Withholding poo

[Littlehouseinthebigcity]

My just turned 4 year old had a massive potty regression in the first lockdown and since then it has only got worse. She has always been amazing at getting to the potty for a poo but now she never goes. She was withholding at nursery and then developed an impaction which we cleared with Laxido. This seemed to help for a while but she is still not actively pooing - it builds up and then she soils multiple times a day rather than do a poo. Have been back to the doctor who has now prescribed lactulose - which is another softener!! Consistency really isn't the problem, when she goes it is soft, she just seems to have lost the ability or will to know when to go. I really think she needs a stimulant laxative to help but the doctor said to give it a month on lactulose! I am losing my mind washing multiple pairs of dirty pants every day and am exhausted trying to balance the prunes, fig syrup and laxatives to try and get her to poo! Any tips gratefully received, or experience

My 3.5 year old can often be a withholder so I under how you feel. He suffered with constipation as a baby and has been on movicol since around a year old. However since potty training at 3, he's stated withholding
Are you on movicol mums on Facebook? It's a really knowledgeable and helpful group. There are so many people in the same position. It also helped me to know that we're not alone in this.

Go to GP, get consultant gastric entrologist referral, they will run tests to make sure nothing physical. Start movicol and Senna regime. Stick to it rigidly. Incentivise/ bribe too pop. Have a poo diary.

We are four years into our journey with withholding and we have been reliably clean and regularly pooing for about 2 months (have been here before) but definitely best it's ever been.

Also movicol mummies as PP days, plus poo buses on YouTube and Eric website. But mainly get on it, get medication get routine. As a rule of thumb it takes a routine place and effective for twice as long as they have been withholding to resolve

Likely you stopped the Laxido too soon.

The idea of Laxido is not just to clear a blockage but by the time they have the blockage 1. they have experienced poo being painful and so are likely to withold and 2. the rectum will have got stretched and will take a long time to go back to normal size

So you stay on regular Laxido for an incredibly long time.

Get rid of the fig syrup and just have enough laxido daily until poo is a gravy consistency and she can't withold it. Then incredibly slowly work back down until she is doing a proper soft poo in a toilet. At this point don't stop the Laxido altogether!

The Eric charity is incredible helpful and has a great website.

DD is nearly 3 and a withholder. She is on day 2 of movicol. Lactulose and prune juice wasn't having much effect. It has made potty training impossible.

We read a great book called Dash's belly ache which does encourage her to go.

Thanks to PP for mention of movicol Facebook group. I will get on it.

Another vote for ERIC here. They have a telephone helpline too.
Google the Poo Nurses and watch the video. Their video is the best one I have seen.

Yes it does take years to fix and it is best to accept that, it is a family issue and everyone needs to be on board.

Just as an update in case anyone else finds this thread, Laxido was definitely not the answer for us - it did clear the impaction but there is no reliable
dose of it where she doesn't soil. However we are currently having semi-regular success with a mixed dose of Senna and Lactulose. Definitely worth keeping on at the GP if you don't feel you've found the right combination yet!

My DD now 8 had withholding issues after breaking her leg and becoming constipated then having a painful poo. The ONLY thing that helped was the story Poo Goes To Pooland. After years of issues she started going. We have had constipation a couple of times since then but she is happy to use a suppository if it gets bad as she knows it clears everything painlessly. And then she's usually dillinger about keeping up her fluids and taking time to Poo for months afterwards

@Flakeymcwakey do you mind me asking what suppositories you use? Dd doesn't mine the glycerin ones being put in but they didn't really do anything!