Constipated 4 year old... UPDATE Post 46

[Mahnahmahnah]

I feel you pain, OP. My DD has issues every once in a while. It usually occurs around holidays or after big family parties. We tracked it back to chocolate!

It's the only time we see mega candy around. (Used to give a few M&M's for successful potty, but that's not an issue anymore) Since we're coming off of Easter, it's something to think about. I had told family NOT to give us too much chocolate, but you know how that goes. And TBH, their diets aren't all that great when toddlers.

My pedi recommended Children's Benefiber powder, and so far it works like a charm. It gets mixed into their juice or milk, so they take it without even knowing it.*

*Unless.....they catch you! One time my DD saw me putting a spoonful in her cup and asked what it was, suspiciously. So I just told her I was putting sugar in her juice to make it sweeter. She bought it!

Also, the doc had told me if they have a hard time with one poop, and it's hard for them to pass, they can get a small anal fissure. This will cause pain for them when they go, so they end up holding it. Poor little guys.

I've also had great success with grapes. Just don't give them too many. Good luck, it's the worst when they don't feel good.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow Pea - you remember from the last time I posted on here, freaking out?!? LOL Thanks!!!!! Yeah, I know its just the beginning... After she went from the enema, she felt 10000 times better. We have the miralax/prune juice mixture in a water bottle for her, and bless her little soul, she actually likes it!!!! I tasted it and almost lost my lunch ....

As to your question of her regularity - I guess not! She was doing well for a while, but obviously, that stopped, and I didn't realize it till it was to late. I had been giving her the Pedia-Lax pills that the other Dr. recommended for several days, but they didn't do anything for her. I'm really hoping that the Mira-Lax will do the trick (which from listening to everyone else on here, it most likely will). Its going to be a challenge to get her to drink the entire thing, but I will just have to be persistent.
I'm going to talk to her pre-k teachers and have them pay attention to her bathroom habits - i.e. ask her if she pooped every time she goes to the bathroom. They know all about the issue from last time.....

Again, thanks for your post, and any recommendations are welcome!

You do NOT have to use prune juice. In fact I do not recommend it. For those of us that are sufferers, it causes painful cramps.

The beauty of the Miralax is that is cramping free.

Do it daily without fail.

 

[shortbun]

Had the same problems here years ago. We upped the fiber to 5g plus age, so for a 4yo, at least 9grams of fiber a day. Most of that should be fruit fiber because it's water soluble. Grapes have lots, apples have 2, blueberries are good. We went with edamame because our son liked popping the beans out of the pod. We were told to increase the amt of fiber 2g every 4 days until we reached 9. Emphasis on fruit fiber-WW bread has non soluble fiber and could be causing the poop to bulk up in her colon thus causing the blockage. Think of it as eating wood fiber and it attaches and causes a dam.That WW bread is not whole grain; it's not natural fiber. OK for grownups but especially for a toddler with problems, probably not the best bread. Maybe don't rely so much on bread and go more with potatoes-baked, boiled in chunks for her carbs. I got all this from a pediatric nutritionist; not my ideas. The peanut butter we switched to an apple dip or spread on bananas. We did up the fiber in his cereal. We didn't get the artificially high fiber cereal but we didn't buy cereal unless it had 2g per serving-not 5 or 7 like some because that would have been too much. We added a little fruit to cereal IF it had no fiber-blueberries or bananas. Also, we kept him hydrated because water is necessary to avoid constipation. We watered down some juice, grapes are hydrating, and so forth. Good luck. The enemas work but it was much nicer when DS's system started working like it was supposed to. After eating, we'd send or take him to the potty so he could try to go. The body should eliminate 10-15 minutes after eating once it's working the right way. Is your daughter in preschool or day care? They MUST be on board and allow her to go whenever she needs to-no rules about when it's ok. We found out our day care wasn't allowing bathroom privileges at nap time which was right after lunch-the most natural time to go. We had to get pretty assertive and our pediatrician wrote them a letter shaming the whole daycare for endangering the children. They changed their whole process as a result but a lot of day cares have similar rules.

 

[5lilfish]

I'm the same way as your 4 year old. All tests came back negative for celiac, but regardless found a great deal of relief for a stomach condition eating gluten and dairy free. I guess from what I've read that is common for wheat.

I am actually the same way too. I have Hashimoto's Disease and had suspected that I might have a problem with wheat (once you have one autoimmune diseases, you are more likely to have another...like Celiac), but my blood test is negative. Well, about 14 months ago, I got fed up with my weight. I have 5 kids and my last (twins) were about to turn 3. I could not lose weight. I was 180 lbs and had trouble keeping up with my kids. So, out of desperation, I went on a low-carb diet. About 10 days into the diet, I realized that I felt great....I mean really great! I stopped and thought about it and realized that it was because ALL of my stomach pain/bloating/etc had gone away. I was no longer popping Tums twice a day. Then I thought further to figure out what had changed. Well...low-carb pretty much means that I had cut wheat out of my diet (no bread, crackers, pasta). I don't care what you call it...if I eat wheat, I feel like crap. To make it better, I lost 40 lbs on my diet. I may get myself scoped and more accurately diagnosed only so that I have a better idea of whether my daughter should have further testing done (If I have it, I may get her tested more accurately).

