Getting very frustrated with constant poo issues

[boredonasunday]

Just want to let off steam. My nearly 6 yr old son has ASD and has always had problems opening his bowels. He has been on movicol for several years but we don't really use it any more as it is too powerful (am currently trying about 1/4 sachet per day. What is so frustrating is that he constantly has his hands down the back of his trousers - I have just taken him off the pc with his hands caked in dry horrible poo. He doesn't seem to care about it - will not tell me if his hands or pants are dirty. I am starting to lose my temper which of course is not the right thing to do. He will go on the toilet, but much of the time will soil his pants enough for me to throw countless pairs away. Has anyone got any tips ? We currently have a visual schedule on the wall in the bathroom with the stages he has to go through which he followed about twice but now takes no notice of ! i am cross with myself for shouting and now his sister is upset as i shouted at her for asking what he has done (don't want to make an issue of it with her). Just need advice and sympathy !

Well you have my sympathy! I will admit similar poo issues really distressed me (wetting is a sinch in comparison) and there really is very little help. Ds is 10 going on 11 and we still struggle- although things improved over the last couple of years. Ds has no awareness of the social nicities to put it delicately. I think ds uses his hand to um check if his pants need changing because he has poor awareness of needs
Things started to resolve when ds started to see a specialised paediatrician - the poo doctor. It took years to get his very entrenched constipation under control, and a regular habit going. Is there a paed local to you that specialises in bowel/toilet problems in children with asd?
Has impaction and running through been ruled out?

Hello, poor you. My DS is 5 and has chronic constipation, with no sign of wanting to use the loo but lots of interest in his pooh when in his nappy, hair, hands, telly, walls, sofas etc. He uses Senna but only to keep him going as his tummy hurts when really blocked up. He is still in nappies and I think will be for a while. I looked at a catalogue called Fledglings and they have clothes that look like normal shirts but have that popper thing going on which might stop creeping hands. I don't know if this would be like a step back if you are trying to get him to use the toilet but if you were going out for the day it might give you a few more moments before he gets to the pooh. I don't know what to suggest really as my son just isn't ready and we did try a while ago but although he knows what the toilet is and what it is for he refuses to consider it at the moment and so we wait... all my sympathy with the whole pooh on hands yuck.

No advice, but I just wanted to say I understand how you feel my ds (4yo) is exactly the same and is currently back in napies full-time. He is on picolax syrup.

Advice wise, I think setting up a regular sitting on the loo habit helped get ds into a regular pattern. I used to read to him to keep him there. I found this book helpful www.amazon.co.uk/Constipation-Witholding-YourChild-Soiling/dp/1843104911