Worried following disimpaction

[SKY01]

Wondering if anyone can help/advise me please? We completed a disimpaction with my son about 6 weeks ago and things have been really positive since; full poos on the toilet (some even self initiated!) none of the dark, sticky overflow soiling in between and just the odd accident but not overflow, more like a proper poo but he is too late, due to lack of sensation I guess. All a huge improvement on the soiling multiple times a day which had been going on for 2 years and I was feeling so hopeful. He's been doing at least one decent type 4 poo everyday and takes a small dose of Senna to help things along. Anyhow the last few days he's started doing quite big, loose poos in his pants once or twice a day-porridge type consistency and light/mid brown . They aren't dark or sticky and I'm tempted to think his tummy is a bit upset by something (he hasnt been 100% this week). But am I being naive and could this be overflow? I struggle to see how he could be impacted again but I can't help but be really worried. He starts school in 2 months! Thanks so much xx

[SallyandPaul]

It doesn't sound like overflow, more like you could reduce the medication or stop it completely. I'm loathe to say that in case he gets bungee up again

[AndrewT]

Dear SKY1,

Not too easy to answer, this one, can you ask maybe a sympathetic GP for advice? How long was your, poor child, Bunged UP? Please do let us all know, will you?

Very best wishes.

AndrewT

[Jfraser1]

Hmm, If it’s porridge consistency then it sounds like he is a bit loose. Your right, I think you can tell when it’s overflow poo! Depending on how much Movicol he is on try reducing it by a teaspoon each day to get a more suitable maintenance dose x

[SKY01 in reply to Jfraser1]

Thanks for your reply. We stopped the movicol a few weeks back as he was too loose/leaking on that and he's just on Senna at the weekends now and has been managing at least one type 4 every day with just that. So it can't be the meds, which is what concerns me. It's a bit of a mystery!!

[Jfraser1]

It’s a hard one. There maybe could have been a bit of a blockage that worked it’s way out and all this loose poo was behind it? I would keep a close eye, he may not be impacted but may be getting backed up with soft poo? My son can have big soft poos every day but still get backed up. The only way I know this is that it starts to affect his bladder and he starts getting damp pants or increased urgency. Having daily Senna has really helped with this.

Time will tell over the next few days, it may be just a stomach bug or it may be beneficial to give him the Senna on a more regular basis. Trial and error to find the magic dose! I would be surprised if he needed to be disampacted 6 weeks ago that he could go Laxative free now without getting backed up. Many children need years of daily Movicol/Senna until things sort themselves out. Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be 😬 x

[SKY01]

Thank you! How much Senna does your son take, out of interest? The reason we have dropped it to just 5ml at weekends is that he couldn't tolerate the daily 5ml he was on and it really upset his tummy. Tricky! We may try a smaller daily dose, although the continence nurse wasn't sure if as little as 2.5ml would do anything...

[Jfraser1 in reply to SKY01]

He’s on 5mls of Senna and 1 1/2 sachet of peadiacric Movicol daily, he’s almost 5 and 3st 5. I didn’t find that 5mls made that much of a difference to be honest but is just enough to keep things moving. I agree with the nurse, I doubt 2.5mls will do much. The upset stomach may have been unrelated or because he was a bit impacted at the time? Maybe worth trying again or starting at 3.5mls and go up in 0.5ml increments x