Parents of Constipated/Bowel issues kids tribe - Page 3

[2bluefish]

"The Metabolic Typing Diet" is a good book to read. There isn't a mix of food that is best for all people. I've done the high protein/low carb diet myself many times, and it doesn't make for the best bowel situation for me. I'm more comfortable with some bulk, but not too much. (I don't know about the birthing bigger babies thing - birthing a bigger baby was definately more difficult than birthing a smaller baby for me, but every body is different. My big baby was alot of people's average - 8 lbs 5 oz at 42 or 43 weeks! )

I don't know the exact mechanism going on with Juju. If there was some damage to the nerves, or it is the brain damage, or just his personality. But he really fights if it is not explosive like a newborn's. Any amount of bulk causes alot of fussing. I figure it is just better at this point to let him have his way.

[DaughterOfKali]

Subbing. Won't be able to read replies until later/tomorrow.

[Momily]

My son had issues with constipation that led to reflux, which led to him damaging his upper airway and aspirating.

Soy, rice, legumes and maybe dairy all made him worse, oatmeal and hypoallergenic formula (he was adopted and had other health issues that ruled out breastfeeding) helped.

Eventually we went to Milk of Magnesia (he's older than Miralax) and a g-tube to control the aspiration. Then when he was about 2 we discovered, pretty much by accident, that swimming was like a miracle cure.

One thing though is that when he was "leaking around a plug" as one poster put it, swimming was not an idea, not that it didn't work but it would work too fast, and even at 5 or 6 he wouldn't get out of the pool on time. . Sometimes a long warm, playful bath would work ('cause the toilet's right there).

However, if we got him going with Milk of Magnesia, swimming twice or three times a week kept him comfortable and medication free.

The doctor felt that it was probably the combination of warmth, and all the movement against resistance that his core was doing. I also wondered if drinking pool water played a role.

[KatWrangler]

Cone Enemas

So we did the cone enema for the first time last night. I was expecting a blowout and that didn't happen. The stool was watery and light brown. I expexted dark brown and chunky (like bits of the plugs). Is this normal?

[KatWrangler]

This mornings we got ALOT out! : It will be interesting to see how much we get out tonight.

I decided to weigh here on our scale after the enema and cathing. She weighs 21.8 pounds on our digital scale in just a diaper.

[pumpkinhead]

It's been my experience that enemas tend to produce results the next morning. I have no idea why, but that's what usually happens. Perhaps it just needs time to soften up.

[leila1213]

I feel like every time I get involved in one of these threads (or take DD to the dr), things turn around for the better. Yesterday was another amazing day. We talked a little bit about going on her own being more grown-up. Then later she was running into another room and doing a little wiggle. I asked her if she needed to go potty and she wanted to be left alone. I set her potty down across from her and left the room. DH and I could see her from where we were, but didn't say anything. She came over to the potty, pulled her pants down, sat on it, and pooped! It was a nice soft little poop, and she was so proud! :

[SAHDS]

Originally Posted by 2bluefish

Juju is in the less than 3% - our other kids were too at his age though. Keeping him moving definately impacts his eating. We're doing pretty good with Miralax so far, knock on wood. He recently started taking 6-8 oz bottles instead of 4 which is AWESOME!

Ohyeah, mine are too. Big babies, tiny-teeny little kids. DS is 8 and weighs 42 lbs. soaking wet. DD was 49lbs. when she turned 9. We've just realized it's how they are and how they're going to be. As long as they follow their curve, they should be fine. I know it can cause worry, though.

Kat - What exactly is a cone enema? The ones we used were the whole milk/molasses enemas and thy were AMAZING! The first one took maybe 5 minutes and then a HUGE plug and, at least, 2 FEET of stool came out. I've never seen anything like it.

It was so bad at one point, you could easily feel the stool when pushing on his tummy (all the way above his belly button) and his breath started wreaking from the build-up in his intestines. Those were hard times.
And, oh, the "leaking around a plug" was horrid.

Just more hugs to all.

[chann96]

Good weirdness here. Not tonight, but the last two nights my husband said Charlotte has had longer, softer poops that she got out with no problem at all. The weird thing about it is that I have no idea why. I can't think of anything that has changed at all. Maybe it's just that we've been consistent enough lately that her body is started to get a better idea of what to do. I don't know, but I hope it continues.

I was wondering about the idea of supplementing with Vitamin C. TMI here, but we've all got a cold here around the house. Charlotte won't take the vitamin C I have, but I've been taking it and definitely reached that loose bowel stage of events. I'm wondering if I could find a flavorless vitamin C supplement if it might be helpful to give her. She doesn't like the fiber supplements because of their bulk/texture. I don't know. Just a thought I had and I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts/ideas on it.

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by pumpkinhead

It's been my experience that enemas tend to produce results the next morning. I have no idea why, but that's what usually happens. Perhaps it just needs time to soften up.

We thought after getting great results yesterday morning that we would get the same last night. Nope. Very watery. Same for this morning, very watery and not much "stuff" in it.

