[Amber Loren'...]

My DD is nearly 3 and since she was a baby has been a pretty constipated baby and known to go 2-4 days without a BM but lately didn't pass a BM for an entire 8days and her behaviour became irritable and appetite reduced at about day 6. Tried coloxyl, pears, prune juice for a few days but nothing and she was drinking adequate fluid. Took her to doctor who examined her abdomen and said she was fairly backed up and when she asked DD if poohing hurt she said yes. She suggested Movicol Half which went to chemist equivalent was Movicol Junior and to take for 3-4 days and then to stop and take parachoc or if BM on Movicol were too runny or a lot of movements during the 3-4 days to stop and take parachoc. (Really not sure if she said if full course of Movicol recommended and to go onto parachoc or only if movicol was too much???)

Anyway gave her a dose at 3pm fri and at 7 she went to potty as got an urge and strained a little but passed a (sorry TMI ahead) VERY huge compacted soft stool that filled nearly entire bottom third of the potty. After this she was her happy self again and looking for food. An hour afterward though she kept going back to the potty several times and passed a fair amount of clear fluid each which I don't think was urine as extremely clear and odourless. Rang chemist and he said could be that she is cleaned out and the dose was more than the body needed. He suggested I withhold next day however if she didn't have a BM the next day she should go back on to the med and maybe half the dose given. No BM for 24 hrs so today gave her 2 satchets (treating as thought was on day 2). She went to potty 15 mins after 1st dose and again only clear odourless fluid found (note that her ursine an hour before was yellow and strong). She did wees on potty all day and then at 6 she kept going back and forth - about 3-4 times til 9 and passed failry decent amounts of clear odourless fluid and she is aware she needs to use the potty.

Massaged her belly, bike legs to help her but she wasn't complaining of tummy being sore. Have made sure eating enough fibre foods and water intake still maintained.

Anybody have similar experience or advice? Could she still have a blockage or is the cler fluid only an indicator she has cleared out the bulk (even though I would have expected her to do a small BM by now) and if still no sign of a BM once 4 days recommended or contiue as per leaflet says can do til a result is seen or should I go back earlier to doctor as have follow up in a week or try the parachoc or what?!

TIA and sorry for the long post...I just didn't know how much a parent can get concerned over a BM.

[mummy.to.one]

Personally I would go back to the dr if she hasn't had another bowel movement after 4 days. That's quite a long time between going.

I'm not sure about the clear liquid being excess movicol. We use movicol daily/every second day ATM and I've never seen the clear liquid, but we are still in nappies so I probably wouldn't notice it.

Poor thing must be uncomfortable for her.

We have used parachoc before I'm not a fan of it, but I'm not sure whether it has different features or is a laxative different to movicol which I think is just a softener (I found this out myself in a thread I started the other day on movicol).

[Sunny003]

With parachoc you see the excess leaking out, it looks oily. But movicol makes the body send extra fluids to the bowel. I'm guessing the liquid is excess water? I'd cut back to 1-1/2 sachets.

Also, it could be normal for herto go every second day? It might take a while for her body to recover. When the bowel has been stretched, it can take up to three months to regain feeling/urge to go.

HTH

[Amber Loren'...]

Thanks so far ladies for your insights...I am reluctant to use the parachoc if the movicol isnt moving it, the warnings of not allowing child to lay down close to administering it as poss to aspirate into lungs scares me.
I think she is a every 2nd day pooper as fairly regular in that terms with it very occasionally stretched to 4. I have given her another 2 satchets and tomorrow will ring clinic and see if I can get any further advise whether to bring her in before her follow up next monday. She isnt in any pain and still eating and playing. on rubbing her belly it isnt overly soft or firm.

[Amber Loren'...]

Thanks so far ladies for your insights...I am reluctant to use the parachoc if the movicol isnt moving it, the warnings of not allowing child to lay down close to administering it as poss to aspirate into lungs scares me.
I think she is a every 2nd day pooper as fairly regular in that terms with it very occasionally stretched to 4. I have given her another 2 satchets and tomorrow will ring clinic and see if I can get any further advise whether to bring her in before her follow up next monday. She isnt in any pain and still eating and playing. on rubbing her belly it isnt overly soft or firm.

