Natural cure for constipation for DS?

[Towncrier]

I was just about to suggest mineral oil. Our pediatrician suggested it the one time that our son went a week without a bowel movement. Of course the timing could not have been worse. He got a huge dose of mineral oil the same day that he and I left for a weekend at Cub Scout camp.

I remember my fatherly advice to him:

"If you think you need to pass gas, you had better find a toilet. Because there might be baggage."

Hope that injecting a little humor helps get you through this not so humorous situation. Hope your DS feels better soon.

 

[damo]

To restore intenstinal balance your child could take a probiotic supplement. Acidophilus is available in all health food places as well as Walmart, etc. It will simply restore the good bacteria in the intestines that has been destroyed by illness or medication.

 

[lsyorke]

Just wanted to put out there that mineral oil should only be used for short term. Used long term it can decrease the absorption of vitamins and mineral into the GI tract.

One of our favorite things in the hospital(no MD order required!) was 4oz(I would use 2 for kids) of prune juice, 4 oz of apple juice warmed slightly. Tastes pretty good and works gently but like a charm everytime!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Do you see a Chiropractor? My DH has adjusted many constipated individuals with great results.

 

[Pembo]

Pear juice works for ds. I buy the little bottles in the baby food aisle and put it in his milk. Also graham crackers, apples, and popcorn.

Good luck

Jenn Lynn-a chiropracter? Really! Never thought they could help with that! Learn something new here everyday!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Pembo-Yes, really! I was in his office one time and some parents brought in a little girl. She was having such bad cramps she was crying so hard, could not even walk. DH adjusted her and about a minute later she started gassing up a storm! The parents later told DH that they took her home and she pooped within 1/2 an hour.

 

[Seahunt]

Do you think you could get him to drink mineral water? I read an article about a year ago that said that drinking (carbonated) sparkling mineral water would keep you VERY regular. I tried it, and it works for me! Now in the 11/18 edition of Woman's World magazine, there is another article stating that a new Italian study confirms that it really does help. It says "researchers aren't exactly sure why it works - some speculate that the tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide and the presence of minerals stimulates digestive function - but study participants with constipation who drank carbonated water reported far fewer symptoms after two weeks than those who drank tap water." I use the kind in a green bottle marked "S. Pellegrino" Sparkling Natural Mineral Water - bottled in Italy, and get it at the local Publix grocery store in the soda pop aisle with the other waters. You might try some! It's yummy when it's ice cold from the refrigerator, but does lose it's bubbles when you leave it opened for a while....

 

[LynnM]

We had this problem with ds a couple of years ago. We couldn't get him to take any kind of prune juice or mineral oil. Eventually someone told us about fibre juice boxes. They were expensive($40 plus shipping for a case of 27), but he liked the taste and it worked. He drank one or two a day for the first couple weeks and then one a day for a couple months. After about 3 months he was regular and we stopped using it altogether. He hasn't had any problems since.

 

[sha_lyn]

Magnesium, as in Milk of Magnesia is a natural cure for constipation. I just saw one of the brands in a chewable the other day. I wouldn't try it for long term, unless he has symptoms of a magnesium deficiency, such as muscle cramping.

I also agree with the suggestion of adding probiotics to his diet.
There are several brands of yogurt on the market that have several live cultures in them. Kierfer (sp?) is also a good choice, it is a cultured drink that can be found near the yogurt or milk.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by LynnM
We had this problem with ds a couple of years ago. We couldn't get him to take any kind of prune juice or mineral oil. Eventually someone told us about fibre juice boxes. They were expensive($40 plus shipping for a case of 27), but he liked the taste and it worked. He drank one or two a day for the first couple weeks and then one a day for a couple months. After about 3 months he was regular and we stopped using it altogether. He hasn't had any problems since.

Really? What brand was it? I am looking for something long term other than mineral oil.

 

[LynnM]

Here's a link(I think) to the site where I ordered the juice plus fibre from. http://www.earth-friendly.com/juiceplus.php3

You may be able to find it at health food stores also, it has been 2 years since we've used it and at the time this was the only place I could find it. Like I said for us it was well worth the money not to have to watch him suffer 'trying to go'.

