Toddlers & Constipation ... HELP!

[sugarpie]

I've also been through this with my DD during potty training. I wouldn't put diapers on her so she would hold it in.

I know you said you gave him a suppository - how long ago, and did he hold it in? If it stayed in and dissoved it should probably work by morning. When you put the suppository in did the stool feel hard? You may be able to (and I know this sounds horrible & disgusting) pull some out with your finger. A lot of times that will help stimulate him to push the rest out. I'm a nurse and I've done this more times that I can count, but when it came to my little girl it was a nightmare.

I would check his temp. and give him some Tylenol, keep him as comfortable as possible. Good luck with the pooping!!! It will be o.k.

 

[chager]

We have used prune juice, mineral oil, suppositories, and all kinds of things. The last treatment we had success with was..Miralax and I beleive it was Dycolax or something like that. (It's a suppository) I don't know if it could be used with a small child though. My DS is older. They also suggested "retraining" his body. So he had to go "sit" 15min after meals for 10min. His issues are very much stress related though at this point. However he has had huge movements ever since his was a baby.
I will caution though, we did the whole recent treatment and he started having very very loose bowels. We thought this meant he was cleaned out. We were wrong!! Apparently he was still very blocked and what we saw was what was getting around it! I would also suggest a pull up until he is cleaned out. It is much better then cleaning underwear! (Or throwing it away as I did)
Good luck!!

 

[Stacey2grls]

My DD 6 went through this for almost 1 year! Needless to say, it was a nightmare, and a very hard cycle for her to break. You can ask your dr. for something called Miralax, it tastes awful, but works really well. There is also something in drug stores, I forgot the name, but it tastes like root beer, and works very good. I believe it is Senna based, and all natural. Best of luck to your little guy.

 

[slo]

I had alot of constipation problems with my 2nd DD.

My Pediatrician told me to get Mineral Oil, and that helped alot!!! I don't remember the dosage, because it's been over a year, but I would ask your doctor what they think.

Good luck!!!!

 

[eowensby]

Miralax has been a wonder drug in our house!! My DD4 has had problems for a couple of years....we did everything..milk of magnesia,karo, prune juice, suppositories, and baby lax. The Miralax finally did the trick. We are now down to once or twice a week with it.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Miralax worked for DD. Now she is fine. Couldn't get any mineral oil down her throat, even mixed with Hershey syrup so don't know if that would have worked. Bananas are forbidden for her because of binding. Grapes,blueberries, oranges, canned mandarin oranges and canned chunk pineapple all help naturally.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

My middle DS has had these problems since he was a baby. I have given him Miralax for a couple of years now.

A few weeks ago he got an infection with a high fever, well 5 days later he was double over in pain. He was not eating or drinking so I did not give him his medicine. We thought apendix but he was constipated. We went to the ER and they did 2 fleet enamas to get it out. I was truly amazed what came out.

If he is just going a walnut size maybe he is holding it in. I thought my DS was trying to push it out, but really he was holding it in so it would not hurt. An enama will get what is at the bottom but you have to deal with it all.

Since DS was all "cleaned out" by the ER he has been great, I give him his medicine and he goes everyday without it hurting.

I was also told no sugar drinks and of course no high fat foods.

I wish your little on better soon.

This sounds sooo familiar. My DD who is 11 now has had chronic constipation since she was an infant. We had to do the Karo syrup in her bottles, the Mylecon drops for gas, she had biopsies, many enemas & suppositories, you name it, my poor baby went through it. To this day, she still has major problems and we see a pediatric gastro. dr regularly. They think she'll have this problem for the rest of her life.

I'll never forget one time when she was about 3 years old and her fever spiked to 105.7!!! We ran her to the er and they did xrays and the poor thing was completely compacted, hence the high fever. This was prior to her being prescribed the Miralax. Once we got her cleaned out, the fever was gone and she was fine.

Even at age 11, she must take her Miralax once a day and that doesn't always work. She's gone through such a growth spurt this year that the dose was not correct for her size so we are now adjusting the doseage. Much to her dislike, just two weeks ago, we had to give her Magnesium Citrate to get her cleaned out (it was either that or an enema and she chose the mag. citrate). We have to make sure she gets 16 gms. of fiber/day (which isn't always easy).

I sure hope your little guy feels better. I feel so bad for him.

BTW: if anyone is interested I have a wonderful chocolate muffin recipe. They are delicious! Very high in fiber. Both of my kids beg for these! I'd be happy to post the recipe, just let me know!

Good luck!

 

[Kristi1357]

My sister has been going through this with my 8 year old niece since she was an infant. The best advice I have is to be consistent & follow through.

My sister would be really good at giving the daily enemas or whatever for awhile, then she'd let her go on her own and problems would start again. My niece's problem is so bad her stomach is really big for her otherwise thin body. Her intestines have actually grown in circumference with all the holding in. Now, this case is extreme, I know. Just keep up the laxatives or whatever the doctor prescribes, for as long as they prescribe it.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister has been going through this with my 8 year old niece since she was an infant. The best advice I have is to be consistent & follow through.

Get that kid on Miralax!!!! My 9yodd also had problems since she stopped breastfeeding.
We did everything, then did Mineral Oil forever. Finally could NOT take it and went to the Gastro who prescribed the Miralax.
So far she will have to be on it forever right now....her intestines are so stretched out. But she is no longer in pain and can eat without worry.
We mix it in Chocolate Milk. I taken it! It tastes just fine.

