At my wits end, daughter hasn’t opened her bowels for 2 1/2 weeks.

[stacie1102]

My daughter is 12 years old and has suffered from constipation since she was 16 months, my daughter has never done a ‘normal poo’.

At the age of 4 she was referred to the paediatrician who mentioned a biopsy then referred us to the continence nurse who said she didn’t need that and put us on Movicol which she has been on for ten years. We have found that Movicol is not making any difference know matter what dose be it 2 sachets or 12 sachets.

For the past year her bowels movements are every 2 1/2 - 3 weeks and when she does go it is ginormous. We have been told to just keep up with the Movicol or enema when needed.

We ended up in A&E on Sunday as she was in so much pain an X-ray revealed she was impacted and they sent us home with an enema, suppositories and told us to give her 12 sachets of Movicol. We have given her all this and she still hasn’t been. We have given her figs, prunes and apricots as her appetite understandably is very little. I have tried to get her running around to see if that will get things moving but it’s not making any difference.

She is in so much discomfort with it I just don’t know what else I can do, I feel like we are being passed from pillar to post with the Drs and continence nurses. Sorry for the long post I am just at my wits end and feel like no health professional is listening to us.

[Yaleamanda]

Keep going with the movicol it will take time to shift, also add senna to the regime to help stimulate the bowels. Is she drinking enough water on top of the movicol allowance. Are you mixing the movicol with the correct amount of water, 62.5ml of water for every sachet of movicol.

[Robinia]

I would be very frustrated if I were in your position. I would get her back to hospital if it were me and demand a referral to a specialist. Also they need to treat the constipation in hospital. Has she had an x Ray or ultrasound?

[DPLT]

Our son has been in this situation. He was admitted and had a tube inserted through his nose into his stomach and flushed out with Kleen prep. From experience you need to be persistent. Good luck

[Mum03]

I would ask for picosulfate or you can buy it over the counter at the chemist. Movicol doesn’t work on my daughter but a high dose of picosulfate does. We vary the dose and can sometimes get up to 35ml to clear her out. It does cause stomach ache as it stimulates the Bowel

[M-bass]

It’s really difficult. Our daughter is 13 and she has been on and off movicol since 6yrs old. Definitely try senna as well to stimulate bowl over night. Can u use adult movicol (it’s double strength to kids) as we did a clear out last week and it much easier with less. Keep going, you are doing the right things x x

[brook2]

I would add senna as well 12 sachets of movicol as that keeps water in the stool.