5 1/2 year old soiling!

[Trascal]

My daughter has been soiling since we Potty trained her! She got constipated and had a sore poo and since the age of 3 has been on lactulose!

I'm tried a few times over the past couple of years to wean her off the medicine along with a good diet, plenty exercise and a sticker reward chart with no success!

Finding the Eric charity and this chat room has been a lifeline as I think family and friends have got fed up of me talking about it as they say she'll grow out of it! But im worried she won't!

At the beginning of April we introduced regular toilet time after breakfast and dinner we seen a big improvement soiling/accidents decreased and she was happy! Unfortunately in the last week she seems to have got constipated again and the soiling has started again!

Should I speak to my GP to see if they can provide an alternative laxative? Or what can I do to clear away any constipated poo? I haven't found my gp very helpful as they just advise to keep her on th regular dose of lactulose! I feel like I'm wasting my time booking an appointment

She is at school now and there have been a few soiling accidents I'm worried that her school friends will start to pick up on it so want to do anything I can to get her pooing regularly and minimising the accidents - HELP any advice appreciated!

[Apache21]

Ask GP if you can try Movicol instead. Its supposed to be more effective than lactulose, and if you suspect blocking up you can just up the dose to clear out the impaction.

[Trascal in reply to Apache21]

Thanks I will get an appointment with my GP this week! I know my daughter is unhappy with the soiling and wants it to stop but I think she genuinely is not getting the signals to go to the toilet due to being constipated/blocked! Anything to get her back on track to how we were a few weeks ago would be brilliant! Still sticking with the regular toilet routine so we don't lose that!

[Luella19 in reply to Trascal]

Hi, welcome to the forum. It's a great support I've found. For now until you see the GP you could just try upping the dose of lactulose, its gentle stuff and just acts as a softener. May help until you get further advise. From experience this condition goes through good times and not so good, it's baffling.

My daughter soon turns 7 and we are generally doing well now but it's taken many years. Just persevere and try to stay calm (that is hard though)

Let us know how you get on at GP x

[Trascal in reply to Luella19]

Thanks very much for the encouraging message! It is such a worry when your child goes through this and no one seems to understand, just telling me that I need to get it sorted or why would I let my child get like that! I'm phoning the GP for an appointment tomorrow so will definitely update on this how it goes!

It's such a relief to know this site exists and I'm not alone x

[Luella19 in reply to Trascal]

You definitely are not alone...chin up, we all understand x

[Luella19]

And hold on to the thought that it can get better...I wouldn't have believed that when my daughter was 5 but it has, really...

[Trascal in reply to Luella19]

Hi Luella19 and all the other people who have taken time to offer me advice and reassurance (I really appreciate it)

We had a really good appointment at the GP this week! We got to see a locum doctor who was very understanding and great with my daughter!

The doctor checked over my daughter and there was no signs of any blockages but they think it's a good idea that she is referred to the local hospital to see a team of staff that deal with child toilet issues to work with me and provide help and advice to hopefully break the soiling issues and get her going regular

In the meantime I am continuing with the toilet routine and from reading another comment on the forum increasing her fluid intake as she is not the best at fluids so that might be part of the problem

Fingers crossed x

[Luella19 in reply to Trascal]

That is great news for you. Really good to be seeing someone who hopefully can offer the right treatment for your daughter x

[Luella19 in reply to Trascal]

I also read a helpful book called 'the ins and outs of poop' helped me understand a lot about withholding and soiling related to it.

[AliStan]

Hi there and welcome! I don't have any advice on soiling as different to our experience but I wanted to pick up on your comment about other kids noticing. As parents we worry constantly about that but in reality, the kids don't really care for quite some time yet! My daughter is now in year 3 and other than a couple of odd days where another child has just ask why she's changed we've had no problems whatsoever at school. It is worth talking to the school about it though and making sure they know what's going on. We've been really lucky that all her teachers have been fantastic and it's helped stop me worrying knowing that she has someone there she can turn to.

.....but most important, know you are not alone and this is the one place where you can open right up and everyone will understand! Good luck.

[emmasue]

I agree with getting her on Movicol. It has made a bid difference with my daughter. As long as we keep her on two sachets a day, she doesn't have any accidents. Every time we try to wean her off, she starts having accidents again. She's 8 now. We have kind of got to the point where we just accept that she needs to be on Movicol. She has an autism assessment coming up and the paediatrician has just ordered some more blood tests to see if there is anything else going on. But she doesn't have accidents at school very often, so that's a blessing. Hopefully she will out grow it, but we shall see. Good luck with your daughter. x

[Caz2804]

Hi there

Only a suggestion but have you tried to keep a food diary to see if there may be a particular trigger for the constipation?

It sounds like you've been doing a great job so far, and understand your frustrations.

Keep up the good work x

[Trascal in reply to Caz2804]

Hi thank you for your advice and reassurance (I really appreciate it)

We had a really good appointment at the GP this week! We got to see a locum doctor who was very understanding and great with my daughter!

The doctor checked over my daughter and there was no signs of any blockages but they think it's a good idea that she is referred to the local hospital to see a team of staff that deal with child toilet issues to work with me and provide help and advice to hopefully break the soiling issues and get her going regular

In the meantime I am continuing with the toilet routine and from reading another comment on the forum increasing her fluid intake as she is not the best at fluids so that might be part of the problem

Fingers crossed x

[emmasue in reply to Trascal]

Good luck! I hope you crack this soon. Just remember, less stress is better and you should be okay. x

[MumofAlex]

I've just joined Eric's forum and I feel so relieved seeing your message that I want to cry. I've had so much anguish over my son's soiling (which only happens at night), and only just recently realised it was being caused by constipation. I wasn't sure if it was something psychological, or immaturity, or what. I hope your daughter gets the help you all need and deserve.

[Trascal in reply to MumofAlex]

I've had a few tears over my daughters soiling/constipation but I've realised that the more I get stressed/upset about the situation it won't resolve itself

I don't know how old your son is but I've found introducing a regular "toilet time" after meals has helped! We are still having accidents but it's slowly improving will keep you posted on how we get on with the hospital currently on a waiting list for an appointment

I was relieved to find the site as it's good to find your not alone and you can talk to other people dealing with the same situation

X

[Trascal]

It's been a few weeks since I've done an update on my daughters progress so here we go!

Still waiting on a hospital appointment date - I've been told that this can take a few weeks! Is that the norm or just my local NHS area?

We've keep my daughter on the same lactulose dosage until further advice from the hospital

Poos are soft but still regular soiling in pants! I'm starting to think she is she scared to use or dislikes the toilets at school

I think she has forgotten how to push! She can sit at toilet time no problem but majority of the time no poo's in toilet

Can anyone suggest anything to get my daughter pushing again? I've tried balloons/party blowers with limited success?

We also use a sticker chart and will reward for sitting on toilet even if she doesn't do anything

Any advice appreciated - thanks