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Original poster

DD12 constipated

27 replies

YoungWild · 08/04/2023 20:42

Is there any tips for dealing with new constipation. I didn’t know this till tonight but my DD 12 says she hasn’t had a poo since Monday. She’s normally regular but didn’t mention anything till today. She’s currently got horrific cramps that come in waves.

I’ve given Paracetamol and a hot water bottle is there anything else I can do on a bank holiday Saturday? All the local shops in our village are closed for the evening.

she has been stressed for a few weeks my father in law passed away two weeks ago and they were best of friends. I feel it’s a reaction to that

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CC4712 · 08/04/2023 20:49

If she really hasn't been in 5 days, the pain must be awful! Do you have any glycerine suppositories in the medicine cabinet? Any laxatives?

A squatty potty does great things in straightening the bowel out to make it much easier to poo. Anything to raise the feet will help- bricks, old phone books, large tins, a step etc.

Squatty Potty - The #1 Way to #2! – SquattyPotty

Squatty Potty - The #1 Way to #2!

The #1 way to #2! Squatty Potty is the original toilet stool that helps you poop better.

https://www.squattypotty.com/

WhoHidTheCoffee · 08/04/2023 20:53

Has she been drinking much? And what’s her diet like? Could she stomach fruit?

Or something like coffee or Weetabix for that matter? Many people find coffee has a bit of an effect on the digestive system…

I’d probably start with trying to get her to drink a decent amount of water first. But if there’s a local pharmacy within driving distance that’s open this late, anywhere decent will have senna tablets which might help.

WhoAteMyBiscuit · 08/04/2023 20:56

The only things I can think of is to suggest your DD drinks plenty of water in an effort to loosen things up a bit... Maybe some gentle yoga to get the bowels going? Yogi squat and Happy Baby Pose might be a good place to start.

The tip about raising the feet is a good one. Just tell DD not to strain to push anything out, it might do more harm than good (as my DH found to his cost last week!).

Otherwise try to get to a supermarket tomorrow for some stool softener (if no supermarkets near you are open then look on Amazon). Hope your DD feels better soon!

BabyST · 08/04/2023 20:57

When she’s on the toilets try get her to put her feet on a stool that helps somehow sometimes. Mine suffer with IBS it’s horrible to see them with such cramps

MummyJ12 · 08/04/2023 21:02

If you can get to an emergency pharmacy, then Movicol sachets or Laxido sachets are effective. Stress can cause bowel dysmotility which basically reduces the peristalsis of the bowel. More sachets will be needed depending on how impacted she is. If you’re worried that she’s in too much pain, don’t hesitate and take her to A&E. Monday is a long time not to go for a poo. They will examine her and can give her an enema if necessary.
In the meantime, a warm bath and paracetamol can help.
Hope she’s ok.

Original poster
YoungWild · 08/04/2023 21:09

Thank you all we have just tired to put her feet up on the step.

My sister lives about 20 minutes away my husband is gone to fetch some suppositories I think that’s all we are going to get for her tonight. Sadly our nearest town is 45 minutes away and the shops closed before we even had the change. Iv never given her suppositories but I’m sure she’ll be okay with them and out of this pain.

Shes not been drinking much or eating over the last few days feeling a bit down and had the flu just generally run down. Thank you I’ve given her plenty of water her wee is pretty dark too. Thank you I’ll run her a bath and see what helps. My husband should be back by 10 all going well

OP posts:
dinmin · 08/04/2023 21:11

If you happen to have any liquorice tea that might also help

HannahHere · 08/04/2023 22:21

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Original poster
YoungWild · 09/04/2023 05:58

Thank you for all your help I’m so grateful. We gave her a suppository and that give her some relief. She’s been on and off in pain and on the toilet overnight. We are going to go and get some movicol when the shops open. I’ve given her lots of water too to drink in the night and for the day today we’ll keep an eye on how much she drinks

OP posts:
MummyJ12 · 09/04/2023 08:57

Thanks for the update OP.
I would give her a couple of sachets today.
There is a paediatric Movicol but it’s only available on prescription and it is for small children under 12. (The only difference is that it is exactly half of the strength of the original Movicol).
Your DD can take the original Movicol as she is 12.
8 sachets is for faecal impaction so if you equate, 4 of the sachets would be the max paediatric dose. This is why I’d recommend 2 to start with.

It may take a day to work but is much safer than other alternatives.

Please let us know how she is.

