Parents of Constipated/Bowel issues kids tribe - Page 5

[mamaverdi]

Originally Posted by babygrant

We had been using this natural calm until a couple of days ago. I mix a teaspoon (adult dose) in the morning with apple juice. Didn't help.

We were told get the bottle of mag citrate...break it into 3 doses...basically drinking the whole bottle. Do you have a GI doc? Ped who can order x-ray?


I don't know how they DON'T think he's impacted. Poor poor little guy.

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

We were told get the bottle of mag citrate...break it into 3 doses...basically drinking the whole bottle. Do you have a GI doc? Ped who can order x-ray?


I don't know how they DON'T think he's impacted. Poor poor little guy.

No GI doctor. In order to see a GI doctor here, you need a referral from the GP. GP referred us to the pediatrician. Pediatrician has a one month waiting list and then he is going to Africa for 3 months. Grrrrrrrrr. Still waiting for a call from the pediatrician, hope they can sneak him in.

[Ceinwen]

It's mind numbingly frustrating and I can't tell you how physically and emotionally devastating it is to sit there and hold a stiff, screaming, child in your arms who is in complete agony, doing everything in his power to keep himself from having a bowel movement while you beg him just to relax and poop. His record is 30 minutes. 30 minutes of non-stop screaming and crying and there is absolutely nothing I can do to help him at that point but hold him. I want to scream and cry myself. I want to just leave the damn house to get away. I want to yell at him just to f&^%ing poop alread and hide under my bedcovers with my fingers in my ears to make it stop.

I hope I'm not thread crashing, as I don't have a child with bowel issues - but I do, personally, suffer from this.

I have horrific memories of going through exactly what was described above by the pp. My mother was (is) the most amazing advocate for me, and fought the system every step of the way. Looking back, and reading this thread breaks my heart.

I have nerve damage (from a tethered spine/tumor) that led to all my issues. Even now I have many, many bowel issues and it's funny how as an adult I try to turn a blind eye to it until it's almost too late, and then think 'Damn'.

Mostly I just wanted to offer to all the parents struggling right now.

My dd, while no medical issues are present, experiences occasional severe constipation and can usually be saved through diet changes. I have had to give her a fleet enema before however (as a last resort, following an ER presentation), and am always looking for new ways to control my own issues.

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by pumpkinhead

I wish you the very best of luck

Holidays were/are hard for us. Even harder when we're traveling.

Do you find that using juice is counter productive?

We have two problems with juice. 1) They want us to avoid it because it can contribute to constipation. 2) Juice eventhough are acidic (sp?) turn to alkalyne in the bladder. Which is not good for her with her bladder issues. I was told to limit juice to 4 ounces a day.

Originally Posted by babygrant

So we spent almost 3 hours last night in the ER. It's been 10 days now since my 3 years olds last proper BM. He took one a few nights ago but it was tiny little BB size poops. Before the BM 9 days ago he went 14 days without a poop. He sits for 1/2 hour - 1 hour every day and pushes and pushes and nothing. A couple of nights ago he puked. Then last night he came running and said he had to poop. I sat him on the potty and he projectile vommited everywhere. So I brought him into the ER and after waiting for 2 1/2 hours the doctor saw him, pushed on his belly and says "He isn't obstructed because he would be in pain. I'd do an x-ray but there is no xray technician on, and we only call them in when it's an emergency.". She left and came back 20 minutes later and says "Here's a perscription for lactulose and colace. Give him 1 tsp twice a day together. If he pukes again, bring him in right away, if he hasn't pooped in 3 days, bring him back".

I got home last night at 11 pm. I gave him his first dose of colace and lactulose this morning. He screamed and screamed for 2 hours after I gave him the lactulose. He said it burned his mouth. He burped and burped and burped and burped. Was really really uncomfortable. Has sat on the potty 6 or so different times. Had to pretty much force him to take his 2nd dose of the lactulose and colace this evening, but I got it down him by mixing it with a bit of orange pop (don't flame me). Still no poop and he's in bed now.

