Movicol help with 6 year old

[Laurashane88]

Hi all im new to this forum just looking for advice as im a single mum of 2 and have been suffering with this constipation overflow problem with my 6 year old for as long as i can remember! I have given him movicol previously as prescribed by doctor and hospital for constipation overflow but i stopped it as i didnt think it was working i have recently gone back on it as hospital told me to try again i upped the dose as told during the half term they said up to 12 sachets a day but i struggled to get it down i managed about 8 the most and now he is back at school hes on 4 sachets a day he managed to hold himself all day but as soon as we got home he had a major explosion in his pants i feel awful for him as that could happen at school and the kids wouldnt half take the mick but he cant help it because of the meds! Do you think i should lower the dose? His next hospital appointment is in September which is a long way away but im so worried for him! Any help is appreciated many thanks

[CatDub]

I’m afraid I’m not far enough along with a very similar problem with my, nearly 9, year old! I wanted to let you know you’re not alone. We tried the disimpaction over half term but I don’t think we completed it. I too, put him back down to 4 sachets and he’s on a sitting regime at school yet he still manages to get leakages!! I’m wondering if 4 is making things too loose and might just give 2 sachets today to see if that’s any better! He doesn’t have big explosions in his pants as you describe but I think if he wasn’t sitting first thing in the morning, 1st break, after lunch and then after lessons before sports he might. Do you have a sitting routine in place?

[Laurashane88 in reply to CatDub]

Thank you for your reply it is good to hear im not alone! And also that you didnt complete it in half term either! I have now reduced it down to 2 sachets a day as he had a accident today at school near the end of the day bad again all in his pants and trousers and he told me he did tell his teacher but she didnt do anything and the other children noticed the smell and did take the mick it broke my heart so i lowered it on my own accord for this evenings dose he doesnt have a sitting routine as you have he doesnt like to go at school for some reason and i find he tries holding himself all day but i will try it at home obviously because of the movicol he couldnt hold it anymore

[Louloubelle23]

Hi there

I feel your pain, you are not alone! My daughter has been suffering with this since she came out of nappies - maybe even before then for all I know. She's now 10 and it's no better. She's been under a continence nurse once but now she's under a Paediatrician at the hospital and has been for 18 months. Quite frankly I'm coming to the conclusion that plying them with laxatives is making the situation worse rather than better!

Anyhow, my daughter used to be on movical, but only 2 sachets a day, plus 30ml of Senna. The movical stops the poo getting hard and the Senna stimulates the bowel to push. My daughters poo is also far too loose and I've spoken to the hospital and we are now reducing the laxatives a bit. For your son, I would think that if his poo is explosive and loose then he might not need so much movical now.

Does the hospital not have a number you can ring to get some advice between appointments? When I have problems like this I've been given the direct line number of the Paediatric gastroenterology nurse specialists who I have called numerous times! I'm sure your hospital must have them too. If they haven't given you a number I would just look up the relevant hospital departments number (or main number and ask them to put you through). I would be surprised if they didn't offer some support between appointments.

Good luck

[Laurashane88 in reply to Louloubelle23]

Thank you for your reply and im sorry to hear your going through the same problem too its awful, i actually do have an appointment for a continence nurse coming up soon to see if she can help. I have lowered the dose on my own accord now if you read my above reply you can see why and i did phone the hospital today and they are going to pass a message onto the doctor for me so hopefully i will recieve a call soon