Dealing with a child with Encopresis? A TMI thread...

[Papa Deuce]

I'm about at my wit's end here. We have been dealing with this for almost 2 years, off and on.

I seriously think it is all a combination of a mental thing in her head, and sheer laziness. She clainm she can't go because it hurts. I sympathize. I really do. And we do EVERYTHING the doctor recommends --- Benefiber, Kondrumel, Glycolax, and giving her oatmeal for breakfast several days a week.


What is REALLY killing me is that I think she is now being lazy about it since we "try" not to make a big deal of it when she stains her pants. The thing of it is, she must be staining her pants and not telling us for a while, since it has hardened on her heiney.

And yet, I know she doesn't want to do it. Yesterday she was on the potty when all the sudden she is crying. When I asked her what was wrong she said" I don't want to be be pooping my panties!"


We're calling the doctor later today. Is there more we / they can do to help her work through this?

I have never been so frustrated in my life.

 

[justhat]

When I was in grad school for child psych we had a teaching case about a 13yo with encopresis. She started in psychotherapy, but then I had my daughter not long after and had to take a leave of absence, so I'm not sure how it all played out. I'd definitely take her to a child psychologist though as they will have some suggestions to help you out. Good luck.

 

[cepmom]

has she ever tried Miralax? It's a prescription granule that I mixed with her juice or water. I went through something similar with my youngest DD but before she was potty trained. She would get terribly constipated and then cry and cry when she had to go and hold it in. It was an awful cycle. The Miralax was a lifesaver though. I kept her on it for a while (like 9 months or so)and gradually decreased the dose (very gradually ~ I bought a kitchen scale that weighed in ounces and very slowly decreased the amount I was giving her by an ounce per week or so)

I'm sure that part of your DD's problem is in her mind...kids can be so scared of going poop if they have had terrible pain with it previously.

 

[tw1nsmom]

Have you tried the Baby Fleet Glycerin Suppositories? We had this problem with DS, and he really couldn't stop himself from having accidents. I'm sure you're familiar with the mechanics of what happens when a child has encopresis. You have to make sure she has a BM at least every other day. It will take several weeks of her being regular before the muscles in her bowel will be able to control things. Does she get enough liquids? This was a real problem with DS. We found giving him 3 or 4 prunes and a bowl of melon or canned manderine oranges helped get things moving. Good luck and continue to be patient (sp). The more upset ot tense you are will only make her more tense which will not help things.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

2 years is a long time to be dealing with this. Have you ruled out any medical reason? Enemas or a series of enemas as well as a suppository are options to discuss with her Doctor. The laxitive you are giving her must be given in a dose that will produce a BM once or twice a day. Routine is a must. Have her sit after breakfast and dinner. Is she drinking enough fluids daily? Not milk.

She is as frustrated as you are. We went through this with my son when he was 2-3. If you do try the suppository she may not be happy and it is important that its held in and melts.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Poor little girl

 

[Papa Deuce]

Glycolax is Miralax generic... so yes. And we have tried suppositories, but just 2x.

 

[damo]

Have you tried giving her an omega 3 fatty acid capsule (orally) before she goes to bed? It can soften and lubricate everything up nicely for a morning BM.

 

[cepmom]

how long did she take the glycolax for? Was it only short term? I found that long term in the Miralax was what worked for us, along with the other suggestions like increasing water, fiber etc. Also, have you taken her to a pediatric gastroenterologist or just her primary care pediatrician? I love mey pediatrician, but found that the pedi gastrenterogist was far better at treating this than the pediatrician was.

 

[Papa Deuce]

how long did she take the glycolax for? Was it only short term? I found that long term in the Miralax was what worked for us, along with the other suggestions like increasing water, fiber etc. Also, have you taken her to a pediatric gastroenterologist or just her primary care pediatrician? I love mey pediatrician, but found that the pedi gastrenterogist was far better at treating this than the pediatrician was.

Well this bout has been 4 weeks.

Looking into her seeing a specialist ASAP.

