Constipation and vomiting

[Taleasoldastimes]

Dd is 2.5. For the last ten days has had bouts of sickness and constipation. Started with vomiting ten days ago, didn’t poop for six days and vomiting on and off. Finally started having poos for the last 3 days - then no poo today and vomiting yellow bile.

it’s like the stomach cramps from trying to poo are causing her to vomit.

we were initially prescribed movicol by and out of hours gp at the weekend which helped a bit but we struggled so much to get it down her. She had x3 poos last 3 days which were play dog texture. Switched to lactose today on advice of another gp and she seems worse vomiting again and no poo.

im at a complete loss.
she is in so much pain pumping her legs etc and the vomiting is probably dehydrating her more. She’s so lethargic and not sleeping because of tummy ache.

is this normal for constipation? Is there anything else I can do

She is in so much pain she cant sleep?

Take her to A&E

Please visit A&E - your child has faecal Impaction and the vomiting yellow bile is especially concerning. I’m really shocked the GPs didn’t tell you to go as vomiting from constipation in a child is normally a red flag to be admitted for disimpaction - whether a klean prep regimen or even surgery in some cases.

My son was in hospital twice earlier this year with constipation and vomiting, he needed an NG tube to get the required amount of laxatives into him.

please, please go to hospital (from a fellow mum of constipated child and former hospital doctor myself)

Moving forward after hospital disimpaction, I hugely recommend Eric website /phoneline and the Facebook group ‘Movicol mummies’. But right now you’re at the stage of needing inpatient medical help. I’m so sorry, this is a really miserable and stressful experience for you all .

How is your daughter doing?

@clinellwipe @WannaFOffOnHoliday
hi there, we went to A&E on Wednesday night. Had an x-ray which showed some backed up poo. No more vomit since Wednesday night. Had two sachets of movicol yesterday and supposed to be having four today - although I don’t know how I’m going to get them into her as she is only 2.5 and she is not at the age you can reason with.

at hospital they gave her a glycerin suppository and that made a little poop come out but nothing since. The dr basically said it could be backed up poo causing the vomiting or she’s been very unlucky and had two sickness bugs in a row which is caused dehydration and subsequently backed up her poo.

I honestly don’t know how people get 4/6/8 sachets into toddlers 😔😔😔 feel so helpless and terrified vomiting will start again if she doesn’t go to the toilet soon.

Thank you for your help

I would go back to GP or A and E.

Also I had a child on laxido and struggled to get it down her until I put it in yoghurt and she took it fine so you could try this. Says to mix with water but it still works if you put it in yoghurt as long as they drink enough water.

Ok brilliant thank you.

since my last post she has had x2 hard poops and one massive wet one.

Does anyone know how long to be on movicol for? I’ve had conflicting advice from drs.

My daughter takes movicol or laxidido best in apple juice. You definitely need to get to the point where the poos are totally liquid for a day or so to clear the impaction. And then you need to find a maintenance dose to get one or two soft bowel movements a day. Definitely visit the ERIC website for info

Honestly, she will probably need to be on a maintance dose for years. The ERIC website is a really good source of info.

Oh I’m really surprised it could be years. One dr said to start weaning off once all solid poo was gone.

does constipation and laxative use kind of stop the bowels knowing how to poo properly or something?

No, movicol works by keeping water in the poo so it stays soft so it’s easier to pass. When a child has been constipated for a while it stretches the bowel and it can take a while to get back to normal. The longer it was stretched for the longer it takes to go back to normal size. If you child has been this constipated then it’s more likely they will have issues with it over the next few years.

I agree it’s really hard to get your child to take Movicol as it’s not nice. Once it’s been made up with the correct amount of water (you must do this before adding it to something else or it won’t work), I add orange juice to it. Then I use a calpol syringe to give it whilst my child is watching TV or something. It’s a complete ballache but necessary.

The advice from the doctors you’ve seen has been crap and I’ve experienced the same from GPs and hospital doctors. My husband and I are doctors and we’ve learned so much about constipation over the past year!!!

Do NOT stop just when your child passes a hard poo or even liquid poo, as there will be some “overflow” and old poo breaking down. You have to have had several poos in a row like “rusty water” . My son is currently having a disimpaction and we’re on day 7 and still getting old poo breaking down.

The Instagram account “stoolwitholdinghelp” shows the type of poo you’re aiming for. Again, Eric and Movicol mummies are great.

advice tends to be that your child would be on a maintenance dose of Movicol for twice as long as they’ve struggled with constipation for , which is likely six months - years

good luck and feel free to ask questions , poo has become my bloody life!!!

I applaud all you parents who have had to do disimpactation. We have never needed to get to this point but both my kids have on movicol for years. Around 4 years for my eldest, turns out she has ASD and consipation is more likely in people with ASD, she nolonger needs it. My youngest has been on it for 3 years but now only 1/2 a sachet a day.

Once you’ve mixed the scahet with water you can add it to another drink. We add it to hot chocolate, not as healthy as milk or water but on balance we decided having a little bit of sugar and movicol is better than no movicol.