Original poster
YoungWild · 09/04/2023 18:46

@MummyJ12 thank you she’s been on and off cramps today some still as terrible as last night. She’s gone twice all day We went and got her Movicol today and spoke to the pharmacist who’s advised another tablet up her bum if we need to until the GP opens Tuesday. I’ve also sent you a PM x

OP posts:
Mumof1andacat · 09/04/2023 19:00

Prunes and orange juice are very helpful. Watch her diet going forward. Plenty of water everyday and exercise.

CottonSock · 09/04/2023 19:06

I recommend keeping a bottle of dulcosoft in your cupboard. It's like movicol but tasteless. If you work out the right dose for her, added to her drink each morning it works miracles. For my dd a maintenance dose was small. For myself when I tried it, it worked well.

MummyJ12 · 09/04/2023 19:31

Dulcosoft isn’t recommended for long term use as it is an osmotic laxative.
I’ve sent you a PM message also @YoungWild x

Stripycatz · 09/04/2023 19:36

Will she eat an orange?

CottonSock · 09/04/2023 19:49

I'm not sure where the above poster is getting her information for regarding osmotic laxatives.
Many children and adults are on them very long term.

Osmotic laxatives add water to poo and are as safe as it gets.
My daughter also needed a bowel stimulant but that's second line of treatment if macrogols don't work.

https://eric.org.uk/advice-for-children-with-constipation/

See the above for proper advice.
My dh is a bowel doctor and we saw specialists for my dd for 2 years. Thankfully all was 100% sorted in our case. But I'm on top.of drink monitoring for both my kids as a result.

Gp was useless by the way.

Child holding tummy

Advice for children with constipation - ERIC

Our easy-read factsheet explains the reasons for constipation in children, the symptoms and how to treat it.

https://eric.org.uk/advice-for-children-with-constipation

MummyJ12 · 09/04/2023 19:52

Apologies @CottonSock I thought you meant Dulcolax which is completely different. These are osmotic stimulants.
Actually Dulcosoft is exactly the same as Movicol and Laxido however it is not licensed for long term use as a product only because of the brand.

CottonSock · 09/04/2023 20:02

@MummyJ12 appreciate you responding:)
We could not get any other macragol into my daughter so dulcosoft literally changed our lives. The only downside was the price as would not be prescribed as movicol / laxido do the same job - although taste a bit rank.

Dd also had dulcolax a stimulant under expert advice. I noticed in pharmacy recently it now says on big letters no under 12s. I'm thankful we had this option (she was 5) as it was a massive turning point for us.She took it for 12 months under close supervision.

MummyJ12 · 09/04/2023 20:11

I’m so glad she’s ok now @CottonSock 💗 sorry that your GP was useless. A lot don’t take it seriously enough.

Original poster
YoungWild · 09/04/2023 21:03

Sadly she is a very fussy eater getting veg into her is a challenge. Thank you for your suggestion @Mumof1andacat I have gone and gotten mainly bananas and apples. She won't take prunes or oranges. She is taking stool softener we got at the pharmacy today and we gave her Dulcolax Suppositories last night which did the trick. We have gotten her to drink 2L of water today she has had loads of wee's but we don't mind that

@CottonSock thank you for the link I will take a good look. I think both DH and I feel this is an acute thing following significantly high stress build-up, and this is how her body has dealt with it. We have had a discussion with her as much as it was "embarrassing" to talk to mum and dad about poo. The last 24 hours of pain has not been worth it. She is normally pretty good about coming to us but yeah.

I am really thankful for all the comments, I would be so lost otherwise

@MummyJ12 Thank you xx

OP posts:
BabyST · 10/04/2023 11:54

How is she doing Op?

@MummyJ12 good advice! 😊

TrueScrumptious · 10/04/2023 11:58

Not bananas -they can cause constipation.

Marchforward · 10/04/2023 12:10

Banana will make it worse.

Original poster
YoungWild · 11/04/2023 18:50

Update and thank you for all the responses:

So we saw the GP today and they have been really really good. We spent about 20 minutes with them talking everything through and they checked her belly, down below as there was blood on the tissue / burning pain when pooing and have taken a swab, poo sample, urine sample (negative for infection) and have an X-ray tomorrow morning to see how backed up she is as her belly is hard and painful to press when the doc examined her. They have given some Movicol for a month and some cream. We have another appointment in a month to review her. They have also discussed stress and the trigger and have also helped with that with websites to visit and seek help.

I am honestly so grateful to you all xx

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