[Bacongirl]

Two sachets a day is alot for a 3 year old. My box says 1 a day only for general constipattion.

If treating for feacal impaction, then the dosage is higher.


Gas is a major side effect of Movical, but it is normally (well in this household) not too smelly.

How to take MOVICOL Junior
Chronic Constipation/Prevention of recurrence of faecal impaction:
Children aged 2-5 years: The usual starting dose is 1 sachet daily.
Children aged 6-11 years: The usual starting dose is 2 sachets daily. The dose should be
adjusted up or down as required to produce regular soft stools. The maximum dose neededdoes not normally exceed 4 sachets daily. Use in children aged 2 years and older should be limited to 12 weeks except under medicalsupervision.
MOVICOL Junior is not recommended for children below 2 years of age.
Adults and children 12 years and older: The recommended dose of MOVICOL Junior is 2 sachets a day. This can be increased up to 6 sachets daily if necessary, depending on the severity of your constipation. For chronic constipation the dose may be reduced to 1 sachet daily, according to individual response. For patients 12 years and older using 2 sachets daily or more, it is recommended to use MOVICOL

FAECAL IMPACTION:
Children (2 – 11 years):
A course of treatment with MOVICOL Junior is for up to 7 days as follows:
Number of MOVICOL Junior Sachets
Age (years)
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
2 - 5 2 4 4 6 6 8 8
6 - 11 4 6 6 10 12 12 12
Treatment can be stopped when the medicine has worked. This is shown by the patient passing large volumes of stools or watery diarrhoea.
It is not recommended to use MOVICOL Junior for the treatment of faecal impaction in children with a heart or kidney condition.
Open the sachet and pour contents into a cup. Add about 60 mL of water into the cup. Stir well until all the powder has dissolved and the MOVICOL Junior solution is clear or slightly hazy, then drink it. If you like, you can add a flavouring agent such as cordial to the drink.
For use in faecal impaction the correct number of sachets can be made up in advance and kept covered and refrigerated for 24 hours. For example 12 sachets can be made up into 750 mL of water and 16 sachets into one litre of water.
Drink plenty of water and increase fibre in diet, except in cases of medication-induced constipation. Prolonged use of laxatives is undesirable and may lead to dependence.
MOVICOL Junior should not be used for the treatment of faecal impaction in children for longer than 7 days. If symptoms persist, see your doctor.
If you are taking MOVICOL Junior for constipation and get bad diarrhoea, stop taking MOVICOL Junior until it clears. If constipation recurs, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking a new course of MOVICOL Junior. If you are worried, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

[Amber Loren'...]

I had the chemist explain it too me to be sure plus dr gave me info sheet to follow from royal melb hospital for children with severe constipation over 6mths, she said to take one satchet initially and then on day 2/3 two satchets and day 4 three satchets. She said I should see a result or results.

[Pup-pup]

My DD had serious constipation issues too, and we used osmolax successfully. It's available over the counter and can be used daily until constipation is no longer an issue. It's for chronic constipation rather than impaction. For impacted stool we used microlax, which is awful, but works. My DD was on osmolax for over a year.

[Amber Loren'...]

I did tonight after a huge BM from DD in her potty. Didnt seem to bother her but still rather impacted yet softish and gignormous so will give another 2 tomorrow, see how that fares and if she has another BM will drop back to 1 satchet and see if that is all I need for a maintenance dose til I go back see dr and get more advise.

[Sinister Bonnet]

Osmolax and movicol are both macrogols and both are indicated for impaction--moreso than microlax which acts on the rectum. The macrogol works to soften the stool.

OK how are you identifying these large productions as impactions? Impacted stool is not usually soft, it might be large but it is usually black and stinky. Large soft stool which is light in colour is more likely to be fresh stool which has moved around the impaction.

I've never come across movicol coming through the bowel as a clear liquid, especially if there is an uncleared impaction.

Feeling her tummy is not a good indicator either. If her colon has stretched or if she has a lot of soft stool floating around the impaction, you won't feel it.

I think it is a good idea to ring and talk to the clinic. Good luck!