Not sure if this is a health issue or a behaviour one, but DD is refusing to poo and its driving us both mad

[SecretSlattern]

I am running out of ideas. She tells me that she needs the toilet so goes and sits there, then starts crying, sometimes screaming because she wants to go but doesn't want to iyswim. She says her bottom is sore, but I have had a look and there is no soreness or redness although I don't dispute something hurts. She then complains about it being too big or too small (sorry). We went shopping today and she has a bit of a thing for going to a new toilet but we ended up sitting in there for nearly half an hour while we had a little argument about whether or not she was going to actually go. In the end I got annoyed and told her if she wasn't going to do anything, to get moving but then she started screaming and crying.

I'm running out of ideas and it is getting us both down. Any ideas as to how I can encourage her to go? Bribes don't seem to be working, neither do threats. DD is 5 btw.

Is she constipated? That would cause pain, reluctance to poo, carry on the cycle...

Sorry I don't have an answer, but my sister has the same problem with her dd who is also just 5. She does exactly the same things screaming almost to the point of hsterical, They have taken her to the doctor who has put her on a fbrogel type thing, to make it easier for her to go, but that didn't work. It seems to be phsycilogical(sp?) to me. as soon as she has been there is an imediate transformation and shes back to all sweetness and light.

So how often does she have a poo? It may be that she is constipated or that she has had a bad experience before which is making her nervous of pooing again. Try to get her to drink plenty as this should soften things. (or too much chocolate works wonders )

i am having a v similar issue with my dd too. it is so hard. she is even on lactulose and still managing to hold it in for up to a week. it is horrible for us both. i hope ti works out for you too. oranges, grapes, strawberries are being consumed in this house in big measure!!

Thanks for those suggestions. Fruit consumption has been upped (but I'm sorry, I draw the line at prune-y stuff ). She will go 3-4 days with nothing and then suddenly she will need to go and does the screaming thing but is back to normal immediately after she has been.

As far as I know there have been no bad experiences. I don't think she is constipated because when asked, she'll say she wants to go but doesn't want to. It appears she is holding onto it.

Am thinking if it continues much longer then a trip to the GP might be in order.