When they just wont poo!?

This is an ongoing problem. One that we (both my child and I) are very frustrated with.

The issue is he just. wont. poo.

It started when he started solids... but wasnt too bad until he weaned at 20 months (self weaned), then it became unbearable. For the last 12 months (if not a bit longer) he has been on parachoc. Even on parachoc he still refuses to poo sometimes. But he was going great with it for the last few months, we even manage to decrease his dose and keep him pooing without issue.

Well he had gastro a week back... now he is back to doing semi solid poos since the water consistancy of the gastro and he is again refusing to poo.

He quite obviously needs to go but refuses to.

I ask him why he wont poo and he tells me "It hurts". Nothing I do or say will convince him otherwise. Our lives revolve around poo and whether or not he has done one. If he has done one, it will be a great day, if he hasnt then he is miserable, his behaviour is terrible and he will eventually run around screaming because his body will eventually expell it against his will because of the parachoc.

I rang the contienence people and they will call when they have an appointment... no time line given on how long we will have to wait. Just reassurances that we arent alone and that this is normal for a lot of kids (not terribly reassuring when your child is screaming "no poo" at you in the background).

The GP wont refer us to the paed saying its all normal and psychological. But no mention of child psych or the continence people. I mentioned this issue to our MCHN and she was the one that told us about the continence people and referred us onto a dietian.

Thing is he eats well... really well... He drinks lots of water and exercises heaps.

I have another appointment with a different GP at the same practice that has seen DS before that I am going to push for a referal to a paed. We cant go on like this :cry: My baby boy is suffering and in 12 months we havent gotten anywhere further with this issue.

So what do I do when he just. wont. poo? :(

Anyone have any experience with something like this?

You might find some help from a thread started by a Mum in a similar situation not too long ago, https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...y-15kg-165903/

Thanks for that :) There is a lot of great information there but unfortunately not much of it new to us :cry: It feels like there is no end in sight for my little one :( Back to the GP we go and hope there is something, anything else that can be done :cry:

How old is he? There are books about doing poos like "Everybody Poops" for example too. Don't know if that was suggested in the other thread.

Probiotics, yoghurt or Yakult would be my other suggestion. Baby probiotics has helped my baby - I know they get a lot of natural ones from breastmilk too.

Oh, Abigail. That must just be horrible for you both.

I think you are way beyond any of the normal remedies, way past pears, and brown sugar. If this has been going on for such a long time it is more than likely psychological.

I think your GP is negligent to refuse to refer you to a specialist. A specialist is exactly what you need. A GP is just that, a general practitioner. They are by definition, fabulous at being the front line in health care and should be ready to refer to appropriate specialists when things are either out of their knowledge base or not improving with the treatment plan they develop.

Please, get a second or even third opinion if that is what it takes to get some specialist advice. I had to see 3 GPs before I found someone reasonable enough to refer me. Once I saw a pead we were on the path to recovery and it was a really simple solution. One where I just needed professional and knowledgeable advice. If I didn't chase up that third GP, I would have absolutely been in your shoes, looking at 12 months of constipation. As it was we went through 8 months I think??

I say stick to the parachoc, I know you say you have been using it but there must be a reason it is not working. Forgive me if I am wrong with this, but for parachoc to work in chronic cases it must be given daily without fail. If you skip a day, skip a dose, you are back to square one. You must keep stools soft for a very long time for the psychological stress to wear off. I was also advised to give a dose higher than recommended on the bottle. I was told to give an amount that meant that I could see an 'oily' substance in the stools then lessen just enough so that it was just noticeable. This was to ensure that we were getting maximum benefit on the lubrication. I was also advised to not even consider weaning for at least 6 months and then to do it ever so slowly, decreasing by a few ml every few days. I really recommend you see a pead specialist so that you can get someone on your side and really feel confident about sorting this out.

I will try to find some more of the threads I have read and contributed in so you can read more of the experiences of people who have been through this. Taurean's experiences and advice in this thread, particularly her realisation that it was the way that she was administering the parachoc that made all the difference may shed some light on why things have not been working for you.

:hugs: The time of constipation in my house was terrible and my heart goes out to you and your little one.

ETA: I just have to respond to a few things in your OP.
With regards to chronic ongoing constipation in children:

• It is not about diet.
• Your GP's opinion that constipation for 12 months is 'normal' is sheer stupidity.
• There is a serious misunderstanding of children and constipation and we have to stop thinking of them as mini adults. The reasons for their constipation and the solutions for them are not the same as for adults.

That sounds really serious, if the Parachoc is not working. I would try a different GP, until you find one that listens to you. Your are your child's best advocate, you see what your child (and family) goes thru constantly, due to the problem.

I am not positive that he WON"T poo, if he is saying "it hurts", i think anyone, would put off poo-ing, if it hurt them, to poo.

i hope you don't have to wait much longer, for someone (medical) to take you seriously, and investigate what is going on with your son's ability to poop.

You need a different gp and a paediatric referral. They see lots of kids in similar situations and can definitely help. Good luck

I just did some searching on here and realised I have read and replied to a thread you started last year! Heavens, you have been going through this for a long time. :comfort:


Keep searching out help from the specialists until you get answers that resonate with you.

:crying: Reading that old thread of mine just makes it so much worse, I was guessimating times before and to know its definately been well over twelve months just makes everything seem so much harder and horrible for DS.

We have been using the parachoc religiously. Never missing a dose. We had done really well to decrease his dose and keep him pooing without issue/ It felt like there was an end in sight for him and since he has had the gastro and then gone back to semi solid poos its all started up again with the screaming. :( When I say decrease his dose that is to say he is still well within the dosing ranges on the bottle :(

DS is over 3 years old now. An example of a conversation we had just the other day when I was watching him do his little I dont want to poo but my body is making me run around

Me: Please do a poo
DS: No
Me: Why not?
DS: It hurts

:crying:

Its also very frustrating to talk to other mums about this who just dont get the scope of what this is like for us, they mean well and Im sure their solutions have worked for them. It makes me feel like we are going through this alone and no one is really listening to me. :( Thank you for all your posts Jackrose both in the old thread and this one :hug: It makes us (well me) feel less alone in this battle of poo.

How frustrating, hugs to you and your DS.

Thank you Gigi :)

I'm coming at this from a different point of view - would it help to teach your little guy very basic pain management. Things like - when you think something is going to hurt sometimes you can trick your brain by imagining something really nice. Or relaxation and going floppy. So that although it "hurts" the hurt isn't a major issue.
I hope that you can get the help you and your son obviously need.

Ive been trying distraction however if you distract him too much he forgets that he has to poo which compounds the issue! We finally have an appointment coming up with the continence nurse and from there the paed and dietitian I guess.

That's great Abigail. How horrible for you guys. I really hope you can get the support and answers you need.

Thanks I really hope they have the answers we need :)

Hi Abigail,

I have been thinking of you. How are things going for you and your DS?

Hope you have found some answers, some good help and seen some positive changes :crossfingers:

We saw the continence nurse and her basic response was "just keep doing what you're doing". *sigh* She did try to put it down to a fibre issue until I went through what he eats in detail and she quickly changed her mind. She also wants us to put him on the toilet half hour after eating if possible...

So nothing new. :(

We are now awaiting the paediatrician.

I also went through our diary of DS and he has has issues since he started solids pretty much so thats over 2 and half years, not all of those medically treated. :cry: It seems endless for him.