So frustrated with DS's severe constipation

WifeofaMarine

I'm SO frustrated with DS's severe daily constipation issues. He's 2.5 and we've been dealing with this since infancy. But, at least when he was an infant, we could always do rectal stimulation with a rectal thermometer and that did the trick. Now, NOTHING works. We've tried Miralax, lactulose, a stool softener, fiber gummies, probiotic, a combination of them, and nada. 

One pediatrician and two pediatric GIs later, and we have no answers/solutions. Even suppositories are hit or miss with if they actually work. It's so hard to watch your little boy in pain several times a week and not be able to do anything about it. Not only that, but if affects daycare too because we often have to pick him up early because he's miserable because of it, and when severe goes to really severe he throws up from being so constipated.

I don't even know what to try next. We've just got to come up with a solution, and I'm at such a loss.

schnappycat

Honestly, I think you need to find a better pediatric GI. It sounds like you weren't taken seriously recently and I can only imagine how frustrated you must be. I suggest getting an appt with another one, even if it's really far (even a plane flight--my DH is a doctor who gets out of state patients often, so I know it's done) or you have to wait a few months. I'm sure there is a doctor out there who would be a good fit for you. It's really unacceptable for you to get the run around like that IMHO. Has he been tested for allergies or other medical issues? 

ShanJosh777

That sounds so horribly frustrating. I agree with pp, you need to find a doctor who can help find some answers! There HAS to be a solution. Where in PA are you? Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has some of the best docs in the country, are you in this area?

Dreamsicle23

What about a full blown laxative?  Like what they give people before a colonoscopy.  Obviously it wouldn't be a permanent solution but maybe it could bring relief on the super severe days.

WifeofaMarine

ShanJosh777:

That sounds so horribly frustrating. I agree with pp, you need to find a doctor who can help find some answers! There HAS to be a solution. Where in PA are you? Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has some of the best docs in the country, are you in this area?

We're in the Harrisburg area. We went to a pedi GI at Hershey Medical Center and one that's affiliated with CHOP at their Exton location and have gotten nowhere. At this point, we will travel wherever we have to to get answers/a management plan to deal with this severe constipation. 

Court0026

Wow, that is so frustrating!  Hard to believe that your doctors aren't doing more or trying more.  I don't even know what to say except you need more opinions.  One random thing, my son drinks soy milk and I think it makes his bms really soft.  I know regular milk can constipate and I also know that soy is not popular with many, but I am just saying diet diet diet.  There has to be something to tweak or change.  Ugh.  You poor thing.  

ShanJosh777

ygpm in about two minutes.

NJLH

I'm so sorry for your DS :-(. I think I had written u previously that my DD has it pretty bad too (maybe not as bad as your son). I brought it up to her pediatrician yesterday at the 2.5 checkup and all she had to say was some kids dont poop everyday (yeah, but do I have to watch her squeeze and cry all the time). Someone suggested a liquid suppository to me (I cant get the glycerin ones in her). I find with the miralax that she'll be bound up a few days, then have 1 explosion, then back to bound up. The GI suggested having her tested for celiac, which I will, but I dont think thats the case.  I hope u find a solution!

WifeofaMarine

NJLH:

I'm so sorry for your DS :-(. I think I had written u previously that my DD has it pretty bad too (maybe not as bad as your son). I brought it up to her pediatrician yesterday at the 2.5 checkup and all she had to say was some kids dont poop everyday (yeah, but do I have to watch her squeeze and cry all the time). Someone suggested a liquid suppository to me (I cant get the glycerin ones in her). I find with the miralax that she'll be bound up a few days, then have 1 explosion, then back to bound up. The GI suggested having her tested for celiac, which I will, but I dont think thats the case.  I hope u find a solution!

It was me who suggested the liquid suppository. We're having to use them on a weekly basis, and its hit or miss if they actually work. Sometimes they don't produce any BM at all. The Miralax and lactulose don't result in any BMs either. DS was tested for celiac and he doesn't have it. My non-medical opinion is that he has IBS just like his momma, but no one will listen to me and help us figure out how to manage it. We're going to need to see another pedi GI (maybe third one's the charm) to try to figure all of this out. 

Hope you get some answers for your DD too. 

KathrynMD

If you have IBS, have you tried getting a referral from your GI or even having your LO seen by him?  How is your condition treated?

I think you need to keep seeing different doctors.

Also - is it possible you are overmedicating this?  If you have had to manually stimulate your son to have a BM since he was an infant, he may not be able to naturally pass a BM on his own anymore. 

I'm so sorry you are both having such a difficult time with this.

WestCoastMommy

I give DS two fiber gummies every morning and he still only goes 2 times a week but I can tell that they help because he is pretty reg and he isnt in pain when he goes. A Bumpie actually rec them to me. They are called Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies made by the brand Fleet. I get them at Walgreens.