 

[MAKmom]

My sister has been going through this with my 8 year old niece since she was an infant. The best advice I have is to be consistent & follow through.

My sister would be really good at giving the daily enemas or whatever for awhile, then she'd let her go on her own and problems would start again. My niece's problem is so bad her stomach is really big for her otherwise thin body. Her intestines have actually grown in circumference with all the holding in. Now, this case is extreme, I know. Just keep up the laxatives or whatever the doctor prescribes, for as long as they prescribe it.

GOOD LUCK!

Has she taken your niece off Dairy? Everyone who has this problem should try this to see if you have improvement. I know it sounds impossible but you do get used to soymilk.

Constipation is also if your movement looks like rabbit or round hard turds. You want a bowel movement to look like long snakes. My DD9 was in special classes in school before we found out she does not tolerate dairy ...like most of the human population. I had her retested this year her IQ scores went up & she is out of Math & reading help. I know someone is going to say IQ do not change but she was SICK when she was first tested 3 years ago.

The psychiatrist who does the testing for the school district asked us what we have been doing for such dramatic changes. She tested DD9 3 years ago.The BIG change is our diet & attitude. Dairy is a rare treat with a lactose pill now for DD9.

 

[Ub_Iwerks]

If he is potty training, he may be feeling too much pressure to not have an accident so he holds it in. A developmental pediatrician told me to delay potty training until the child wants to go in the potty.

 

[maciec]

WOW! I didn't know that constipation was such a problem!

My ds is 2.5 yoa. We are potty training, but have really only focused on #1 instead of #2 because we know that's harder to accomplish. In fact since this problem has started we have stayed away from the potty because I was afraid the constipation would scare him away from the potty. Only if he asks to go on the potty do we even mention it.

When he feels its time to go he gets really straight legged, bends slightly at the waist, and gets really red in the face when he tries to push it out. If anything comes out it's just like a runny poop that barely streaks his diaper.

When we did the suppository it took about 6 hours for it to work, and when it did the poop came out softer and a little bigger than a walnut.

I have taken him completely off of the apple juice as most of you have suggested right after I posted our problem. He won't drink plain water so I have been giving him berry flavored Propel because he thinks its juice.

We are off to the doctors soon. I am anxious to see what he has to suggest.

 

[Wishing on a star]

What you have described does sound like encopresis.

That little bit that is streaking his diaper is leakage, what is managing to get around the blockage.

Good luck at the Dr.
Let us know how it goes!

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

My son was like this. Our pediatrician said to give him a tablespoon of mineral oil blended with frozen yogurt into a shake (for the taste). We would give it to him before bed and then make him sit on the toilet right after eating breakfast (eating helps the system start). He would go, and it kept him regular. I still do it if he gets constipated. It does recur sometimes, the MD said they call it TBTP (too busy to poop!) when the kids don't want to take the time away from playing to go and figure they can just hold it!

Good luck, potty training and constipation could make your head explode it is so frustrating!

 

[maciec]

What you have described does sound like encopresis.

That little bit that is streaking his diaper is leakage, what is managing to get around the blockage.

Good luck at the Dr.
Let us know how it goes!

Just got back from the doctors and he described, but he didn't give it a name. I had to get a childrens enema and I am going to give it to him when he gets up from a nap. He also gave us a prescription for Miralax that we are supposed to give him tonight.

Questions .......

1) When we give him the enema is it a one shot poop or after his initial poop is he going to have more? The reason I ask is because the Dr said that to put him on the potty after giving it to him. I am just wondering how many time after are we going to go back.

2) How does the Miralax work? If I give it to him tonight how soon does it work? I don't want to give it to him and put him to bed only for him to poop.

You all have been so helpful! Thanks again!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Enema is a one shot deal generally. It clears the lower bottom out.

Miralax will take awhile. It is to be taken DAILY!!! Don't skip it even after he goes. The bowel gets stretched out and will "refill". You need to allow his bowel to heal back to it's original shape. This is so important! Oh if I could only go back and redo this with dd.

We mix the Miralax in Chocolate Milk, no problems!

 

[maciec]

Mission Completion!!!!! We have poop! Thank goodness! It took about 5 minutes after doing the enema and it 2 big pieces flew out. He had a little bit later, but he's cleaned out right now. Nothing like it was before.

He conked out on me so Miralax will start tomorrow!

 

[mom23boys]

I give my DS Miralax everyday. I am so glad your DS went.

Since the incident in the ER, my DS has taken Miralax everyday and he goes everyday. And we are both thrilled that it does not hurt everyday.

I also made a few changes in his diet. No sugary drinks, bannanas, apples, and whole grains (which we already do with bread) but now I buy bagels, muffins and rolls whole grain.

 

[Kristi1357]

Get that kid on Miralax!!!! My 9yodd also had problems since she stopped breastfeeding.
We did everything, then did Mineral Oil forever. Finally could NOT take it and went to the Gastro who prescribed the Miralax.
So far she will have to be on it forever right now....her intestines are so stretched out. But she is no longer in pain and can eat without worry.
We mix it in Chocolate Milk. I taken it! It tastes just fine.

Oh gosh - my neice has taken miralax for years! My sister has given her daily enemas or suppositories. Nothing works long-term for my niece. She was even hospitalized once in order to have a tube put up her nose & into her stomach with medication to get her to go (extreme, I know).

I will tell my sister about the dairy thing though. I don't know if she's tried limiting / cutting out that yet.