constipation

[Margy]

Anyone got any great ideas on constipation? I have a 4 year old pre schooler who has suffered since last June. She drinks loads, eats loads of veg (doesn't like Macdonalds, pop, chips or crisps!) does lots of exercise. We are presently on 2 lots of medicine from the doctor which we keep altering the dose on but After ckeanin and changing for the 8th or 10th or more time each day I'm getting to the end of my tether!!!!!!!!!!!Any ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi just read through this thread and can empathise with everyone who's children have suffered constipation. My dd (3 1/2) has a spinal condition and has both urinary and faecal incontinance. This has meant that she suffers constantly with constipation, I don't have any worries about using senna (which we use daily) affecting her because her bowel simply doesn't work anyway!
We use the Senna and Lactulose on a daily basis but dd seems to still be suffering a lot of pain, I know this is because there are a lot of hard stools inside causing tummy cramps.
Her specialist has told us the only thing to do is increase her lactulose again, she is already having 25ml daily of lactulose, and although he has assured me lactulose stays in the bowel and isn't like a medicine, I worry about her taking so much.
Does anyone have any experience of such high doses, or any knowledge of any effects this might have on her?
Thanks

Vici x

Hi - I have just found this site and am so relieved to find there are other mothers out there who have a child suffering from constipation. We were prescribed lactalose for me 3 1/2 yr old daughter, but we have been using this on and off with syrup of figs. We are now ina vicious cirle. my daughter eats well loves cereal and fruit - her problem is holidng on to the poo. She is now soiling and wetting her pants - we know we need to use lactalose again - but I am really unsure of how much to give her and when - I am unsure of how lactalow works will too much give her the runs- help

I am not sure if this will help anyone, but here goes, my ds became constipated after a day or tow of diarrhoea. I bought an Annabel Karmel book and in the back it has lots on common ailments.. In which she speaks of lacose intolerance, she goes on to say that this intolerance is sometimes incorrectly thought to be an allergy when infact its the sugar in the milk and the inability to digest this sugar becuse of the lack of a digestive enzyme called lactase in the gut. Following gastorenteritis, the sites where the enzymes lactase is produced may be damaged and so the lactose remains undigested causing the problems of constipation in ds's case!! The enzymes do begin to be produced again and lactose can be digested normally again... So from her book I spoke to a health food shop and was recommended to buy acidobifidus, you sprinkle lactobacillus acidophilus & bifidus probiotic powder into water or cereals - or as per your health visitor/doctor advises. In my ds case an 1/8th of a teaspoon. I also have him on linseed.. Just thought someone may like to know this info and that it could help someone like others have tried to help me.. Will keep this thread posted on any developements..Lactolous is not doing the trick!!

essentially lactulose is just sugar, it attracts water and passes out through the bowel acting to soften any motions, children can be on incredibly high doses and on it for long term because it doesnt stay in the body. Having said that it doesnt always seem to help as many of you are finding. My 1yr old suffers from chronic constipation and has done all of his life, we use a mixture of excercises, lactulose, coloxil and when the going gets really bad suppositories and enemas. Children take a long time to get over chronic constipation there doesnt seem to be a fast cure, they learn to hold on, the bowel gets stretched from holding large amounts of waste and therefore gets more sluggish and so forth.

My dd's paed has prescribed Movicol Paediatric version as she has had bad constipation for ages. It is working wonders.

dd has had this constipation too from 10wks old until now - he is coming up for 1 year old. I do think he holds on too.. And the lactolose isnt working as he is not drinking enough - another prob.. Tried everything but not much joy..I think he just feels full all of the time

thanks for adding your messages girls.. I am now on holiday and am going to see if i can get another appointment with the dr to see if we can get another referal..am also gonna give this new powder and linseed a try give it a week or so and see how we get on

just seen this thread. answers some of my questions but not all. my ds (nearly 6 months) has been having problems pooing for 5 weeks. think it began when i put him on formula - now fully breast-feeding again.began introducing solids with baby rice 3 weeks ago and had same effect. he is now only on pear parsnip and carrot. seems much better in day but night time is still awful.like another baby. he pulls his legs up and cries in pain - usually about 1-2 hours after a feed - 7 and 10ish. and then wakes avery couple of hours. have no idea what to do....

hartley I have a 'gloop' recipe that I have used with my dd2 and it seems to be okay at helping with this constipation.

1 ripe pear, peeled, cored and sliced
3 pitted prunes
1 teaspoon dark brown or Muscovado sugar
Stew gently, in a saucepan until soft. Cool, then liquidise until smooth.
Larger quantities can be made up and frozen in ice trays or small baby food
jars.
Babies seem to love it straight off the spoon, older kids like it with
yoghurt, ice cream or on breakfast cereal.

Might be worth a try. I find pears brilliant with my dd2.

thanks for the gloop suggestion. we've only just started on solids - do you think it is ok to give prunes so early on?

My 4 month old son is suffering with constipation at the moment. He has only had 1 dirty nappy in 2 weeks - on lactulose but it seems to be taking its merry time to work - any suggestions? I am totally breastfeeding him at the moment though had started him on baby rice (which I think cauued the constipation). Will my diet affect his bowels?

OH MY GOD I THINK ITS CURED MD DD!! He has not been constipated since 25th August.. Here goes.. tip of tspn linseed with his weetabix in morning, with a 1/4 tspn of ACIDOBIFIDUS, also add the acido.. to his milk along with lactol.. FEW Only thing is im afraid to stop any of them and not sure which is working, although it was lactolos first, then linseed then Acidobifidus.. I purchased the Acidobifidus from a health food shop, explained to the woman that dd had been constipated forever it seemed after a bout of diareah (!!spelling) and she mentioned this, its a mixed probiotic powder, like the bifidus digestimum activia advert on tv.. its putting the good bacteria back into his system as the enzyms were destroyed when he had (what is now thought to be) a bit of gastro..so normal nappies and a happy (now 1 year old) baba!! Please hope lots of you read this and try it out.. Fingers crossed it stays ok eh..

I breastfed my dd for 7 months and he was constipated then too.. Your diet does affect what he eats..Speak to your health visitor for some tips.. mine would be to eat over 5 portions of fruit and veg and at least 16 - 20 glasses of water a day..

Marie12 - I would stop the rice & continue with the breastfeeding. Babies don't need anything other than milk until they are 6mths & in fact their gut has not developed properly to deal with solids. To avoid allergies etc, the advice is to hold off.

HTH

What a great thread. Thought I would bump in case anyone else has a poo phobic child!