[JJ98]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can tell me more about experiences with Encopresis, the symptoms, the diagnosis, the treatment and the cause if it was found.

History (TMI) - DS (4) has had sloppy poos (or diarrhea) for as long as I remember. When he was little I asked the MCHN several times if the sloppiness was normal and was always told yes. First time Mum so I believed it. So I'm not sure when it changed to be completely abnormal.

He is constantly hungry, has always had a big pot belly, does large poos at least once a day sometimes more, usually quite explosive sometimes with a bit of blood when he is finally finished, and he has never appeared to be constipated all his life.

For nearly 18months the doctors have been trying to figure out what is going on, we cut out dairy, had blood tests (slightly low iron) had a gastroscopy, sigmoidoscopy and several poo tests. He is not lactose intolerant nor coeliac. Some inflammation was found in the lower bowel.

The poo test thru the naturopath showed bacteria and parasites and he suggested putting DS on a diet of no carbs to starve it. However maybe I am wrong but I decided that was not a good idea for a growing body. We did continue with dairy free and went completly gluten free again with meals as plain as possible.

Prior to the gastroscopy/sigmoidoscopy he had been gluten free but put him back on wheat in preparation for the biopsies and we had 3 days of semi formed poos. Then back to the way it was until several months later- january when things started to improve slightly, good days and bad days, I got very strict again with the plain diet in Feb and things were going OK not brilliant but alot better than it had been until about 3-4 weeks ago. The normal kinder teacher was away and DS ate a cupcake red icing then 2 days later a red icypole. No idea wheter the red colour is a factor but anyway things have not been good since, regardless of the same plain diet. Unfortunately it does not appear to have any consistent results.

Went back to the doc last week I asked again about xrays/ultrasounds, he agreed to the xray and it did show his bowel is distended and appears to be backed up. He explained that the diarrhea is just what squeezes past the constipated portion. I asked if it was encopresis and he said yes.

So He is now on 1 sachet per day of movicol day 5 today. Apparantly the night we went to the doc before starting the movicol there was "a big long thing in the toilet" (DH's description) but since then no change so far. DS has spent the last probably 30 mins in the toilet (wiping twice only for him to need to go back and do more) the first time large next time medium then small amount with blood. He is going back to the toilet as I type

Anyway I guess it confuses me a bit as it doesn't seem to be what the "traditional" symptoms are, he has large amounts when he goes and generally he knows when he needs to go it just comes in such a rush that he does occasionally have an accident but not often. His worst used to be occasional faecal incontinece at night during his sleep but thankfully that hasn't happened for awhile.

So this has turned into a bit of an essay so if you have managed to keep reading thankyou and please share your own knowledge about encopresis.

How did you get the diagnosis, what were the symptoms, what treatment was used and how long did it take to settle down, what was the cause if found? Or any other info you might have.

TIA

JJ

[JJ98]

Thanks HART85,

We waited about 2 months last year to see a paediatrician who brushed us off with the toddler diarrhea diagnosis, I was not happy.

I too struggle to keep him drinking lots of water - how much should a 4 yo drink?

As for holding it in, I don't think so as before TT he usually had several sloppy nappies a day and has never "appeared" to be constipated but obviously something has been going on in there!

Day 8 of the movicol today and no change as yet

JJ