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Children's health

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Original poster

Any advice please - 8yo dd fasting & laxative drink for hospital procedure

72 replies

buckeejit · 02/05/2022 10:18

Dd almost certainly has Inflammatory bowel disease, (calprotectin was 1710) & is getting scopes on Thursday-up & down to see if it's Crohn's or Ulcerative colitis.

She has to fast & drink laxative drinks the day before. She loves her food so I'm trying to think of anything that will help get us through, like keeping her up late on Tuesday so she goes to bed earlier in Wednesday.

Also if anyone has any tips on getting her to drink the stuff, that would be good.

Her grandad sent money for a mobile as he gave her one that's broken before so hoping it arrives tomorrow & I can set it up with things to distract her. I don't feel very calm about it so if anyone has been through this with their dc, any tips or info would be great. Thank you

OP posts:

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KaraVanPark · 02/05/2022 10:26

Do you know how many hours she has to fast for.. if you were told the day before is that midnight or 7am… I’d find out so I knew how long she’d be without food. If it’s from 7am I’d get her up early and give her breakfast

Original poster

buckeejit · 02/05/2022 10:38

Thanks @KaraVanPark - it's 24 hours so lunch before noon the day before so that they bowel is empty. Fluids are allowed after this thankfully.

OP posts:

willingtolearn · 02/05/2022 10:41

Hi,

The fasting/laxatives are to clear out the bowel so they can get a clear look at any damage. Once upon a time I was responsible for 'grading' the poo from solid to liquid to see how things were progressing, not a fun job.

Whilst you can keep her up late to eat, it might make it worse the next day - the more food in the gut, the more cramps she might have to clear it out completely.

It might have changed and you should have clear instructions but it used to be 'clear fluids only' rather than full fasting - so ice lollies,drinks and clear soup was allowed. This might help without any significant impact.

She is old enough for you to talk her through why it is happening and to empathise with the fact it is going to be quite a difficult couple of days for her. She can't really go anywhere as she needs to be near a loo at all times. It is likely she will feel hungry and uncomfortable - has she had a lot of pain/symptoms - if so, it might help to phrase it as 'helping her get better'.

I would go for lots of attention, non food bribery , unlimited screen time -whatever it takes to get through it. She may be tearful, angry and in a foul mood - this is very understandable given the situation and should be dealt with sympathetically but practically as the means to her 'getting better/stopping the pain/symptoms.'

Hope it goes as well as possible and you get a clear diagnosis/plan of treatment.

Sockpile · 02/05/2022 10:45

Can you plan a special treat for after the procedure together - planning it while she’s feeling down due to the laxatives may boost her spirits a little.
Hope it goes well.

Original poster

buckeejit · 02/05/2022 11:49

Thanks @willingtolearn - yes that is what's been advised-I will get some clear lollies. She wouldn't entertain soup but will be glad to get more lollies than her bro.

Planning a treat for after is a good idea. Might give her a voucher for the App Store too.

OP posts:

MumofCrohnie · 02/05/2022 23:59

We were allowed clear or "coloured clear" boiled sweets - like glacier fruits - and also scrambled eggs, sprite and yellow or green jelly during the 24 hour fast. I would recommend getting lemonade in as they need the sugar or all the clear out will leave them feeling terrible. Make sure they have plenty to drink.

The prep tastes horrid. We used a straw to get it as far back as possible and followed with a swig of lemonade each time. Plus the boiled sweets to get rid of the taste.

I bought dd some magazines and she had a radio in the loo. The toilet was off limits to everyone else for the day.

Be warned, if they find clear evidence of Crohn's, they may keep her in hospital and begin an 8 week liquid diet. My dd was allowed toast after the scopes and then some food at supper, after that she began on shakes only for 2 months. It was really hard for her but after 2 weeks she felt so much better and she put on 8 kilos in 8 weeks once she was able to absorb some nutrients! She has been diagnosed for 7 months now and has put on 2 stone, grown about 3 cm (and isn't overweight!)

MumofCrohnie · 03/05/2022 00:00

Oh - make sure none of the sweets, lollies or juices is red or purple. These can stain the bowel and look like inflammation. Yellow and green only!

Original poster

buckeejit · 03/05/2022 08:19

@MumofCrohnie that's so helpful thank you. I can't think about how we'd handle 8 weeks in hospital, though thanks for the heads up.

Off for covid test & to request the prescription shortly & just broke the news to her. Magazine treats sounds like a good idea too. I've sorted out her new phone with apps & downloads

OP posts:

Zebee · 03/05/2022 08:25

I dissolve the picolax in less water so that it is easier to drink but make sure they drink lots of water with it. There is a very good Facebook group for parents of Crohn’s and UC which is great for advice and venting with others who understand. DD about to start liquid diet just need to have a few days in hospital then complete the 8 weeks at home. It is a rubbish diagnosis but good to know what you are dealing with.

MumofCrohnie · 03/05/2022 08:32

Hi - it wasn't 8 weeks in hospital, sorry I wasn't very clear!
We had 5 days in hospital until she was drinking all the drinks she needed. They have to monitor them if they are very underweight, because their bloods can go askew once they start getting nutrients again (my dd was fine). Once they are happy that they are drinking the drinks and their bloods are good they can go home.

My dd had to go back in for 3 days after a month to get an Ng tube fitted - she got very constipated (ironic after months of liquid diarrhea) and couldn't take all her drinks.

