2 year old with constipation

[katiepotatie]

My 2 year old dd has had a history of constipation, and is on sodium pictosulphate daily. Things have been better for a while but as of today she still hasn't been for a poo for 5 days! She is in a lot of pain, and is actively holding it in. We have been refered to hospital again as GP says he can't do anything, but what can I do until her next appointment arrives.

My daughter was constipated for 6 months after potty training, we tried all kinds of foods/drinks/laxatives.

She was holding it in for a week at a time before having a full day of screaming in pain before passing the biggest, hardest poo I've ever seen, and she's a dainty little thing! I was amazed, she was on 4 lots of lactulose a day with no effect. It was awful to see her like this so I really sympaphise.

It was definately a mental thing, she was scared it was going to hurt, so held it in, which made her constipated, which made it hurt, a viscious circle!

Amazingly what worked for us was upping the lactulose so when she eventually did go it was a bit softer, then bribed her with kinder surprise eggs! 'If you do a poo you can have a chocolate egg'. We'd tried bribes in the past with no luck, after this she was actively asking to try and do a poo! Expensive at 59p a time, but worth it, and now she's regular and doesn't mind at all.

A friend who had the same problem, apparently quite common, especially in girls, took her dd to a herbalist, they made up a remedy and showed her how to massage it into her dds stomach, apparently worked.

Hope you sort it soon.

Thought I'd add we have managed to wean her off the eggs, she just gets a chocolate button now!

Yes it is a viscious circle, thought we had cracked this over the last 3 months. Have tried massage, 3 warm baths in the last 24 hours! prunes, chocolate spread, everything!
Have spoken with GP today, am going to have to give her a micro enema again, she's not needed one for at least 9 months.
We had given up on potty training on the say so of her hospital consultant, till she has got over the fear of going.
I have been in tears as much as she has today. Hopefully the micra lax will work.

Fingers crossed, it really is horrible, your poor dd, and poor you!

Micra Lax worked, she's like a different child since passing the biggest poo, I know this is short term, but we are at our wits end. Hope her hospital appointment isn't too far away. We feel like we've really been left to deal with this on our own

Yes, I sometimes think people don't realise what a stressful effect it has on day to day life, especially when you see how much happier they are once they've emptied their bowels, they must be feeling so uncomfortable all the time. Really hope hospital appointment comes soon and that they can help.