said her son was ok at 9 and wondered if anyone else had any success stories. At the moment it's making me so depressed as I can't ever see him being normal.

Our ds was like this between 4 and 8 yrs old. He is 14 now and still gets constipated but he does manage to deal with it by himself, sits in the bathroom for ages sometimes. Also sometimes needs to unblock the toilet as it is too large (sorry, TMI) We do keep him stocked up with fruit as snacks but its not easy as he only likes two types of fruit and two veg. I still remember how difficult it was in the early years, with the hospital visits and the movicol, and suppositories. Very stressful, lots of shouting and tears (from him and me!) I'm telling you all this because I want you to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel, so try not to get too stressed. I think he gradually, very gradually, started to wean himself off the movicol between the ages of 8 and 10 and we bought some chocolate flavoured senna type medicine from boots that we broke into tiny pieces, used it on Friday and saturday nights and then he would be able to go to the toilet, the morning after. Good luck, I do know how you feel x

My thread got posted twice - oops

Did he take himself to the toilet even if constipated? That's our biggest problem just beating the lack of fruit and veg eating issue.

When he was younger we made (bribed) him to sit on the toilet every evening, so it became a routine. Sometimes he managed it, sometimes not. Now he is older, he does go when he feels the need, and we don't have to nag him. We nag him about lots of other things instead ha,ha...

Hi. My ds is also 8 and was having this problem for a couple of years. It was managed by the movicol but every time I tried to cut it down or stop it he would start having accidents again. I asked the GP to refer for homeopathy as this is available on the NHS (in Scotland). The first tablet he had to take three times for 2 days and he told us to stop the movicol. He had accidents again and I was close to re-starting the movicol when we went back and he gave a different remedy to take one per day. This was in January and ds hasn't had one accident since, despite being off all movicol. He also had to reduce the remedy after a few months so doesn't take this now. We still try to get him to sit on the toilet every night so he doesn't get constipated. I was really surprised with the effect this had so may be worth a try.

My son had issues very similar to these and while the constipation can still be a serious issue. It started when he was 3 and we too had the movicol etc and it was eventually written off as part of his autism/sensory issues. He would be dirty after every bowel movement and constantly in between. I was at my wits end, he smelled terrible at times and was bullied too. We allowed him to choose a digital watch when he was 8 and set the alarm for every morning and night and made him sit on the toilet for 15 minutes at a time. He was allowed 15 minutes of ps3 before school and 30 minutes extra if he stuck to the rules. If I was doing that now then I guess it would equate to screen time while sat n the loo? may be worth a try!

Eventually the issues got easier the staining in his underwear reduced massively and was a revolting but good indicator of how he was managing it all. The massive turn around was around 11 when he started seniors. He is now 15 and clean, though he still suffers constipation as he can't feel when he has the urge to go, but he takes care of it himself. I don't even think he wears the watch anymore, its now just part of his routine, before brushing his teeth etc.

So, yes, there is hope. It's just about finding what works. It is very hard but stay calm, patient and help him through it.

Thanks - he already had a ds or my phone in the toilet. It good to know that even without the feeling of wanting to go he might be able to manage himself in the future. Sometimes he's very good at being independent but this monrnng for example after 2 accidents on mon and tues because he hadn't spent long enough on the loo and had lied about pooing - he does the same thing this morning (pretending to have gone when he hadn't) Its so exasperating. Why would you want to risk that happening to you? In all other areas of his life he's really mature.