rectal prolapse in 2.5 year old son - anyone with a similar experience?

[Jollygood]

Hi, my son had a rectal prolapse 2 days ago, had to go to a&e and they pushed it back in again. He's having various tests. It happened again yesterday when he pooed and my husband managed to put it back in. Has anyone else got children who have had this? I'm desperate to speak to a parent who has been through this, I've got a 6 month old baby as well and I'm finding it very hard to cope with. Thanks

My DD1 had this when she was about 3. It happened a few times a week, we got very good at pushing it back in but had to visit A&E twice when we couldn't get it back in.

When she was investigated they said it was because she was constipated, despite me telling them repeatedly that she was definitely not constipated! They prescribed lactulose and senna which I wouldn't give to her as she definitely wasn't constipated. I have no idea why she started having the prolapse and no-one could tell me why.

It sorted itself out over time but was very stressful for a few months. I do sympathise.

Hi, there, thanks for your replies. I wish I had checked for replies a lot earlier than now but things have been so hectic here. Its been like an emotional rollacoaster the last few days, over the weekend he didnt have a prolapse but then today he did. Just need to get my head around the fact thats its maybe going to take a long time to sort out.
SIDGE - I've got a few more questions for you if you don't mind?
How often did your girl use to go? (my son tends to hold onto it for 2 days which I think is part of the problem, although the poos not hard). Did the occurances get less frequent as time went on? Did you get used to going out and about with the thought of it happening? And how did you manage to get your girl to cooperate when you were putting it back in? My son doesnt really understtand what is happening and I don't know how I'm supposed to pin him down and put it in on my own (I tried to do it tonight with my husbands help but its a bit fiddly isnt it?)

No don't mind questions at all Jollygood! But her prolapse was years ago (she is now 10) so my memory might be a bit rusty!

Um, if I remember she pooed most days, and it seemed to prolapse entirely randomly. The potty made it worse as her bottom was lower than her knees and put more pressure on the rectum - we bought one of those insert toilet seats so she could sit comfortably on the loo without perching or falling in, and a footstool to bring her legs up so she didn't dangle. We tried to make sure her hips and knees were 90 degrees so less pressure on the rectum.

I found putting a wet wipe over my fingers made pushing it in easier, as it was slightly slippery and I was less likely to catch the membranes with my nails (yuk) and I kept my nails very short. The quicker you can reinsert it after seeing it come out the better, as then it hasn't had a chance to swell and so should slip back in easier. If you can put it back whilst he's standing it should be easier as there is less tension on the anus and rectum then. Just get him to bend forwards slightly away from you and push gently. I made sure I was really calm and almost jolly so that I didn't freak her out, despite being petrified!

It didn't stop us going out and about, but I made sure I had wipes in my bag. I don't know if your son has any SN which would affect his understanding? If so that must make it harder, poor you.

It did get less over time and then just stopped happening, she's now a fit and healthy 10 year old and has no bowel problems at all.

Thanks Sidge. Feeling a bit calmer about it all today, fingers crossed it will sort itself out over time! cheers for the advice.

Hi yes my 4 year old daughter has been having this on and off for several months. It happens whenever she tries to poo on the toilet. If she fully squats while she goes then it does not happen, so currently, though she is potty trained she poos squatting in a diaper. I am looking into buying a special toilet seat for her so she can fully squat on the toilet (using a high stool is not good enough, it still happens).

She has high functioning Autism, as well as hyper mobility syndrome, and it's the hyper mobility that is causing this problem. Basically all of the connective tissue in her body is WAY too flexible. In very sever cases you get rectal prolapse.

Was told that the only option really is an invasive surgery to try and tighten her rectum, where she'd be in the hospital for 7 days or more. Other option is to have her squat to poo and as long as it goes back in then no surgery needed Dr. says. As she gets older (if it hasn't gone away) she can have a special toilet seat in the nurse's office at school and go there if she needs to... as for out in public... still diapers for now!

Hi, me again! I just found this article from last year that you can download as a pdf

THE ANATOMY AND TREATMENT OF RECTAL PROLAPSE IN CHILDHOOD

www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119914969/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0#ss1

Hi my daughter is having the same problm...shez 5 n half ..1ce she had diarrhea which lasted for few days that time it had cm out...observed for 2 days thinking that ita gone i did not checked it daily...so after 1 yr when i was potty trained her i noticed this came out daily was so worried stressed showd to doc all said surgery ..so still dealing with it

Yes, my daughter does but she has medical issues with her bowel.