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Original poster

4yr old boy scared to poo and comstipated despite loads of medication. help.

37 replies

FelicityMontgomery · 04/06/2007 10:04

He's had constipatipn from age 1 and been on lactulose. Until last few weeks would only poo in a nappy. he now wants to be a big boy so no more nappy, but will not do it in the toilet or potty.

He can hiold it for days despite being given, senna, lactulose and now movicol, but ew are having big problems making him take the medicine leading to lots of trauma(see terrible parent thread).

Lots of trauma generally about the whole poo thing. I'm trying to stay calm, but failing (again see terrible parent thread).

Anyone else experienced anything like this?

OP posts:

MellowMa · 04/06/2007 10:07

Message withdrawn

LordVenger · 04/06/2007 10:08

A fag always works for me ...

PetronellaPinkPants · 04/06/2007 10:10

my dd is the same

She is 4.5 and still poos in nappies

I have decided to let her be and not hassle her about it. She will do it when she is ready. From time to time she says she is but like your ds won't do it in the loo

My biggest concern was when she starts school what to do. However she is at nursery and and withholds during the day and only ever poos after dinner. The doctor very sensibly pointed out that a LOT of kids do this even if they do use the loo, lots will only poo at home. So I really am NOT going to worry about it. It will pass!

unicorn · 04/06/2007 10:12

well, not quite as bad as your case but ds age 5 has been having big problems with this recently, so I really do sympathise.
We ended up at A+E one night as he was screaming to high heaven - it really is painful and very scary for them.
We too were given Senna and Lactulose, which appears to have worked - but he is still reluctant to go, and it initially seems to hurt him.
I think it is important to try and keep as calm as you can (difficult I know) and don't let him see that you are worried - try and keep reassuring him as much as possible.
Can you give him the meds in fruit juice?
I think a friend of mine was given suppositories for her child - is that an option?

BettySpaghetti · 04/06/2007 10:16

Felicity, if it wasn't for the fact my friend doesn't have a computer or internet access I would swear that you are her.

Sorry, I don't have any answers but wanted to say that you're not the only one going through it, you're not a terrible parent and it must be upsetting for you.

Last week I witnessed how upset its making my friend feel to see her son going through all this trauma and upset over pooing (or rather not pooing).

Her son has been witholding and previous to that only pooing in nappies (hes nearly 4). Shes just been prescribed meds for him but is still having a hellish time.

juuule · 04/06/2007 10:17

We give Movicol in orange squash.

Original poster

FelicityMontgomery · 04/06/2007 10:19

He has sussed the med in his drink. this morning I tried it in apple juice, yogurt drink and orange squash, but he refused them all, screaming. I did eventually dupe him into eating a yogurt with some senna in. i just hope this works again tomorrow.

We had just been going with the flow and sticking with the nappy Petronella but he has now decided he doesn't want to wear a nappy at all. he won't wear one to bed and is wetting every nigt, but that's a side issue I can cope with as he's not distressed about it.

It does help to hear that this is not a unique problem.

OP posts:

BrummieOnTheRun · 04/06/2007 10:20

movicol will work. we had same issues with DD1 (3 yo). was horrendous, but sorted itself out in a couple of weeks. once she realised it didn't hurt any more everything got back to normal. hold on in there!

WK007 · 04/06/2007 10:22

Is there something vile and horrible that you would normally not let him have but would let him have a little bit of with his meds in - like Coke or Sunny Delight or other bad-for-you drink?

MellowMa · 04/06/2007 10:23

Message withdrawn

Original poster

FelicityMontgomery · 04/06/2007 10:24

He's refusing thr movicol. he's now so suspicious he will ony drink water that he sees me get straigt from the tap.

I think we really need to perseverer with the meds though to make it really easy fro him so that he can overcome the anxiety anout pooing.

I can't belive how a little boy can still withold hos poo for days after loads of med, but he can.

OP posts:

Original poster

FelicityMontgomery · 04/06/2007 10:25

That's an idea WK007!!

He may drink it in Coke. It will seem AWFUL giving him coke for breakfast, but I may try it anyway!!!!