WestCoastMommy

never mind. Just read that you tried those.

fromvatobk

So sorry to hear about your DS.  For what this is worth, I too have IBS (although my symptoms run the other end of the spectrum from your DS) and have treated it successfully with acupuncture and herbal supplements (supplied by my acupuncturist who is also licensed and trained in chinese herbs).  Before that, I was unable to find any relief and the prescription my doctor gave me had about 50 very scary warning labels on it.  I realize that acupuncture is not realistic for a toddler/preschooler, but have you thought about trying to find a holistic practitioner who might be able to help with supplements, etc.?  I can honestly that, while it took a little tweaking, mine has managed to find a combination that can stop an "attack" almost instantly and it's made life a lot better.  Hope this helps.

PAP179

Have you tried taking him to a naturopathic doctor - with diet changes and maybe some herbal supplements - they may be able to help.  Did they do a full allergy/blood test workup? That could show a lot....

Cytina

I'm not sure what kind of tests have been performed, but I'm wondering if he has a paralysis of his intestines, called an ileus.  I so hate that you and your little guy are dealing with this... honestly, I think this is one of those times when Dr. Google can come in handy!  If I were you, I'd find a list of things that can cause chronic constipation and take that list to a new pediatric GI and ask him/her to rule out (or in) everything on that list.

Also, they have a camera that looks like a pill that can be swallowed and it takes pictures all the way through the intestines - maybe you can look into that?  I'm assuming he's had upper and lower GI?  What about a cat-scan and/or x-rays?  Have they ruled out a blockage?

I'm sorry, but this kind of stuff really bothers me - when a child's symptoms are not taken seriously and the parents are basically dismissed.  I'm so angry and frustrated and I don't even know you!!!!

ETA:  What about celiac's or gluten intolerance/allergy?

MrsJoey

Has he been tested for Hirschsprung's Disease? They usually dx at birth but there are cases that Dr's didn't dx till later on. My son has it, and it sounds like it could be a possibility that yours might too?

If you have questions about it you can email me....mrsjoey42206@yahoo.com

trapani2be

Have you ever tried reflexology?  DS had pretty bad constipation, not anywhere near what you are going through but he was a bear and wouldn't go for days.  My sil is a massage therapist and worked on his feet one day and he had a bm a few hours after.  Now every morning I do it while I am getting him dressed for the day and he has been doing great.  I'm not sure if it would be a solution for you but it couldn't hurt.  Here's the link to my earlier post about it, I talked about the tips she gave me on how to help him along.  Good luck, it sounds terrible

https://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/51967460.aspx

WifeofaMarine

Thank you everyone for responding. I really appreciate all of the advice. The constipation tonight was absolutely horrible. DH had to pick him up from daycare early and he was screaming and trying to poop all night. He even threw up three times from being so constipated and pushing so hard. We tried a suppository but it didn't do anything. I called the on call pedi and they said to give him an adult enema. We did this as well, and though he did get a little out (mostly just a little liquid and some streaks), I wouldn't say that he had a BM.

My coworker just gave me a recommendation for a pediatric GI, so I'm going to call tomorrow and make an appointment for as soon as they can get us in. In the meantime, DH and I have decided to try a dairy-free diet for DS. When he had bloodwork done last fall, it came back with a slightly positive milk allergy. The pedi GI and DS's pedi said it was so slight that it shouldn't be causing any issues, but we tried cutting out regular milk and switching to soy. After a few weeks, we didn't notice any difference, so we switched back. But, we never tried cutting out dairy completely, and that's where we're heading next. It's going to be a challenge to figure out a dairy free diet for a very picky 2.5 year old, but if it helps, it'll be worth it.

We haven't tried taking him to a holistic doctor as some people recommended, but another coworker recommended this to me today and is going to give me some suggestions. 

C.squared

Good luck to you!  I know I've responded to a few posts in the past in regards to a dairy free diet and it's easier for us to do with a Whole Foods nearby, but if you're determined to try it, let me know and I can help with the food shopping, ingredient reading, etc.  DD was having very similar issues (not quite as severe) and cutting out dairy did WONDERS for her (though it took 3-4 weeks for it to make a difference).  We kept her dairy free for at least 15 months before we started re-introducing (after a negative allergy test).  She's still on soy milk and I have no plans on changing that. It made a night and day difference for her.  I won't lie, it was hard to keep her dairy free, but totally worth it and changed her from a cranky, in pain kid to a very happy, regular child.  If you want more simple ideas for dairy free food, feel free to email me and I'd be glad to help.  If you need my email, let me know and I'll PM it to you.  You say your DS is a picky eater, so I'm not sure what he would eat, but I can certainly share some of our recipes and/or go to foods.  Hang in there!