I'm so frustrated and sad that he is so uncomfortable. Its hard to feel like a good parent when I can't even manage to figure out what is causing him so much discomfort.

Hey, I feel your frustration. have you had any luck since you posted?

[mamaverdi]

Originally Posted by babygrant

No GI doctor. In order to see a GI doctor here, you need a referral from the GP. GP referred us to the pediatrician. Pediatrician has a one month waiting list and then he is going to Africa for 3 months. Grrrrrrrrr. Still waiting for a call from the pediatrician, hope they can sneak him in.

I'm so sorry.

[Ofwait]

Wow, didn't know this tribe existed.

My 3 year old son is definately in this... my 7 year old daughter some what as well, and probably the baby as well... so the only one doeesn't seem to have problems is my 5 year old... lucky her.

My son is by far the worst, I have had him in to the Dr. who refered him to an allergist, and then we went on to the GI doc... The GI doc tested him for celiacs which runs in my family, he came back neg, but that probably doesn't really mean much as they did it in the local lab. any way the doc said that they weren't going to investigate further unless he gets even worse, and wants him on long term laxitives. sigh

I do have to say he has been so much happier since being on the laxitives, he is actually pooping and *growing*!!! It's kind of amazing in a way.

But I am still not very happy.... because I don't want to just treat the simptoms, I want to find the cause!!!

[babygrant]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

Hey, I feel your frustration. have you had any luck since you posted?

Nope, no poop. Not even any signs of having to poop this morning. He is working on dose #3 of the colace and lactulose as I type.

[leila1213]

So sorry, babygrant! That must be terrible. I can imagine how worried you must be for him. I hope he gets relief soon.

[deditus]

Originally Posted by babygrant

We had been using this natural calm until a couple of days ago. I mix a teaspoon (adult dose) in the morning with apple juice. Didn't help.

I just wanted to point out that the adult dose is 1-3 teaspoons, and I know quite a few kids who need the full adult dose everyday to stay regular. I found Natural Calm to be great for prevention but not so good if they're backed up.

[deditus]

I belong here. My dd has very slow digestion, takes about 4 days from poop to needing to poop again, then withholds for 1-2 days, sometimes becoming impacted from this.
She is almost 2.5 now, I can't believe it. She has been having problems since starting to eat food, really. She was a once a week pooper as an infant, and that continued as she started to eat more. I have always thought that there were underlying issues and I suspected food sensitivities. I had eliminated milk 2 times before and eggs 1 time, as they were my top suspects with no change. I have recently (the last week or 2) eliminated eggs AND dairy at the same time, and it has helped with her night waking, eczema, and her cradle cap is going away. So I am hopeful that I am on the right track, but if it is the cause of her slow digestion then I imagine it will take a long time for her digestive track to heal, as food intolerances cause damage to the villi.
We went to our doctor's yesterday and she gave me a referral to the ped gi. I made an appointment for the 16th. I don't know if invasive testing would be worth it if the "treatment" is the same, but I, too, really don't want to continue treating the symptoms with laxatives, I want to know the cause.

[KatWrangler]

Emily,

I would keep the Ped GI appointment. I honestly believe having a diagnosis is a good thing. Once you can get the diagnosis (hopefully) then you can decide what tests/path you want to take.



Welcome to the group! When I originally started this tribe I didn't realize I would have so much company. Which is good and bad.

[2bluefish]

Has anyone used Senna?

Isn't Senna an herb? Someone on another list had mentioned that their GI had them using Senna in conjunction with Miralax. The reasoning being that Miralax does do much to make the bowel contract, so the bowel can still be full even if the stool is soft. Does anyone have any info on the safety of long term use of this herb?

The bowel issue is resurfacing for us again. Juju's stool is perfectly soft, but I'm having to do the pinky thing again, cause he just won't push it out. I try letting him kick it out on the floor even if he is crying. But the crying can work against the process since he tightens up more.

I have this Smooth Move tea with Senna in it. I thought about trying a little on him, but I don't want him to have cramps. The last thing we need are cramps!!

