Ongoing constipation without movicol

[Blev2022]

Hi all

Just looking to know if anyone has been in the same boat. My son has had problems with constipation from birth. It was not extreme pre weaning and could be counteracted with increased water intake, however once weanin began he got constipated very quickly. We waited a long time to be seen by paediatrics who advised we didn't cut anything out of his diet until he was seen (which was 18 months old in the end).
He started movicol at around 7 months and has been on it since. He needs two sachets of movicol every day or he will become constipated (crying his bum hurts, passing small rabbit dropping poos). This is despite fruit and veg intake being decent and fluid intake being decent.
When we saw paeds I found them useless. They kept saying because he's going everyday he isn't constipated. I kept saying but he has to take movicol every day for that to happen, is that normal?

I got no answers so I'm just wanting to know if anyone else experienced this

Thanks :)

My DD aged 6 has been on movicol for three years and although we have been able to very gradually reduce the dose over the last three months and it now not have an adverse effect, every other attempt before to reduce/stop has resulted in problems again within days.
Her doctors (paediatrician and bowel specialist) assure me there is no problem with taking movicol regularly for long periods of time and that children do often grow out of the problem eventually. It's been very difficult at times and I'm just glad it seems to be under control with a smaller dose for now.

So no advice as such, just solidarity and to say hang in there! Do you have ongoing reviews with the doctor?

Exactly the same position with my 6yo, 2 sachets a day for the last 4 years. Tried cutting down but just gets constipated as you described. I'm just hoping he grows out of it eventually.