OP posts:

MellowMa · 04/06/2007 10:26

Message withdrawn

MellowMa · 04/06/2007 10:26

Message withdrawn

Original poster

FelicityMontgomery · 04/06/2007 10:27

Thanks Mellowma. It has been becoming a bigger and bigger issue in my mnd, i couldn't sleep last nigt thinking 'he will never get over this.'

the stress is making me get it out of propotion, I know.

OP posts:

lisad123 · 04/06/2007 10:27

We went thought the same thing with DD for 4 years. It was horrible. We tried everything and got to the point of day 8 and had to do sopositries (sp?) which worked quickly.
We also used to have books in the bathroom to read while she sat on the loo, if she didnt go, we just said Oh well maybe later. Also another trick is bubbles. Its impossible to hold a poo in while blowing out so used to sit on loo and DD would be blowing bubbles

Good Luck
lisa

KTeePee · 04/06/2007 10:28

Could you wait until he is asleep and then put a nappy/pull-ups on him? I did this when ds1 went through a phase of not wanting to wear one at night and I couldn't be doing with the constant bed-wetting. Maybe if your ds woke up with one on he would forget he didn't want to wear one and do a poo first thing?

tissy · 04/06/2007 10:32

has he seen a paediatrician? Many children's departments have a specialist nurse who can use enemas to get things moving (there's often a hard lump of poo which is difficult/ painful to pass at first) followed by suppositories and medicines, which can be weaned when he gets into the habit of going, and loses the fear.

It might be worth trying reflexology- I know the paeds at our hospital refer kids with constipation to a nurse who is trained- it seems to be effective.

Original poster

FelicityMontgomery · 04/06/2007 10:35

I'm going to see the Gp later this week again, and I'll discuss a referral.

The bed wetting isn't an issue at the moment. The water proof shheet just gets washed every morning. No big problem.

But if you wake him in the nigt he RAGES. Really RAGES. So to be avoided wherever possible. He is a strong willed little chap!

Thabks for all your replies I am beginning to feel calmer about it all.

OP posts:

juuule · 04/06/2007 10:38

Our dd was under the hospital and we had a contact number for the community paediatric nurses. They told us that Movicol was a godsend and had hugely reduced the need to use enemas. They came and had a chat with dd about taking her 'orange' and that if she didn't take it for me then we would have to take her to the hospital for them to administer it. They also said they knew it wasn't that pleasant and were very understanding with her but explained it was to make her feel better (she was 3 nearly 4). This had the effect of her not objecting to drinking her 'nursey' orange. Well, not after an initial protest.
Perhaps you could contact the community nurses and see if something like this would be available to you. They are also there if you have any worries about the way things are going.

Original poster

FelicityMontgomery · 04/06/2007 10:41

That sounds great juule, something like that would be great for us, i will ask for referral.

I'm SO releieved this is not just us!!!

OP posts:

MellowMa · 04/06/2007 11:01

Message withdrawn

WanderingTrolley · 04/06/2007 11:14

Look at this thread.

poptot · 04/06/2007 11:22

Just to say i really feel for you and ds, my ds (3.5)was an absolute nightmare with constipation, had me in tears most days. Lots of movicol in strong juice was the thing for us. Now a year on and he doesn't need anything and is regular as clockwork. Just wanted to let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel. We did have a fab paed though who really helped and encouraged me to relax about it as I don't think I helped the situation at all. More or less ignored it the end but gave treats when he did do a poo and lots of praise. We also found sitting him on the toilet with a book or magazine like daddy was a help. HTH

dramaqueen · 04/06/2007 11:31

We go to the constipation clinic at our local hospital. Go back to your GP and demand to be referred to a community nurse or similar. Also perservere with the movicol. Also you can give them ExLax which is senna in chocolate form. Get it at Boots or Tesco. Each square is 10ml of senna. We are now down to 1/4 of a square a day, given in the morning.

Ds then sits on the toilet straight after dinner each evening, with his Leapster. Actually the Leapster is a godsend because he is quite happy to play it while waiting for his poo to come!!

We were told to put him on the toilet at the same time each day, and that would train his bowels. It has worked, and it was that which got him out of nappies. You have to keep doing it. Sorry, in a rush cos meant to be going to work now. CAT me if you want any more details. We have been where you are and it takes over your life, doesn't it?

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