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by Ofwait

Wow, didn't know this tribe existed.

My 3 year old son is definately in this... my 7 year old daughter some what as well, and probably the baby as well... so the only one doeesn't seem to have problems is my 5 year old... lucky her.

My son is by far the worst, I have had him in to the Dr. who refered him to an allergist, and then we went on to the GI doc... The GI doc tested him for celiacs which runs in my family, he came back neg, but that probably doesn't really mean much as they did it in the local lab. any way the doc said that they weren't going to investigate further unless he gets even worse, and wants him on long term laxitives. sigh

I do have to say he has been so much happier since being on the laxitives, he is actually pooping and *growing*!!! It's kind of amazing in a way.

But I am still not very happy.... because I don't want to just treat the simptoms, I want to find the cause!!!

Is there any way you can get a second opinion from different Ped GI Doc?

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by 2bluefish

Has anyone used Senna?

Isn't Senna an herb? Someone on another list had mentioned that their GI had them using Senna in conjunction with Miralax. The reasoning being that Miralax does do much to make the bowel contract, so the bowel can still be full even if the stool is soft. Does anyone have any info on the safety of long term use of this herb?

The bowel issue is resurfacing for us again. Juju's stool is perfectly soft, but I'm having to do the pinky thing again, cause he just won't push it out. I try letting him kick it out on the floor even if he is crying. But the crying can work against the process since he tightens up more.

I have this Smooth Move tea with Senna in it. I thought about trying a little on him, but I don't want him to have cramps. The last thing we need are cramps!!

I did find this on Senna.

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/comp...ex/a/senna.htm

Doesn't look like its good for long term use. It does have side effects.

[2bluefish]

Originally Posted by KatWrangler

I did find this on Senna.

Thanks! Yeah, doesn't sound too good...

[2bluefish]

I found this on Dandelion root. I can't find anything so far that says long term use is harmful...

"Dandelion root is a mild laxative often recommended by practicing herbalists. Susun Weed says it is especially helpful for bed-ridden elders and others with chronic constipation. "The root in tea will have little effect on constipation due to nervousness, diet, fevers, and such occasional causes, but acts reliably when it is chronic, related to age, long-tern illness, or general intestinal blahs; a teaspoon of the root boiled in water three or four times a day." Use dandelion leaves in salad, or 1-2 teaspoons of dandelion vinegar or 10 - 20 drops of tincture taken with meals."
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/faqs...stipation.html

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by 2bluefish

I found this on Dandelion root. I can't find anything so far that says long term use is harmful...

"Dandelion root is a mild laxative often recommended by practicing herbalists. Susun Weed says it is especially helpful for bed-ridden elders and others with chronic constipation. "The root in tea will have little effect on constipation due to nervousness, diet, fevers, and such occasional causes, but acts reliably when it is chronic, related to age, long-tern illness, or general intestinal blahs; a teaspoon of the root boiled in water three or four times a day." Use dandelion leaves in salad, or 1-2 teaspoons of dandelion vinegar or 10 - 20 drops of tincture taken with meals."
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/faqs...stipation.html

That's interesting! What do you do if you can't get LOs to drink anything even remotely suspicious? I even try putting things in her food and somehow she sniffs it out!

[babygrant]

We are in the hospital Been here since yesterday. DS was impacted and was throwing up bile. Xray was horrible. We will be in till at least tommorow. Out on a day pass right now.

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by babygrant

We are in the hospital Been here since yesterday. DS was impacted and was throwing up bile. Xray was horrible. We will be in till at least tommorow. Out on a day pass right now.

Thats what I was afraid of. The ER Doc you saw the other night should get another profession. Not having a BM for extended period of time and vomiting is a clear sign of impaction!:

[Ceinwen]

Originally Posted by babygrant

We are in the hospital Been here since yesterday. DS was impacted and was throwing up bile. Xray was horrible. We will be in till at least tommorow. Out on a day pass right now.

Oh, I'm so sorry. I hope they are being gentle with him.