encopresis - potty accidents in Disney

[TheRatPack]

My two younger boys had this problem when they came to us (adopted). My middle son would have #2 accidents where he'd leak quite a bit because he was so constipated. The doctor told us to do some clean outs (1 square of ex lax and a few capfuls of Miralax in 30oz of water or so). That got him cleaned out and then we kept up with the Miralax daily and he does great now....5 years later, and for 2 years this was a constant issue.

My youngest son had the same issue but instead of leaking #2, he would pee 100's of times a day. It was because he was constipated and it was making him feel he had to pee.....once we did the cleanout and Miralax it solved his issue as well.

I take individual packets of Miralax with me on vacation as well as bottles of water (a whole case) and I take one at night before bed, and give my middle son one as well. I get stopped up with all that crazy food we eat, so this keeps everyone regular during vacation.

Since you have a couple of weeks, definitely get on a schedule with the miralax and get some of the travel size packets for your trip. I'd definitely think about liners or pull ups though....they make nice thin pull ups now so it wouldn't be as noticeable or embarrassing. Good luck!!!

 

[saffsmom]

My DD6 is dealing with encopresis... holding bowel movements until constipated and leaking out or having accidents in her panties. She was better for 5 months, but it's back.. she's been on miralax, but I haven't always remembered to give it to her... I need to do it everyday and get her back into the doctor. So, we leave for WDW in a couple of weeks... Last time, she was still in pull ups. We do plan to have her use a reusable swim diaper in the pool, just in case, but have no plans to put her back in pull ups. I was planning to pack extra panties, change of clothes, wipes, and plastic bags when we go to the parks and if she had an accident or leak, just deal with it. It's not usually much or often - not leaking through her clothes. I'm still thinking... what would you do? Anyone with experience with this with an older child?

my daughter is almost 6
the medical reasons are different (she has spina bifida) but she also occasionally leaks or has poop "accidents"
she takes mirilax daily.
instead of pullups she wears "stayfree" brand overnight period pads in her panties
they are very thin, have wings and have a larger coverage area in the back of the panty.
super easy to carry in your purse and change/dispose of as needed.
(any brand of thin, overnight style pad would work)
they fit fine in my daughters size 6 bikini-ish cut panties
we also make sure to have a "potty break" every hour and a half to 2 hours (max) which helps stop leaks form turning into messes.
good luck!

 

[omegsmom]

Thank you for all the great responses... She's been back on the miralax regularly this week (our school vacation) and is getting cleaned out... 2 poops a day for the last couple of days anyway... I'll keep this up and see if we can get her into a routine and going on her own again... I can't tell if she knows she has to go or not... Sometimes she acts like she just doesn't want to leave what she's doing to go, but I think she doesn't feel it until it's too late...

I forgot they have the individual packets of miralax! I need to get some...

I've got 2 weeks to see how things are going and decide what approach to take... Thank you for sharing your experiences!!!

 

[2binak]

Thank you for all the great responses... She's been back on the miralax regularly this week (our school vacation) and is getting cleaned out... 2 poops a day for the last couple of days anyway... I'll keep this up and see if we can get her into a routine and going on her own again... I can't tell if she knows she has to go or not... Sometimes she acts like she just doesn't want to leave what she's doing to go, but I think she doesn't feel it until it's too late...

I forgot they have the individual packets of miralax! I need to get some...

I've got 2 weeks to see how things are going and decide what approach to take... Thank you for sharing your experiences!!!

So glad your DD is doing well this week Hoping it keeps up and you all have a great time on your trip!

 

[omegsmom]

Thanks... but only doing good this week in that she is "going"... but, unfortunately, only in her pants. We'll get there... but it's a long journey.

 

[100AcreWood]

We switched to a wonderful and very knowledgable GI doc two weeks ago. We went through three clean outs (8 capfuls, then 16, then another 8). I thought for sure he was cleaned out. Then, he started having streaks in his pull ups two days later. The GI doc actually called me to see how ds was doing and said you're not going to believe this but he's not cleaned out yet. She said if he was cleaned out the streaks would stop. So we did another clean out of 14 capfuls. I couldn't believe it, she was right. I feel for anyone going through this - parent or child. It's hard to imagine how much they can hold.

 

[heather13]

I feel your pain! Pantyliners were a savior for my sanity and frustration. I know what you mean about the leakage though, but sometimes the pantyliners can catch this too. I too struggled with remembering medication, especially after my DD began doing well for a short stint, so it might help to put the medicine either by toothbrushes, or set a daily alarm so you don't forget. It's just so important. I'd also suggest once your kiddo gets into a routine, try and note when stools generally happen and try to be near your hotel room. It's hard, but that at least gives her a chance to sit on the potty when something might happen versus just guessing throughout the day or having her sit when you know nothing will happen. We just finished a trip and I made sure DD had 1/2 hour potty time both morning and evening (she rarely goes midday). Good luck - it's no fun!!!

