Sudden daily wetting during school

[SJ500]

My 7 year old son has had problems with chronic constipation since the age of 2. He has been on movicol throughout that time and more recently supplemented with sodium picosulphate. He sits on the loo after breakfast and after dinner and at present is free of soiling accidents and does a poo most days (although usually when I say this we have a recurrence - it seems to be forever up and down). He was potty trained from a bladder perspective around 3. We used to lift him late in the evening and he would sometimes stay dry but by and large he has been a bed wetter and went back into pull ups after we could not cope with constant washing and wake ups. Recently, although we seem to have the bowel issues under control he has started daytime wetting - it’s like he needs to go all the time and urgently. Urine tests have all come back normal. It is everyday he has accidents. Bedwetting is also at its worst. He now wets himself everyday at school but not such that he creates puddles or even that anyone apparently notices but his pants and shorts stink and I am terrified he is going to get bullied. I can tell it’s effecting his self esteem. Has anyone else had sudden onset of daytime wetting? Should I push for a urologist referral? We currently have 6 monthly paed checks for his constipation. Any words of advice gratefully received.

[Elisa007]

Hello,

Having similar with my son who is the same age. He is still having soiling accidents and his wetting accidents increase when he is backed up.

Could you contact Paediatrician and ask for advice? Ours is happy to be contacted if we have any issues?

Is he anxious about something could that be causing accidents at school? I do hope school are supportive.

It’s hard to deal with as a parent and frustrating too.

[SJ500 in reply to Elisa007]

Hi, that’s a good idea - I may see if I can contact the doctor we’ve seen at our last 2 bi-annual appointments rather than gp. We lost my dad in July suddenly which has been a real shock to us all. He was close to him. I have considered maybe this may be affecting him but feel I need to rule out anything medical. It is every day and I am worried he is losing sensation or control somehow. The constipation treatment just seems to have been so long term it worries me. Thanks for your reply. It’s always comforting to have someone to talk to who can relate.

[Elisa007 in reply to SJ500]

Hello,

No worries, anytime.

My son suffered since 3 so it’s a long time, still ongoing. It’s a difficult thing to deal with as no quick fix sometimes.

Sorry to hear about your dad. Winstons wish offer good advice for parents on the death of close relative or grandparent.

Perhaps school could offer some support for him too? Some offer nurture groups for students or students who perhaps need someone to talk to?

Hope it improves for you and your son, fingers crossed 🤞🏻

[Kscott83]

Hi, i wish i was here to offer advise, but I’m here in the same boat as you with my 6yr old daughter!

Severely constipated last October, that side of it is under control with daily movical and senokot.

But the bed wetting and day time wetting is at its peak!

We change her bed everyday, she is constantly wet during the day even at school.

She suffers with constant UTI, we are waiting to see her consultant again as she was discharged as they put the wetting down to the constipation, but it’s obvious not now.

It’s so frustrating for us as parents, I can’t imagine what the little brains feel like.

Just wanted to say, your not alone, and hopefully an answer will come one day and they can be happy once again.

[Teddy500]

Hi there, sorry to bother you, I just wondered if you managed to improve or solve things for son please? Your post could almost have been written for my son, tummy ache and constipation since a very young age, sudden day time wetting starting at 6 years around the same time as grandma passing away and SATS at school, not puddles just always damp, never been dry overnight, we're still in the same situation at 9 years old now, any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

[SJ500]

Hi, no improvements here. We have a routine telephone appointment with his consultant next week. He has wetness everyday, never puddles but we have to be careful of what he wears so others cannot see. Doesn’t seem to be directly related to how much he drinks. I genuinely have no idea if he is aware of the urine leaking out. I wonder if the years of constipation and medication has affected the ability of his bladder to hold urine. When we were measuring his outputs he only very rarely passed more than 200ml which I know is low for his age (now8). We got prescriptions for oxybutynin from GP to try- first time he had a high temperature after 2 days so we stopped as didn’t know if it was the medication or Covid. We tried again but he refused to take after a few days because he said he had bad headaches and felt unwell. So don’t know if this would solve the problem. He is a fairly anxious child so there is always the chance it could be affected by this. The daytime wetting started before the family bereavement and the only other thing I can think from around that time was that he plays competitive football so much more now so don’t know if it is an impact thing. He still needs regular medication to control his constipation. I just wish I could see what was going on inside, it has been a constant worry since he was 2 or 3. I struggle knowing where to turn next...