 

[cepmom]

I know when my DD first started the Miralax, I thought it would only be for a few weeks, but the Dr assured me that long term is better and she was right.
DD's problem was the fear of going ~ once she realized she could go without pain, she was much, much better. Good luck ..... it's so hard!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Dear Sister had to take both her children to bowel retraining clinics in Boston. They spoke to the children and parents separately explaining the problem and what needed to change. Said the stool hardened to rocks and other stuff slid by the rocks to cause the staining.

The course of treatment was MIralax, sitting on potty everyday for 5 minutes at a time until BM, usually after meals.
Blueberries,grapes,pineapple- no bananas, lots of water and orange juice. Said it can take a month or so for gut to regain muscle tone.

DS had problems also-Ped was thinking it might be a syndrome where the bottom part of gut doesn't function properly and has to be surgically removed. Luckily removing all dairy from his diet cured his constipation problem without surgery being required.

Good luck to her and you!
Prizes might work also. They were called "poopy prizes" in our house.

 

[In a hurry]

I've seen many kids that were scared to have bowel movements, but I have not seen any that were too lazy. (I'm assuming she isn't a toddler?) Poor little thing! Please don't let your frustration be grounds for humiliating her with accusations.

 

[MoniqueU]

I sent you a PM but glycerine suppositories and a combination of having my daughter sit down for only a set amount of time and then using the suppoistiroes worked for us. In less then 2 weeks we solved a problem that she had been having for over a year. She was not lazy, she didn't have behavior or psychological problems, it just hurt to go she tensed up. The program I followed was not the same as what my pediatrician had told me to do and it worked like a charm. We have not had any problems since, knock on wood.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I have one word....



MIRALAX!!!!!!!!


I have to run, but I will PM you in a little bit.
Just want to say that this is indeed a serious physical problem. It can get worse, and you don't want to add psychological problems to it....

MIRALAX!!!!

Do not hesitate.
It will make all the difference.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Glycolax is Miralax generic... so yes. And we have tried suppositories, but just 2x.

OK, you have to be on the Miralax for months/a year, PD. Not 4 weeks.

Your dd probably has Megacolon now. Please, please, go see a specialist and get it under control. My dd is 9 and her bowels are damaged.

She has to take Miralax daily, everyday...for years now.

 

[princesspumpkin]

DD-9 suffered with this for years before being diagnosed. Dr. just said to give her mineral oil every day. We did this for a couple of months and from the beginning, she would have daily, normal stools. Now, occasionally, she will get "backed up". I still keep track of her stools. When she hasn't gone for a couple of days, a dose of mineral oil, and she goes within the next 24 hours.

 

[FreshTressa]

My son does not have encopresis(I'm surprised he didn't, he had the biggest hardest looking BM's), but does have constipation. He used to take mirilax too.

I found that putting him on the potty every day at the exact same time 'trained' him to have a BM at that time and really helped the constipation.

 

[stacnol]

I'm about at my wit's end here. We have been dealing with this for almost 2 years, off and on.

I seriously think it is all a combination of a mental thing in her head, and sheer laziness. She clainm she can't go because it hurts. I sympathize. I really do. And we do EVERYTHING the doctor recommends --- Benefiber, Kondrumel, Glycolax, and giving her oatmeal for breakfast several days a week.


What is REALLY killing me is that I think she is now being lazy about it since we "try" not to make a big deal of it when she stains her pants. The thing of it is, she must be staining her pants and not telling us for a while, since it has hardened on her heiney.

And yet, I know she doesn't want to do it. Yesterday she was on the potty when all the sudden she is crying. When I asked her what was wrong she said" I don't want to be be pooping my panties!"


We're calling the doctor later today. Is there more we / they can do to help her work through this?

I have never been so frustrated in my life.

It’s just something you have to live with I’m battling it with my son all his life he’s 18 now. I always set milestones when he’ would stop never happened. Done the poo chart medication the lot brought him places even tried to get him hipnotised hes 18 now and still has the problem. There is no shame it’s a medical condition I know it’s not nice but all his friends know and have never said a word . He hid it for years and still doing it he also has a severe learning disability and 16 p11q chromosome depletion. Best of luck