Once the constipation was sorted out we were great. She looks SO much better.

If she turns out to have UC they don't do the liquid diet I think, I believe they may give steroids instead.

Remmy123 · 03/05/2022 09:01

Hi there

sorry to hear that you are in this position.

my (then) 12 year old had this procedure last March and I was so worried about the drink as he is very particular. The hospital (St Thomas's) suggested / preferred children to stay in the night before to do the clean out. My son was a real fuss pot he made a real fuss .. refused the drink / threw up but my husband managed to get him to drink enough to get got a point where it was just clear yellow liquid (sorry tmi) he didn't drink the second drink. In hindsight, think it wouid have been better to have done it at home and not in the hospital.

they offered him broth to keep hunger at bay but he refused.

he got diognosed there and then with ulcerated colitis.

Goood luck with it all.. it's not nice but once she is diognosed and on medication things will be so much better for you both xx

Remmy123 · 03/05/2022 09:08

Btw in terms of medication (if it's
UC) my son was just given Pentasa which is anti inflammatory tablet - he didn't need steroids as by the time he had scopes all symptoms had stopped.

i also wasn't calm about t the whole thing OP .. in fact I got myself into a right state / made myself ill.. and I really didn't need too as he is fine!

there is a very long thread I started which has slipped down now but it's quite a good read if you are going through this.. I'll find d it later and tag you x

purplesequins · 03/05/2022 09:12

good luck with it all. I hope you get a diagnosis & treatment options quickly.

for the prep (the absolut worst of the procedure) you should have received a sheet with instructions.

for me it was a 'white' diet for 48 hours and then the clear out.

I was given picolax, which is only one cup of vileness instead of other preparations. maybe ask if that's suitable for your lovely dc.

honestly, it wasn't as bad as I feared and the procedures are very routine and the dr and nurses know how best to make the patient comfortable.

all the best!

Original poster

buckeejit · 03/05/2022 10:52

Ah thanks everyone, I really appreciate your replies, of course that makes more sense the 8 weeks of liquid diet & had heard of that before.

She's not taken the news too badly & we've done the covid test this morning.

Will try to be strategic with the drinks - it is picolax so hopefully then won't be too bad.

I'm starting to get anxious, even though I had a camera down a couple of weeks ago & know it isn't that bad & she'll be asleep. I'm a childminder though & will have 5 other children to look after tomorrow while she's having the prep drinks. Will assign her the bathroom for the day-that's a good idea, we have other toilets so that's fine.

OP posts:

Remmy123 · 03/05/2022 11:00

its totally normal to feel anxious but she will be fast asleep and will have no idea.. my son asked for a McDonald's when he woke up so they got one delivered! Kids are resilient but as mother's we take on the worry.

Original poster

buckeejit · 04/05/2022 17:49

Both drinks down with almost no problem & no complaining from her. Toilet hasn't been too bad yet, although she's had many months of bad toileting so maybe more used to it. Have broken down all the stages of the project to go through & we're almost half way there.

Thanks for all the advice-fingers crossed for good news this time tomorrow

OP posts:

Remmy123 · 04/05/2022 18:08

Wow amazing she drank it so well!!!

good luck for tomorrow x

MumofCrohnie · 04/05/2022 18:28

Good luck for tomorrow. Let us know how she gets on x

LunaLoveFood · 04/05/2022 18:47

I have very clear memories of having to do this as a child and like your dd I loved my food. I remember it because after the procedure my dm took me out for a very grown up meal which I really looked forward to I think the meal was at the local harvester which seemed ultra posh and grown up to me

Remmy123 · 05/05/2022 20:04

How did it go @buckeejit ?

Original poster

buckeejit · 05/05/2022 20:36

Just got home, thankfully they let us come back as Dd told them she had a party to go to tomorrow night, otherwise they’d have kept us in for a few days! 😂 It’s ulcerative colitis & she’s to start steroids & other meds on Sat & consultant wants her to stay off school for a couple of weeks to get used to the meds. & be more careful of infections & covid etc

Some more reading up to do & back up to the Big hospital every few weeks for check ups & weekly tests at gp for now. Glad to get it over with & she was very good with the whole thing & happy to have got a McDonald’s on the way home!

Thanks so much for the support on this thread, it really means very much x

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Remmy123 · 05/05/2022 22:00

ah bless her! That's exactly what my son did ... a McDonald's in the hospital followed by a lovely steak the day after - he was ravenous!

i hope the meds kick in soon and she feels better

I also hope you are ok.. it's a real rollercoaster for us mums x

MumofCrohnie · 05/05/2022 23:15

Ah, welcome to the club. I still think it's better to know what you are dealing with and have a plan - even though none of us would wish this on anyone.

There's a parents of kids with IBD Facebook group that is very supportive, I recommend joining up!

purplesequins · 06/05/2022 06:29

I'm glad the procedure went well and you have a diagnosis.

hopefully with careful diet and treatment it will be managable and your lovely dd can get it under control.

good luck!

Original poster

buckeejit · 06/05/2022 12:32

Definitely good to get a diagnosis. I feel so exhausted & emotional today though. Not helped by dh who I asked to get a urine sample from her this morning & he just let her go to the toilet without him, then I waited for her to do a wee for 3 hours before rushing to gp to request prescription. Grrrrr.

@MumofCrohnie do you know the exact name of the fb group please? I've tried looking but can't seem to find it. Off to read up on the steroids which consultant recommended

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