will he *ever* be out of nappies? please *help*

[intothewest]

Hi-My ds is 7,but has fairly complex needs-CP(though he's mobile-very wobbly)sld,communication issues,autistic 'traits' and to cap it all he's doubly incontinent!We are up to our eyeballs in poo!he gets constipated 'til he's in agony and then either explodes or just 'goes' throughout the day-he's on movicol:doesn't seem to make a difference;we've tried every strategy known(I think)and stuck to them;we are in touch with the nurse from the continence service;prof from an early intervention programme-I've had to write many notes to his sn school 'he's not ill no-he doesn't need to stay off school'-I think they have finally accepted it-You ask ds if he's had a poo and he'll shout'later'(his new word)If you put him on the loo when you know he's going,he'll stop-and it's a real problem when we're out-clean places to change him etc. I know you've had a lot of experience between you,so any help would be greatly appreciated or just share your experiences please-sorry this is a bit long-it's years of frustration pouring out!!!

I didn't want to leave your thread unanswered because I have often wondered whether ds1 (9 ASD) will ever get out of nappies. He has recently made some progress after a long period of intensive work at his school, but we are still a fair way from being trained. The key for us has been taking him out of nappies at school. he has had endless accidents but it has started to come good. It has however, taken nearly a year!

Thanks-That is really encouraging to hear and I'm glad your ds is making progress-I'll have to suggest that to school;I'm sure they'd be thrilled............

just tiny tiny steps. Not thinking in terms of being out of nappies, but finding a step towards that goal sufficiently small that he's comfortable. e.g. moving him to a spot just outside the bathroom when he is pooing. And then after a month of that being ok, moving him to the doorway etc etc etc.

Or, approaching things from the other end (as it were), tipping the poo into the loo and using flushable wet wipes to wipe him, so that some part of the process happens near the loo. But that might be several bridges too far as a starting point.

Baby steps. you will get there in the end, I promise you, it's just a question of making the steps small enough and the timeframe long enough.

I have pm you, I don't like to talk about this on mn, so have said it on there.

thanks 2shoes -hopefully I have pm you back

and ommmward-yes these are good ideas-trying the tipping in loo and wet wipes atm-I think it's the time frame-I have to take those baby steps and remain patient.I think it's just that we've been having a really bad couple of weeks with it and it can start to get you down-thank you

Yes,sorry Riven-you're right and I don't mean to offend anyone-no-one knows if my ds will ever be out either- as I said it's just been a bad time - we just get on with it really.

my garrys is 36 now and still in nappies[pads].
i dont see it as a disability now am so used to it.

myra

but please don't give up hope. I thought dd would always be in nappies but she isn't, so keep trying

intothewest. do you know if it is behavioural or physical, or both maybe.

Hi again-thank you for all your thoughts-I will keep trying and eating chocolate-and Myra thank you:(unsure about cause ,trying to explore this at the moment)I think it is just good and helpful for me to know there may be light at the end of the tunnel,but if not,I know we will cope 'cos that's what we all do and some days it's easier than others

sorry-random sad face-don't know what happened there