hysterical when needs a poo! please please read.

[housearrest]

hello everyone, I hope this message finds you all well. I'm not sure if this is the correct board for mr problem but here goes!
My 2-and-a-half yr old son had, a few months ago, been happily using a potty-not every time though and just a few days, so we were playing it by ear. About 6wks ago a very strange thing started to happen-he would have a nappy on and would start to get very agitated, whining like he was in pain, jumping up and down etc., when this happened he was extremely clingy and we literall couln't move from the sofa, then it would pass but this could go on for hours-it finally became clear that it was leading up to a poo! This is still going on and I'm at the end of my tether now-I just don't know what to do as its affecting everything we do-before he goes he can spend 2 days clingy and screaming-has anyone else had any this or anything similar-it feels like I'm going mad with it!!

Have you seen any blood in his stool or around his bottom? My dd and ds2 both got an anal fissure at about the same time - an extraordinary coincidence. Ds2 got better after a few weeks, but dd became chronically constipated and her troubles went on about 18 months. She would act like your ds prior to doing a poo. In fact she resisted doing one for days, until she couldn't resist any more. She had various laxatives which I can discuss in further depth if you think that is the way your ds will have to go.

yes I have-though they're none the wiser either unfortunately. I've kept records of his diet for the doctor but its not constipation either-he just seems to get upset from the moment he gets the feeling of needing a poo. thanks.

hi lonelymum, i admit i have no idea what anal fissures are but i'm looking it up!

It is a little tear in the anus (back passage) which makes pooing very painful. Sometimes you can see a bit of blood on the poo or on the paper when you wipe if there is a fissure there.

I haven't seen any blood at all-and he also doesn't seem to be constipated i.e. his stool isn't hard. It breaks my heart to see him so distressed and not be able to help.

I know. I remember dd's distress. I am not sure she was in pain for all that time (horrible thoght if she was) she just got into a rut of resisting the urge to poo and screaming blue murder when she could resist no more.

It might still be worth yu taking your ds to the doctor for them to have a look and see if they can work out what is wrong. They wouldn't think you were wasting their time, I'm sure.

Take him back to the doc. My dd was chronically constipated - and because it sometimes hurt when she passed a poo she would resist going the next time - which makes things worse! The doc would probably prescribe lactulose to soften the poo to make sure it won't hurt. You can then use promise of stickers, sweets, anything to get him to go. My dd used to scream the place down because it hurt so much - it was horrible! Once they get into a pattern of going regularly (with soft poo) it becomes easier.