Jess

 

[honugirl]

I am actually the same way too. I have Hashimoto's Disease and had suspected that I might have a problem with wheat (once you have one autoimmune diseases, you are more likely to have another...like Celiac), but my blood test is negative. Well, about 14 months ago, I got fed up with my weight. I have 5 kids and my last (twins) were about to turn 3. I could not lose weight. I was 180 lbs and had trouble keeping up with my kids. So, out of desperation, I went on a low-carb diet. About 10 days into the diet, I realized that I felt great....I mean really great! I stopped and thought about it and realized that it was because ALL of my stomach pain/bloating/etc had gone away. I was no longer popping Tums twice a day. Then I thought further to figure out what had changed. Well...low-carb pretty much means that I had cut wheat out of my diet (no bread, crackers, pasta). I don't care what you call it...if I eat wheat, I feel like crap. To make it better, I lost 40 lbs on my diet. I may get myself scoped and more accurately diagnosed only so that I have a better idea of whether my daughter should have further testing done (If I have it, I may get her tested more accurately).

Jess

If you have been continually eating wheat/gluten free for awhile, the scope test will not accurately show whether or not you have celiac. If you want it done, they will ask you to go back to eating wheat/gluten for a period of time so they can see the changes that are done to the intestine.

 

[disneyquestions]

You do NOT have to use prune juice. In fact I do not recommend it. For those of us that are sufferers, it causes painful cramps.

The beauty of the Miralax is that is cramping free.

Do it daily without fail.

Hmmm - The MiraLax is already in there, so I'm going to have her drink it today, but tomorrow I'll just put it in water. Personally, I didn't want the prunce juice, but DH insisted. Ooh, and it is watered down quite a bit, probably 2:1. Thanks!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hmmm - The MiraLax is already in there, so I'm going to have her drink it today, but tomorrow I'll just put it in water. Personally, I didn't want the prunce juice, but DH insisted. Ooh, and it is watered down quite a bit, probably 2:1. Thanks!

Why would you do that?

If you want your dd to get on track you need to get a better system of giving her liquids.

Put it in chocolate milk, water, gatorade, Kool-aid, etc...right before she drinks it.

I have to say what you described here is pretty disgusting. The poor kid is already constipated. Don't force her to drink Miralax mixed with watered down prune juice that is a day old.

How gross.

 

[Bilberry]

She has a little bit of milk with cereal maybe 3-4 mornings a week, but thats it. And its always skim milk (though DH bought 2% the other day). I don't think that would be classified as "large amounts." Any other thoughts?? She eats deli turkey with WW bread for lunch... PB&J.... apples, bananas, grapes, chicken.... She enjoys the occasional Poptart.... lol Ooh, and yogurt - I guess thats a dairy product though. She has maybe 2-3 a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Was going to mention this yesterday, but the sight was down! I used to have the opposite problem to your daughter, IBS-D. It isn't very funny for someone with possibly IBS-C to hear, but have joked in the past that my dream disease is to have constipation.

A treatment that many people with IBS-D use to relive the condition is to take calcium. You can read about it here.

http://www.ibsgroup.org/forums/index.php?/topic/72764-lindas-calcium-info/

I suspect since dairy products are naturally high in calcium, that the fat in milk items is not an issue - but possibly the calcium can cause the piping system to become backed up. Just a guess.

The sight above also has a forum for those that suffer from constipation. There might be other ideas that can be helpful on the sight.

Good luck!

 

[disneyquestions]

Why would you do that?

If you want your dd to get on track you need to get a better system of giving her liquids.

Put it in chocolate milk, water, gatorade, Kool-aid, etc...right before she drinks it.

I have to say what you described here is pretty disgusting. The poor kid is already constipated. Don't force her to drink Miralax mixed with watered down prune juice that is a day old.

How gross.

Whats gross? Shes drinking something that she actually enjoys (I have no idea why she likes it, but she does!) and its making her better - Shes already gone 2 times this morning, with no problems. How am I doing something wrong here??

Jeeze, damned if you do, damned if you don't.....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Whats gross? Shes drinking something that she actually enjoys (I have no idea why she likes it, but she does!) and its making her better - Shes already gone 2 times this morning, with no problems. How am I doing something wrong here??

Jeeze, damned if you do, damned if you don't.....

Well if she likes it then that is another story. Sorry about that. However be careful with prune juice because it can cause cramps.