 

[bearloch]

what about wearing plastic pants over unerwear to protect shorts/skirts etc? with some cornstarch as its so hot at Dis? would that at least help to keep messes contained? also what about the old diaper change mats that are waterproof? to have on stroller or even could those be cut up and made into underwear? and last idea is I have Puppy pads that I keep in my " FLU" box and whenever anyone is sick they sleep with these next to them and with "bucket" But they would work for strollers and beds! they are pretty cheap too at Walmart! anyway! good luck and have fun!

 

[tosha27]

I just wanted to say that I know what you are going through. My son has been on miralax for 8 and 1/2 years. We have tried to get him off of it numerous times. He will become impacted almost right away. He has a kink in the end of his intestine and he has a hard time with the muscles there.

He did the same thing your daughter is doing - he never acted like he got the urge to go and he never wanted to sit there. You are going to have to put her on schedule. Our doc told us that about an hour after each meal he needs to sit on the toilet EVERYDAY for at least 15 minutes. We had to get the teacher involved and at first i felt like it was a huge waste of time, and I gave up several times because it was such a fight and so frustrating. He is 10 now and things are a lot better, but it took a long, long time to get here.
The key to this is keeping them on a regular poop schedule. It takes a lot of time and effort, but for about 3 or 4 years he was not allowed to even flush the toilet before I verified that the business was done, because I knew what was coming if he lied about it and became impacted again. It is a viscous cycle.

The one thing that I have learned is that if there are any accidents or leaks then it means there is an impaction and you have got to start all over cleaning them out, that is why the schedule is so important.

I know it is hard to remember to take the miralax, but for us the consequences were bad enough that I learned to remember. Most of the food at Disney is not particularly healthy, so you will want to make a point of trying to remember the miralax at disney. Write it on your hand in permanent marker if you have to. I like to go ahead and measure and prepare the drinks for each day when we get there. I mix the med with 8oz of juice in a bottle. My son always takes his at night, but you could give it to her everyday with breakfast that way you are done with it for the day. (I am assuming you will have a fridge though)

Anyway, like others I used pantyliners when my son was having accidents. I also kept spare underwear EVERYWHERE. Sometimes you may just have to toss a pair. If she is having such bad accidents that it is leaking outside a pantyliner, I can almost guarantee you that she is severely impacted. I used to think, no way - he just pooped, he's not impacted. They'd do an x-ray and he would be.

Good luck!
Have a great trip!

 

[tosha27]

Please - to everyone who has posted on this thread, if your child is leaking he/she needs to be cleaned out.
Leaking = Impaction.
I can almost guarantee you.
Been dealing with this for almost 9 years. I know what you are going through, and I wish I had known that the leaking was due to constant impaction back then - dealing with the leaking and accidents is heII.
If you can get them cleaned out and keep them pooping on a regular schedule you will see that the leaking stops.
Try it, please.

 

[omegsmom]

Progress! Back at school today (after a week's vacation)... she complained about a tummy ache after another friend went home early... seemed tired, so I took her home thinking maybe she had to poop and I didn't want her to have a big, messy accident at school, if I could avoid it... She rested, but later, during dinner, she finally did it!!! Ran to the bathroom on her own... yelled out to me that she pooped on the potty... of course, I had to verify! I asked her what she felt when she ran - did she feel the need to pee or poop... she said both! Phew... just need to keep this up and not slack off... got to find the right amount of miralax to give her and which time of day for that is best for her... So, I'm feeling a little better, but know it's not this simple... still need to be prepared for our trip! Thanks for all the comments, it's really helping me feel not alone and prepare for the trip!!!!

 

[2binak]

Progress! Back at school today (after a week's vacation)... she complained about a tummy ache after another friend went home early... seemed tired, so I took her home thinking maybe she had to poop and I didn't want her to have a big, messy accident at school, if I could avoid it... She rested, but later, during dinner, she finally did it!!! Ran to the bathroom on her own... yelled out to me that she pooped on the potty... of course, I had to verify! I asked her what she felt when she ran - did she feel the need to pee or poop... she said both! Phew... just need to keep this up and not slack off... got to find the right amount of miralax to give her and which time of day for that is best for her... So, I'm feeling a little better, but know it's not this simple... still need to be prepared for our trip! Thanks for all the comments, it's really helping me feel not alone and prepare for the trip!!!!

Yay for progress!

 

[EricaLynn]

Progress! Back at school today (after a week's vacation)... she complained about a tummy ache after another friend went home early... seemed tired, so I took her home thinking maybe she had to poop and I didn't want her to have a big, messy accident at school, if I could avoid it... She rested, but later, during dinner, she finally did it!!! Ran to the bathroom on her own... yelled out to me that she pooped on the potty... of course, I had to verify! I asked her what she felt when she ran - did she feel the need to pee or poop... she said both! Phew... just need to keep this up and not slack off... got to find the right amount of miralax to give her and which time of day for that is best for her... So, I'm feeling a little better, but know it's not this simple... still need to be prepared for our trip! Thanks for all the comments, it's really helping me feel not alone and prepare for the trip!!!!

You are NOT ALONE! My DD (4) struggles with this on a daily basis. It's not something that many parents talk about among themselves (I mean, really, who wants to tell a friend that "my kid poops in her panties").

I hope you have a magical vacation!

 

[marmalade]

Yay for progress!

Woo hoo on progress! Only a parent gets excited over poop.