 

[DisneyJules]

A bag of prunes should work!

 

[melk]

Although I know others mean well, if he's on Miralax, the problem goes beyond just needing some prunes. My dd is also on Miralax, and believe me, we tried everything. She was eating high fiber bread, peanut butter and prune sandwiches (she wouldn't take prune juice so I would puree prunes with a little jelly), mineral oil, etc. Miralax was the only thing that would move her bowels. Both my pediatrician and pediatric gastroenterologist insist it is safe. As another poster said, it simply causes the stool to retain all it's water (the way I understand it anyway).

Do I like my dd being on it? Of course not, but right now it is all that works for her .
Every so often we try to wean her off of it but she just gets all backed up again (I'm talking she can go 10 days+ with no bowel movement).

I hope it works out for you, I know what you're going through.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks so much melk, for adding to, and re-inforcing, what I was trying to say about the Miralax and incopresis..

For the OP, and for anyone else out there... This goes beyond an occasional constipation, which in increase in fiber or some prune juice quicky remedies... As I stated in my first post: If the childs diet has been modified (as the OP mentioned...), and is normal and healthy, and there continues to be a problem, this is a real concern. I would recommend that anyone who has a child with this problem see a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Believe me, I wasn't to sure about the Miralax either, and I really pressed all the doctors I spoke with about it. And, once DS was on it, and instantly began having normal, soft, bowel movements, I immediatley recognized that this is a God-send!!! Seeing the difference, I now fully realize that this 'incopresis' is not simple occasional constipation.... DS little system was just not working normally... Poor little fellow!!!

the fact that DS system was not working right, even when he was sometimes able to 'go', is a much bigger concern... think of future polyps, colon cancer, etc..... And, I would never want to give my child a stimulant, or other chemicals that, unlike Miralax, are suspected of being unsafe for young children, and can actually cause bowel problems, even in adults, when used regularly over time.

PS: melk.... Hang in there!!! Given a little more time I am sure your DD will be able to be weaned from the Miralax... DS finally was! sometimes it can take a while.

 

[house_of_princesses]

For that occasional bout of constipation, you can try eating a pear w/ peel, then an apple w/ peel, than another pear w/ peel. Don't have to eat the whole fruit, 1/2 or so works fine.

There is another herbal tea called 'Smooth Move'. Beware...this one really gets you running!

I had an ER doc tell me to give my toddler McDonald's french fries.

Kumbucha tea helps, but I don't know if you can purchase that pre-made. It's made from a mushroom like gelatineous thing (gross looking, really), that you add to brewed black or green tea and sugar. Tastes like apple cider, sometimes beer like. Mmm...

 

[suzannen]

We've went through this with our 7 year old DD who has a tendency for fissures. Her pediatrician had suggested the mineral oil, but it didn't always work and sometime leaked. We finally saw a wonderful pediatric gastroenterologist who recommended Milk of Magnesium as a first choice before going to the Miralax. 1 to 1/2 Tablespoons a day for how ever long she needed. She has seen children and adults on it for years without any long term effects at that dose. It actually changes the consistancy in the stool, unlike mineral oil. If that doesn't work after a few weeks, then she will go to the Miralax.

Good luck! A lof of folks have no idea how much havoc, stress and disruption this can cause to a family. If you find that Miralax is the only thing that works, then stick with it, because I've heard of others having good luck on it.

 

[cart-mom]

I always try the natural approach myself. My kids always seem to get regular when I feed them grapes, popcorn and any kind of dried fruit - plums, apricots, raisins, apples, cranberries. You could even make a trail mix out of some of them and he wouldn't even care what he was eatting it for, he'd just enjoy it.

Good luck.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

One more to add to the list. My DS had this problem when he was small. When he could go he was so dry it hurt.

My best friend's Mom gave me this solution and as she had 9 kids I figured couldn't hurt.

Dissolve a couple teaspoons of sugar in warm water - drink it down and wait an hour or 2 and bingo! Sugar helps "material" ferment & loosen which is why prune and apple juice work - natural sugar. Straight sugar and water just works a little quicker.

Worked everytime and best part he did not become dependent like you can with laxatives.