Disimpaction by movicol

[CottonSock]

Hi. Advice please.
My dd age 6 has to start the summer holidays with a disimpaction after a history of soiling.
She doesn't seem constipated.
After waiting a year for a specialist to see her they advised they will discharge her unless we do it now.
She's soiling a few times a week now, some times less. Months went by with none, but initially it was daily for months.. so massive improvement but it's still there.
She doesn't drink enough it's a real struggle. Diet is good though.

Have you done disimpaction..can they go out when doing it? We're they in pain? How long did it take?
My parents are due to do 3 days childcare that week. My poor dd was going to stay in their caravan and was so excited. I think we best scrap that.
I'll have another 3 year old at home and restless too.
Thank you

Bump

I had one dc in that for YEARS!!

My other dc who has special needs was soiling, was always put down to his anxiety and I agree with that as now he’s on meds he rarely ever does it. Couple years ago when we saw an incontinence nurse about it she said we should do what you mention, she told me the process that basically he would barely leave the toilet and how I should have lots of spare pants etc and that it really wouldn’t be nice for him at all. So I decided it would make his SN and his anxiety much much worse so I refused to do it. Although your situation is different I just wanted to not ignore the post and tell you what the nurse told me it would be like. Personally I would say no way to sleeping in a caravan, she will want home comforts and to be at home!

Thank you. She's not going to sleep in a caravan for that week at least.
I think it won't help her anxiety about it either, but they are saying it's the only treatment. Really conflicted.

I really understand where you are coming from. The only reason I didn’t agree to it was because I knew (due to SN) he wouldn’t cope with it at all. If I had to do it with the other dc without SN and if I thought it was his best interests then I would have done it with him if needed.

What about delaying it for whilst she is with grandparents? Then get in lots of nice things to do at home like craft stuff if she likes that, play doh, drawing, painting etc and then new dvds/films. I’m sure her sibling at that age would also like that so she’s occupied to? Plenty of garden play, maybe a paddling pool with a couple of new toys to go in it? Bubbles, chalk drawing if you have a patio etc etc make it as nice a time as possible and make no other plans so that it reduces the stress and just take each day as it comes?

Thanks for your reply. I spoke to my dad and they will spend time with her at our home instead, for the 3 days in due to be in work. I'll be home or close by if needed. Hopefully we will be done before 7 days.

Went though it last year with my ds (slightly older). Made such a difference and although not pleasant at the time I'm so pleased we did it. We've not had any more soiling issues. Now we keep on top of his good bowel habits by diet and drinking plenty of water (still a battle)!

We did it with DD who was 5 at the time. It wasn’t that disruptive, we still went out etc but always where she could get to a toilet. Some mild tummy ache, nothing too bad. This was the start of her getting better for us, but you have to find a way to stop her becoming constipated again.

We went through months of frustration with doctors over this, they prescribed Movicol and suppositories (which worked but she hated). By trial and error we’ve worked out what works for DD and it’s 2 x doses a day of Fybogel. This keeps her regular, even through the hot weather (she used to be worse in the hot weather - dehydrates, didn’t drink enough).

Thanks both. That's really good to hear. I know we need to do this, or risk no improvement. I'm really encouraged by your posts.

We went through this with DD who was a bit younger at the time. Although I was expecting her to be in a lot of discomfort she didn't seem to be too bad (I don't think it was any worse than the pain she was experiencing from constipation).

Buy moist wipes! After going loads of times, wiping with paper 🧻 can get really sore.
As for pain, it's no more than constipation pains.
I don't know about movicol, but the prep stuff I have to drink before colonoscopy is vile!!! It's actually made me sick, so didn't get to have the required effect!
As a child I didn't poo for 2 months. So I had to have lactulose, and fybogel regularly after that the lactulose definitely worked. Can't really remember any pain.