Child constipated and movicol

[6timesthemess]

My 6 year old has always had bouts of constipation but we have mostly kept it under control . For whatever reason a few weeks ago it suddenly got really bad . She didn’t poo at all for a week then managed a really small ooo but that was nearly two weeks ago now.

I have taken her to the gp twice who gave us movicol and was realy dismissive didn’t even look at her

We have been doing 4- 8 sachets a day(started on 4 upped to 8) for a week (plus a week of 2 sachets before that) and she still hasn’t pooped at all. Early on she was getting overflow soiling (a small amount) but now not even that just nothing .

The odd thing is she says she doesn’t feel I comfortable even though she is visibly bloated.

How long should the movicol take to work ?? I’m kind of worried that there is some physical reason she can’t go as I was expecting at least something by now.

But my gp seems to think it’s no big deal and I have no idea if I’m over reacting or not!

My 6 year old was prescribed movicol in October for chronic constipation. We started on 1.5 sachets and upped it to 2. It worked pretty much straightaway with one mega poo a day. We are now thinking of reducing it back down a little. I was worried 2 sachets were too much. 4 - 8 sounds like a lot but that's from just my experience. Its odd it hasn't worked though. I would say definately go back to the doctor. Good luck.

It sounds like she’s impacted. My 13 year old has always struggled with constipation. She’s had two impactions. One when she was 9 and one currently. She was on 12 sachets of paediatric movicol a day for 4 weeks before it cleared. She was put on a stimulant as well. This current impaction is going on 6 weeks now. She’s on 8 sachets of adult movicol a day and 20ml of dulcolax. I’d go back to your dr and ask him/her to feel your daughter’s stomach. That should have been done anyway. Try not to worry. I know it’s hard and can seem like it’s never going to clear but it will. Loads of extra water is vital too. Not sure if your daughter is ok drinking the movicol but mine can only take it in fresh orange juice and drinking it with a straw seems to help. Hope she goes to the loo soon. I know exactly how stressful it can be.x

[https://www.eric.org.uk/pdf-a-parents-guide-to-disimpaction]