[Lightning_bug]

I know this is the wrong area but I'm desperate for traffic.

My son has been diagnosed with endocompresis. I'm absolutely horrified with how constipated his is. We're talking a lot of poo.

We've been given a stool softner and micro-enema thing but even with the application of these, nothing has moved.

I'm angry and frantic at the same time. Angry because we visited so many doctors over the years and they've all been so blaise about it, dismissing us with the old 'give him more fibre and water' without really investigating why at 6 he is still soiling his pants.

So, has anyone been there and done that? What can we do to help him?

[JuliaGulia]

You need to send Balzac a message. She's the poo expert around here

[Lightning_bug]

Thanks Julia. Did one of her children have endocompresis?

[JuliaGulia]

If you do a post search you will find lots of info from her. She really does know what she's talking about, and has given heaps of advice to other mums in the same situation as you.

So sorry for your son.

[Stan the Fan Man]

Jus FYI it's encopresis

And I am sorry that it's taken so long to get answers.

I am sure other people with personal experience will be in soon, but just know that it will take a lot of laxatives and a long time to get your little one into a nice healthy bowel routine. ie months- years. That's not to say you won't see an improvement in a matter of weeks, but lots of bowel retraining needs to happen.

This is a very basic starting point http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Constipation/

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/enc...tml/context/556

Good luck xx

[Lightning_bug]

Thanks Stan, Google's autofind has always given me what I've wanted with the wrong spelling. lol.

I worry about giving him so many laxatives. It's just a horrible thing to be intentionally pumping your child with.

And that horrible stool softening stuff.

I hate making him cry.

[luke's mummu]

My son doesn't have you son's condition, but he does have chronic constipation secondary to refusing to eat and veges at all, and minimal fruits.

He is on Movical Junior every 2nd day, for the last 2 years. Initially we tried drinking it straight, he couldn't handle the taste. Now we mix with apple juice, or milo and milk. Neither of which is idea, but at least he drinks it. Really trial and error to see what your son can tolerate.

Hope you get some great advice here.

[Sinister Bonnet]

Movicol needs to be given in clear liquids to be most effective. Osmolax works just as well in milk as in clear liquids.

[TheGreenSheep]

Whilst DS2 3yr 8m doesnt have encopresis, he has a slow gut. Despite eating plenty of veg and fruit, high fibre breads, water, he just doesnt go! Same diet and DS1 goes all the time, different bodies, different gut.

I got heaps of advice from reading though threads related to soiling and holding on (thats what DS2 was doing). Balzac knows her stuff! Something I took away from them was the importance of routine and sitting on the toilet till empty, plus never let them block up! Ever!

So since then has movicol-half everyday. He has it with apple juice every morning before his brekky. We then head straight to the toilet and he sits with an ipad till hes empty. So far its worked.

We have had reductions in dose, blocked up within 2 days. Back to square 1. We have changes in routine, blocks up in 2 days. Back to square 1. And then starts the toilet refusal. Pooing in his night nappy. We arent confident to start night toilet training in any way until we are on top of it. I dont know when Ill reduce the movicol again, but we are not in any hurry.

OP goodluck.

[Carabosse]

A great paed who knows their 'poo', Parachoc, regular routine and 'sitting' and most importantly time and a whole lot of patience because they really can't help the accidents. They don't know it is happening. It won't disappear overnight because they have to retrain their bowels and this can take months.

My eldest took about 6mnths. She wasn't bad but we had a little kit packed in her school bag (plastic ziplock bags, fresh undies and flush-able wipes) which she had to use at school 2 times in 6 months. She managed her condition pretty well through first year of school. (I was petrified!) We are now out the other side thank goodness.

Good luck!

This post has been edited by Carabosse: 11/02/2013, 02:07 PM