Also, last night she was so bloated that I tried to cath her before the enema and I didn't get anything out. So we did the enema and then I cath'd her. I got 160ccs out of urine.

How do I know when we have it all out? The plugs and all?

Originally Posted by SAHDS

Kat - What exactly is a cone enema? The ones we used were the whole milk/molasses enemas and thy were AMAZING! The first one took maybe 5 minutes and then a HUGE plug and, at least, 2 FEET of stool came out. I've never seen anything like it.

This is the cone enema we use.

http://www.convatec.com/en/cvtus-pro...prodfamily=82#

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by chann96

I was wondering about the idea of supplementing with Vitamin C. TMI here, but we've all got a cold here around the house. Charlotte won't take the vitamin C I have, but I've been taking it and definitely reached that loose bowel stage of events. I'm wondering if I could find a flavorless vitamin C supplement if it might be helpful to give her. She doesn't like the fiber supplements because of their bulk/texture. I don't know. Just a thought I had and I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts/ideas on it.

Absolutely! Vit C and magnesium are both great to try. You can get chewable acerola tablets (vit C) that are tart and sweet. Kids love them. I'm sure there is something out there that doesn't have too much flavor, but my DD loved the sodium ascorbate with just a few drops of water in it, for some weird reason.

[DaughterOfKali]

Ds is so constipated right now. Even the Miralax isn't working. I'm getting worried because his belly/abdomen is starting to hurt. I can't give him a warm bath because my tub drain thingy is being worked on (he's not happy that he has to take showers for a while).

I'll give more Miralax today and if no results by tomorrow afternoon, it's time to call the doc.

[KatWrangler]

Whats the dosage of Miralax are you giving? You know what, I don't think I would wait. I would call the Doc today and let them know whats going on.

Do you think its an impaction?

[leila1213]

Do you use the liquid glycerin suppositories? That's my last resort with DD. I don't usually take her to the dr.

[DaughterOfKali]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

Whats the dosage of Miralax are you giving? You know what, I don't think I would wait. I would call the Doc today and let them know whats going on.

Do you think its an impaction?

This happens all the time, actually. The pediatrician thinks I overreact. The doc says I can give ds a whole capful but if I do that, ds would get terrible stomach cramps.

I did call the doc anyway and I was right. They just said to give another dose and call them back tomorrow if it doesn't produce results.

[pumpkinhead]

Ds's dosage of Miralax when he isn't stooling is 17 grams a day. I mix this up in 7oz of his favourite drink and he drinks from it all day until it is gone. He's 2.5.

Have you tried glycerin suppositories? They suck so very much, but they always produce results here. I use them as an absolute last resort.

[leila1213]

I realize this will probably not be popular here, but nonetheless some may be
interested in it. Info from www.fibermenace.com:

Polyethylene glycol-based laxatives damage bacterial flora, block absorption of
nutrients throughout the GI tract, cause dependence, and, soon, intensify all of
the symptoms of disbacteriosis and constipation. They are especially problematic
if you are affected by hemorrhoids and/or fissures-related bleeding, since
disbacteriosis causes acute deficiency of vitamin K, and, correspondingly,
clotting and healing problems, blood loss, anemia, and so on.

Instead, he recommends hyperosmolar laxatives like MoM and Epsom Salts.

Apparently he has a new book called Gut Sense that will be released soon. This
is great, because Fiber Menace was good at telling you what NOT to eat, but not
telling you what TO eat. (For that, the best recommendation I have gotten is Gut
and Psychology Syndrome by Natasha Campbell-McBride. Any parents of kids with
gut problems and issues like ADD, autism, schizophrenia, learning disorders,
etc, should be particularly interested in this book.)

[2bluefish]

I think there is some misinformation there about lactose. Lactose is not a laxitive. Lactose is a source of energy in the form of carbohydrate. Human milk has the highest lactose content of any milk testifying to its importance in the diet of the human infant.

"During the process of digestion, lactose breaks up into 2 other sugars, glucose (dextrose) and galactose. In myelin there is a large amount of galactolipids in the nature of phrenosin (cerebrosides) of various kinds. Cerebrosides are compounds found in the brain. Galactose is one of the constituents of this material... Mother Nature must have intended that the young infant have this important substance, so amply provided for in breast milk..." (Emory W Thurston, PhD "Nutrition for Tots to Teens" - excerpt printed in "Nourishing Traditions")

[leila1213]

I think he is talking about the synthetic, concentrated forms of lactose that are being used specifically as laxatives, not lactose found in whole foods (like BM). KWIM?

[pumpkinhead]

Polyethylene glycol is a large, polar, molecule that acts like a sponge. It draws water out of the intestines and makes the stool very soft (dosing is important) and then pushes everything through. It's not digestible and it is non-stimulant and non-habit forming (due to the fact that it is not a stimulant).

It also shows a potent anti-bowel cancer effect in animal models

http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cg...ull/60/12/3160

It is not a form of lactose.