3.5 year old constipation issues?
Morning all, to cut a long story short for months we've had hard poos, soft poos, tears in her bottom, enemas etc. I need to try and keep her poo soft so besides diet, has anyone got any ideas or useful tips? I've got the diet stuff taken care of but I bought some Coloxyl drops but I'm not sure they are right because most people on forums have had negative effects. The poor little kid is in such pain and now has a rash on her bottom which is making things worse! Anyone with any advice at all would be brilliant! thank you!
I have a 4 year old daughter who has trouble with bowl movements as well. She was recently at the ER because of her pain. Her doctor prescribed this powder stuff called GlycoLax. You mix it with her drink once a day. It is a prescription laxative. Then you can buy pediatric suppositories if need be. I hope this helps. I know exactly what you are going through.
May 28th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Try giving her a couple of dried prunes for a snack every day> They help "make them go" also apple sauce and apple juice , and raisins,work well You can also add these fruits to cereals and other foods like a salad.. they all help help with fiber intake and they will ease the problem.Kids love the sweet taste too.And of course its all natural … so thats also a perk ! Good Luck ! : )
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May 28th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
the main thing is the diet! if her poop is too hard, have her drink plenty of water throughout the day. and when she's gone a day or so without making poop, try adding a spoonful of mineral oil to her oatmeal in the AM. don't do this too often, though. you can also have her eat a fiber biscuit every day. once her poop is normal and her bottom heals, hopefully she'll stop trying to hold it in and realize that it's normal to poop everyday. oh yeah, if she gets teased for stinky poop, big poop, etc. it may make her hold it in more.
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experience — granddaughter who had the same challenges.
May 28th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
This has to be treated aggressively it can become such a problem. My cousin had such a horrible time with their toddler because she associated poop with pain and would refuse to poop -which causes constipation. She was on stool softeners for over a year, every day, in doses so high she basically had diarrhea all the time, because then she couldn't hold it in.
Stool softeners do not cause cramping, or dehydration like laxatives and are also not habit forming like laxatives. Even if you don't use a prescription it is still worth talking to your doctor AND a pharmacist about your best options.
Anyway my cousin used Colace (docusate sodium), I don't know if you need a prescription. It works and they didn't have any problems.
Good luck!
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May 28th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I am SO sorry you all are going through this. Just reading this brings back awful memories of going through the same with my daughter.
For the rash, my BEST advice is to use Resinol and stay away from zinc oxide. Also, placing a piece of gauze between her butt cheeks will help with the drainage that is seeping out.
My daughter ended up getting hemmorhoids, and having to have surgery to remove them and even had to have an impaction removed surgically. Finally after all was said and done, the magical 'cure' ended up being psyllium husk. Please please ask your doctor about it or you can find it at your local healthfoods store. It really was a lifesaver… we went through that ordeal for literally MONTHS.
If you'd like more advice on it, or want to talk to me more about it I really encourage you to email me directly. I will help as much as I can as I remember how terrible it was for my daughter.
If you cannot find resinol at your pharmacy and the "magic butt cream" that some doctors prescribe isn't working, I'd also try huggies rash cream. It's very creamy and the zinc oxide is lower (which helps not burn her bottom so much)
Make sure to keep her butt exposed as much as possible. I know this can be a chore, try investing in some mattress pads for her to sleep on, butt up in the air to help dry her buttocks… and don't forget to gauze between the cheeks to help keep the friction to a minimum.
GOOD LUCK! I hope she feels better soon.
I just wanted to add that she is withholding which is going to make the stool larger and harder. Its a vicious cycle because it hurts to poop right now thanks to the rash and possibly the size of the stool. Encouraging her to poop is obviously going to be a big goal, as is trying to comfort her tushy. It will be easier to poop once that pesky rash is under control.
References :
Me. Mom of 3 with twins due in July.
View our ultrasounds on http://www.myspace.com/heathercarter815
May 28th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I have a 4 year old daughter who has trouble with bowl movements as well. She was recently at the ER because of her pain. Her doctor prescribed this powder stuff called GlycoLax. You mix it with her drink once a day. It is a prescription laxative. Then you can buy pediatric suppositories if need be. I hope this helps. I know exactly what you are going through.
References :
May 28th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
other than a high fiber diet, when my son was bad, i kept him lubed all the time. I was happy at whatever small amount he could get out. When he was having trouble pushing I would massage the muscle to try and get him to relax it. My heart goes out to you, boy were those trying times… sometimes, i had to have him squat over a towel because this position helped him make his movement a bit easier than if he was sitting on the toilet
godd luck
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May 28th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I know you said diet was under control but I think if the diet was changed slightly you may not be in this situation. Try giving dried prunes, or Pears & Pear Juice. (This is what they give old people in nursing homes) Otherwise there is a new product just out I saw on TV Last night which is a fiber sprinkle that you put over kids meals and mix in and they dont even know its there.
Try having a look at this site it might help to.
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/constipationchild/index.htm
Also try http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com
References :
Mother of 2 ages 1 & 3