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Encopresis / constipation advice

8 replies

AlexTheBird · 30/01/2019 13:13

Hi all
Just hoping to get some advice from other parents about the above really. I'll try and keep it short...

DD is 4 (August baby so young for her year) and started reception in September. She has been soiling daily ever since, sometimes up to three times a day. Not happy to go to the toilet ANYWHERE to poo (home, school etc..) but will go with enough cajoling, promise of reward (sticker, smarties etc...) and cuddles.

We only realised it was constipation around October time, so took her to the GP and she was put on Cosmocol which is working well to make everything less painful. We did a disimpaction regime over Christmas (fun...) and that seemed to help a little but there was still soiling.

Trying to get her to go to the toilet every morning before school and every evening after school, just to sit for five minutes and see what happens. Works sometimes, but not always and we run out of time before I go to work. And even if she has a big poo in the morning she still might soil later in the day.

SENCO at school is involved, teachers are very caring and happy to clean her up so we're very lucky in that sense. But I really want to get things sorted - surely she's not going to offered as much support in year 1? Childminder is getting quite stressed about it all, which is fair enough but I'm terrified she's going to dump us because of it. Her teacher is worried that it is affecting her day to day learning now as she is being taken out of lesson time to sit on the loo when she shows signs of withholding (she tends to tense up and grab onto a table so its easy to spot!).

Does anyone have any wise words? Advice? Experience of the same thing? I'm feeling very low about the whole thing and absolutely worried that if we or the school handle this the wrong way, that could lead to mental health issues. And as she gets older, potential bullying as the 'smelly kid' in class which breaks my heart....

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
IAmWonderWoman · 30/01/2019 14:44

Have you got any advice from ERIC? They’re a charity and really helpful, it’s worth phoning them. Do you have help from your school nurse and continence team?

juneau · 30/01/2019 14:49

We had an issue with DS1 and withholding around this age too, which coincided with starting school. You are indeed fortunate that the school are prepared to clean her up - most primaries do not provide any help with toileting! We saw a wonderful doctor who helped us to get on top of it, Dr Anthony Cohn, who is based in London, but has a clinic in Herts too. He's written a book, if seeing him in person isn't a possibility for you, called 'Constipation, Withholding and Your Child'.

AlexTheBird · 30/01/2019 15:04

Thanks @juneau and @IAmWonderWoman.
I've been trawling the ERIC website but I'm thinking a call to the helpline is in order now to talk about next steps. We're currently waiting for the school nurse referral as the SENCO sent it off before Xmas. Not sure if we have a continence team?

@junea - I've read Dr Cohn's very brilliant book (amongst others) and lent it to my childminder too. I can't imagine that we would be referred very easily to him - he must have a very long waiting list? Did you just ask your GP for a referral - Is it that simple? Or did you see him privately? (sorry to pry, just curious)

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juneau · 30/01/2019 16:30

Yes, the GP referred us and because we have BUPA through DH's work we managed to get in and see him straight away (literally within days). If you live anywhere near London I highly recommend trying to go and see him. He gave us a plan to follow, which we did, and though it took time to fix the issue permanently we got there in the end and DS1 has had normal and healthy toiletting habits ever since.

MissTulipan · 30/01/2019 19:16

Eric also have a support forum on healthunlocked with many parents going through this and lots of advice on there.

AlexTheBird · 30/01/2019 21:45

Thank you @juneau - it’s lovely to hear that you’re out of the other side and there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve got private healthcare with work so I will look into our options.

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AlexTheBird · 30/01/2019 21:47

And @MissTulipan, you’re very kind for letting me know about the ERIC forum - I’m registered and on there now and it’s amazing to see how many other parents are in the same predicament. Thank you x

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IAmWonderWoman · 31/01/2019 11:01

There’s a also fb group called Movicol mummies that’s worth joining.

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