I need some advice regarding my son's bowel movements

[FabIsGoingToGetFit]

For a couple of weeks now he has had to change his underpants several times a day. Sometimes they just look dirty like he hasn't wiped his bottom properly but other times they actually have poo in them and quite big pieces.

Dh thinks he is being lazy, I don't. I have spoken to ds and he says he goes to the toilet to do a wee, he doesn't go to do a poo. He doesn't know he is doing it. He is 9 and going away soon and I don't want anyone being mean to him about it.

Is it a Doctor job and if not how on Earth can I help him please?

I don't think it is linked to his diet as the children all eat the same.

Is he constipated - sometimes it leaks out around the side and comes out ?

I haven't asked him. Will do that now. Thanks.

Definitely sounds like he is constipated and getting overflow where poo leaks out. The bowel becomes stretched with the poo and they lose the sensation of wanting to poo and also don't feel when the poo leaks out iyswim
I would take him to the GP he needs a laxative like movicol to get him going.
HTH

I am thinking constipation too. Also ask if he holds it in at school as that can exacerbate constipation. I'ld say doctor in first instance, as doctor can feel his stomach to check for any impaction (i.e. poo stuck up there).

He says not but I have just been called to wipe dd's bottom and hers is quite soft. Any clues?

I feel such a rubbish mum.

He probably doesn;t know he is ISYWIM - he might still be pooing - but ots fresh stuff not the impacted stuff. Take him to the docs and get him to feel his tummy.

Has he always done this or has he been clean ?? One of DS friends is being tested as he doesn't feel the need to poo either and the docs think his nerves are damaged.

My mum, brother & sister all go to the loo every 4-5 days me, brother & dad are "normal" and we all ate the same diet so that doesn't make a difference.

don't feel guilty or ashamed, poo problems are all part of the delights of childrearing....get him to the GPs for some advice as to whether diet (fruit juice etc) or laxatives are needed.

fab it's very common for kids to get constipated definitely take him to the GP because if he is then he will need a laxative to get him going otherwise it won't get better.
The other thing to try is to get him to sit on the loo at set times of the day usually after meals is a good time and just sit there to see if anything comes out. He could read or do his ds or something. He needs to sit for at least 20 mins.
But this will only work if the constipated poo has been dealt with first

Sorry, I went and did 1 hour 7 minutes exercise on the Wii.

We have asked him to call us when he goes to the loo and he went to try while I was exercising so DH helped. His pants were dirty but Dh though that was from earlier. He said his poo was normal.

Getting a GP appointment is impossible so would it be any use taking him to the pharmacist today to get some advice?

Also what should I be giving him to eat and drink? He has fruit and veg every day but tbh I have never been confident I am feeding him the right stuff or enough of it.

He weighs about 4 stone 3lbs I think.

I would make sure he drinks enough and has his 5 a day other than that I think he really does need to see the GP just to rule out constipation
well done on the exercise

I asked the pharmacist. She didn't think constipation as he was still going. She said GP but tbh didn't fill me with confidence and didn't appear to want to discuss it with me.

If hard to get appt with GP - Practice nurse? school nurse? nhs walk-in centre? NHS direct? this is the sort of issue where I reckon a nurse would be better than a pharmacist.

I just tried ringing and they are shut until 2pm. Don't know who else to try really.

Doctors on Wed for him.

That is 2 medical people I have asked about it and I distinctly get the impression I am mad.

Hi Fab

How did you get on ?