HELP - Stool Witholding and Pain even on Laxitives

[bubbs83]

Hi,

Not sure if Dad's are allowed on these forums but i'm hoping for some advice from any parents that have been through this.

My son (2 and a half) had no issues with bowel movements until just over a week ago. Out of nowhere his back passage got blocked by a very hard dry stool which refused to come out. After much trying without success we took him to the doctor and were prescribed movicol.

After a week of this stuffm starting at 2 sachets and now up to 6 he finally started passing stuff. However he's witholding with all his might. The now very loose stool is finding it's way out but not without a battle.

My issue is the pain he's having everytime he get's the urge to go. He contorts his body and clenches every muscle to try to prevent anything coming out and is crying saying "ouchie ouchie" evreytime. He's clearly in pain even though the stool is liquid in consistency.

I don't know whether this pain is due to him trying to stop the stool or whether the pain is due to some sort of anal trauma from the impacted stool last week, I asked him and he said it hurts, but impossible to get any more clarity than that.

I'm completely stressed out, I just want to do somthing to stop his pain. Calpol (paracetamol) is the only thing i'm giving at the moment as I hear ibuprofen is binding for poo.

Just after any advice, or similar stories. Or even some reassurance really. I hate seeing him in pain, I feel completely helpless to do anything. It would be great to hear from other parents that have been through this.

Thanks for reading

There could be a fissure which would be very painful, but it could also be a fear response based on the memory of the pain which will feel very real to him but won't be helped with pain killers.

I think back to the doctors certainly, but do you try any distraction she sitting on the toilet/potty such as an iPad etc? Sometimes my poo-withholding child doesn't even notice it come out on the toilet because he's too absorbed playing Minecraft or watching CBeebies.

He's not started on the potty yet. It's still nappies. He even wakes from sleep in pain holding it which makes me think that there's some trauma there

There is no blood so not sure if it's a fissure. Whatever it is I think I'm going to head back to the doctors again tomorrow. That will make the 4th visit in a week. I think they are going to hate me pretty soon.

Dont worry about the doctor theyll have seen it all before. It's horribly common and unfortunately can take time to sort.

Keep up with the movicol. You want the poo to be basically liquid so that a) it doesn't cause pain to pass and b) He physically can't hold it in.

Poor wee guy 🙁, and poor you too - I know it's horrible to see them struggling (and God knows none of us are having fun dealing with the poo nightmare of endless movicol nappies or pants).

Hello- my DS had encopresis when he was younger. Like your son, it began because of a hard stool that was painful to push out. Stool withholding is common, but it can be incredibly stressful for the whole family. We eventually got through it with a pediatric gastro doctor. Have patience. It may take a while to find the right laxative treatment program, but it will happen. Good luck!

A warm bath is supposed to help I think?