toilet woos

meeps

It took me taking him to the doctors 3 times over a week, almost 2 weeks of him not having pooped and getting more and more miserable, having tried everything else, and me breaking down in tears at my favourite doctor for her to agree it needed sorting out right away, and she sent us over with a letter. That was 5 years ago though, and they set us up with the movicol and a consultant as well who we saw 6 monthly for the next few years.

jackieb

doodoot wrote: »

Oh I am soooo glad that this thread is here.

My 10 year old has suffered with encopresis since being a toddler, and we have tried so many different methods to help him - he has anxiety disorder and using the toilet is one of his issues.

He is due to start some bowel management next month and there was talk about giving him a clear-out...his keeping the poo in has caused the nerve endings to get numb, hence lots of soiling due to not being able to feel the urge to go.

I've not spoken to the Paediatrician yet - the clear-out was mentioned by another specialist - so I really don't know what to expect.

I take it the clear-out is caused by medication and involves lots of sitting on the toilet?

Yes, and in my daughter's case there was a few times where she didn't make the toilet. Also make sure you have a good waterproof sheet on. I have one that you put the whole mattress in and zip it up so it's fully enclosed. Our house stank so having visitors over isn't a great idea. You need to be prepared for a lot of laundry, cleaning and showering. Also a lot of reassurance to your child. It's embarrassing for them and not pleasant. You can imagine how you'd feel if it was yourself.

Emma133

Hi, I have a toilet woo with my ds2 who is now 8. It started at christmas last year, he was constipated - didnt let me know there was a problem, forced it out and ended up tearing and bleeding quite badly. He started holding for days on end and would bleed and be in terrible pain each time he went. After numerous doctors appointments he was prescribed Movicol and referred to a Paediatrician. In the meantime I was told to give him a good clearout on the Movicol and he was on 10 sachets a day along with lactualose and senna. He had 3 weeks off school, because he would hold and hold until he couldn't anymore and we had quite a lot of mess which we didn't care about the relief of him going was all that mattered. He was slowly reduced down on his movicol until he was taking 2 a day, however, he decided he was ready to reduce even more last month which unfortunately set us back with another tear and bleed . So we have upped his movicol again.

My own problem is everytime I see the Paediatrician i'm given what seems like confliction advice/instructions, one time its give him as many as it takes to get him going every 2 days. The next appointment was no reduce it even more because it might be his "way" to only go twice a week. Then I get a letter from the hospital stating "Problem resolved" which it clearly isn't. I am at the hospital with him again in December, and i'm really not looking forward to it. I cannot bear to see my son in any more pain physically or emotionally, and I am worried they will want to take him off the movicol.

actually_2006

Really good to read this thread and know we are not alone in this, but not too good reading about everyone else's children's suffering......

My 5 year old daughter has been on Movicol for a few months. 6 sachets a day until a very messy clearout and now on 1 a day. A bit concerned about how long some children have been on it for as I was hoping to wean her off it soon. The hospital said they would probably discharge her after the next appt in January. Maybe we should just cut back as I certainly don't want her to go back to the way she was. She was having infrequent massive round (?!) poos which could easily be the size of a tennis ball.

The other problem we had that doesn't seem to have come up yet was wetting - all the hardened poo inside pressing on her bladder we were told. Again got a lot better and I don't want this to start again as she is now at school.

Also, as a variation on the balloon we have tried a bottle of bubbles to blow on the toilet, again as you can't hold things in very easily when you are blowing!

jackieb

actually_2006 wrote: »

Really good to read this thread and know we are not alone in this, but not too good reading about everyone else's children's suffering......

My 5 year old daughter has been on Movicol for a few months. 6 sachets a day until a very messy clearout and now on 1 a day. A bit concerned about how long some children have been on it for as I was hoping to wean her off it soon. The hospital said they would probably discharge her after the next appt in January. Maybe we should just cut back as I certainly don't want her to go back to the way she was. She was having infrequent massive round (?!) poos which could easily be the size of a tennis ball.

The other problem we had that doesn't seem to have come up yet was wetting - all the hardened poo inside pressing on her bladder we were told. Again got a lot better and I don't want this to start again as she is now at school.

Also, as a variation on the balloon we have tried a bottle of bubbles to blow on the toilet, again as you can't hold things in very easily when you are blowing!

My daughter also used to wet herself when she was very constipated. She also got quite a few urine infections for a while. Fortunately that seems to have cleared up now - apart from the occassional night time accident.

doodoot

Just an update on DS2.

He has been given a course of Movicol so that he gets cleared out...it is going to be a Christmas to remember.

The doctor has prescribed 2 sachets for today, to be increased daily to 8 until he has his first normal poo.

Thankfully he's 11 so understands that it's not going to be easy.


When I went to our local pharmacist he said that he's amazed at the amount of children in this area that are prescribed Movicol - he only opened his pharmacy a couple of months ago and said he's never worked in a pharmacy that has filled so many prescriptions for this medication.

Strange huh?

no-oneknowsme

My Son is 13 and has had severe impaction and constipation trouble since the age of 2/3.

He takes movicol sachets (up to 12 per day for bad days) and laxoberyl medicine .

Its not nice and it certainly isnt something I ever thought would last for so many years.

I really feel for any child who suffers with this problem.

jackieb

doodoot wrote: »

Just an update on DS2.

He has been given a course of Movicol so that he gets cleared out...it is going to be a Christmas to remember.

The doctor has prescribed 2 sachets for today, to be increased daily to 8 until he has his first normal poo.

Thankfully he's 11 so understands that it's not going to be easy.


When I went to our local pharmacist he said that he's amazed at the amount of children in this area that are prescribed Movicol - he only opened his pharmacy a couple of months ago and said he's never worked in a pharmacy that has filled so many prescriptions for this medication.

Strange huh?

Poor thing. It's not going to be pleasant and he's going to be embarrassed. You just have to keep reassuring him that he will feel better after it's all over with, and if there's any cleaning up to be done then it's no big deal to you.

Good luck to him. xx

doodoot

Unfortunately he has social anxiety disorder, selective mutism and using the toilet is one of his anxiety triggers.

But, as a family we've discussed what will happen so he knows what to expect.

One thing though that I didn't ask his doctor yesterday, should he have the sachets at the same time or spread out over the day?

I've just rang to ask but she's now on holiday for Christmas.

He's already had 2 sachets today, and I was planning on giving him the rest in a couple of hours time.

TIA.

jackieb

doodoot wrote: »

Unfortunately he has social anxiety disorder, selective mutism and using the toilet is one of his anxiety triggers.

But, as a family we've discussed what will happen so he knows what to expect.

One thing though that I didn't ask his doctor yesterday, should he have the sachets at the same time or spread out over the day?

I've just rang to ask but she's now on holiday for Christmas.

He's already had 2 sachets today, and I was planning on giving him the rest in a couple of hours time.

TIA.

You have to give them all within a certain amount of time. I think it's within 6 hours but i'll need to check. You don't have to give them all at once but if you give him some at 9am make sure he's had the rest, spread out if you prefer, by 3pm.

I also thought my daughter had selective mutism but they ruled it out. She got tested and was diagnosed with Asperger's in October. I think it's not uncommon for children with social anxiety disorders to have this bowel problem. I'm sure I read that somewhere.