However wait to mix it until she is going to drink it.

I am glad to hear she is getting back on track. Give it to her daily.

 

[disneyquestions]

Well if she likes it then that is another story. Sorry about that. However be careful with prune juice because it can cause cramps.

However wait to mix it until she is going to drink it.

I am glad to hear she is getting back on track. Give it to her daily.

Like I said before, after today, it will just be put in water - It was DHs idea to do the prune juice, and I wasn't going to argue with him. Personally, I'd never had pruce juice, so I had no idea what it tasted like. But again, like I said, she actually likes it... lol

 

[cybrkitn]

My 15 yr old son had this problem when he was a toddler. What finally worked for us was a product called fiber juice. He would have at least one juice box a day and after a couple months he was going regularly and we were able to stop the juice boxes. They were expensive but we were willing to pay whatever it took to help him.

Ouch! You're not kidding! Over $30 per case and a trial pack of just 4 is $6.95

DS8 has had constipation problems since he was 3. His underwear usually has "skid marks" on it. The doctor said that his colon is stretched and b/c of that, he can't tell or feel when he has to go. He told us to use the Miralax (1 full capful/day), just like the majority on here have said. He has seen a Ped. GI specialist as well. The speciallist told us to keep giving him the Miralax and increase his fiber intake as well as to have him sit on the toilet for 10 minutes, regardless if he goes or not.This was to get him used to being on the bowl.

I was doing good in the beginning with increasing his fiber intake and making sure to give him the Miralax every day, but I found after awhile, I started to forget mix it with his drink and we went back to square one. I can mix it in his juice in the morning, but he doesn't always drink it all (and sometimes not at all) with his breakfast. He's busy getting ready for school in the morning and I think he either forgets to drink it with his breakfast or is not that thirsty.

He's been on school vacation this week and I've noticed that he's been going to the bathroom to try and go on his own without having me remind him - FINALLY!! He has gone each time, but not before his underwear has a skid mark on it

 

[rszdtrvl]

These work like a charm - one a day :

http://www.amazon.com/Fiber-One-Che...0PTW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1304302899&sr=8-6

Make sure only one a day - otherwise your child will be "on the pot" frequently.

And for the skid marks try these :

http://www.amazon.com/Cottonelle-Fr...r_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1304302953&sr=1-1

Not necessarily this brand, but this type of item. I WON'T be without them in my house. Skid marks are nasty, and DH and DS absolutely these and I not having to pick up streaky underpants to put in the washing machine.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

My 4 yr old is now gluten free and dairy free after a couple years of battling constipation (and bloating/pain). Miralax did nothing for her. Eventually we found that the new diet along with a magnesium suppliment (calls Calm) and a probiotic got her back on track. Her Celiac blood test is negative but the test can be inaccurate. Also, even if she is not truly suffering from Celiac's, I was told that she may still be intollerant to wheat (and lactose intollerant).

Jess

I've used the probiotics and also really like that u mentioned magnesium. Magnesium and calcium help with all kinds of stomach pains, really works, including menstrual.

 

[cabanafrau]

Younger DD has battled occasional constipation issues since she was very, very young. What's worked best for her is keeping hydrated w/ water, watching dairy consumption and drinking pear juice and/or eating pears along w/ other fruits & veg.

Sometimes you can't find pear juice with other juices, but they usually will have some w/ the baby foods and juices. Generally people only think prune & some people don't like that, but pear works well too.

 

[piglet too]

My DD8 drinks her miralax mixed in warm tea. Our pede suggested this because a warm drink can also be soothing and encourage a bowel movement. I just use our Keurig to make a cup of tea and she puts enough ice in it to get it to the temperature she wants.

 

[linda0706]

My DD was on Miralax daily from the time she was 1 year old till she was around 8, when she seemed to outgrow it somewhat. It was a lifesaver!

We called it "Poop Juice". Miralax=

 

[cybrkitn]

And for the skid marks try these :

http://www.amazon.com/Cottonelle-Fr...r_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1304302953&sr=1-1

Not necessarily this brand, but this type of item. I WON'T be without them in my house. Skid marks are nasty, and DH and DS absolutely these and I not having to pick up streaky underpants to put in the washing machine.

I get the baby wipes for DS8 to use when it's dry and tp won't work. It definately helps, but there is a down side to it as well (besides having to throw them out and not flush them). DS had gotten used to using it that he wouldn't use tp when he was supposed to. I think he is finally past that though. He only uses the baby wipes when he needs to now.

Any suggestions on how to increase his fiber intake? What has everyone else used?

 

[bitohoney]

Try a daily probiotic for kids.

 

[rszdtrvl]

The Fiber One bars are a great source of fiber (and taste yummy too!), as well as Benefiber. You just mix Benefiber into a beverage (non-carbonated) and drink it. It is odorless and flavorless.