Son holding in poo..... associates his poo with agony pain.

[RBsMama]

Hi.... this is quite complex. IM DESPERATE. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD HELP.

Since being very young, my son gets a horrible rash when poo is on contact with skin around bottom area... it’s confirmed he has contact dermatitis. All the barrier cream (in 2 countries) dont protect him. Max strength creams that burns when apply it.

It starts red over a week or so ends up with patches of skin like carpet burns or ‘cracks’ bleeding. Now the skin is also infected. He has antibiotics that is making his bowels loose!

The ONLY answer is potty training! He is now in undies during day and a nappy at night. Past weeks is like constant small poos (i can even see it inside when im cleaning his bum) he is wiggling, tightening his bum cheeks thrusting his hips.... to hold the poo in. Small bits making his bum sore.

He will reluctantly stand to wee at the toilet- to add to all this he has a tight foreskin so his penis goes blue and like a balloon, wee squirting everywhere.

It is to the point about 6 time a day (or more) it takes about 20-30 mins to clean his bottom. He is kicking, hitting pulling my hair and i am trying to restrain him (big for 3 yr old) so i can get the poo off his skin.

Iv tried every strategy, bought different pottys, steps, charts, books you name it.....Im now to the point where i have given him his ipad (reward time only) to encourage him to sit on potty- hoping it will distract his mind and let his body poo.

If it wasn’t for the skin bleeding etc I wouldn’t put any pressure on the potty training.

Im not sleeping much because have to check he isn’t pooing (which he does) in the night. 3AM he is screaming and hitting whilst I restrained him 😢😢 💔heartbreaking.

Even suggesting videos and cartoons. I don’t have time to search. Constant cleaning, changing and washing clothes.

Have photos but very ‘graphic’ not noce for anyone to see (penis isn’t visual) can send privately.

[Robinia]

Is he constipated? Could movicol help? Probiotics might help counteract the antibiotics a bit for the sake of his tummy. That sounds really tricky to deal with. When my son was soiling constantly he got dreadfully sore. A specialist bowel nurse told me there is a special powder they can prescribe which works better than the creams.

I would push for an appointment with a dermatologist or a specialist bowel nurse led service.

[Yaleamanda]

It sounds like he is most likely constipated caused by the witholding. You need to address that. Probiotics will help restore the gut health which you can give once the antibiotics have finished. i wouldn't worry about potty training yet, address the constipation and witholding first.

[RBsMama]

Thank you for the replies 😀 we’ll appreciated. the gp has changed to different antibiotics. He is already under a dermatologist but cream what he has already is very strong it can only be used for 5 night (on the phone they extended it to 2). He has movicol everyday.

It was literally constant watery seepage yesterday. I had him lay on my knees and just dabbing it. As im cleaning i could see a big poo in his bum and he pushes it in 😢 i was doing peddling movements with his legs as a game then, held his knees up and he had the biggest poo (not hard) never seen anything like it.size of a big banana! This has stopped the seepage. No poo in the night and his bottom is 10 times better 😀 only the sores that are infected.

What to do to stop the withholding from now onwards. Paediatrician has been referred to bowel services but all takes time 🙄

[Robinia]

The key is really to keep the movicol high enough so the poo is soft and comfortable to release. Sounds like you’ve made great progress x

[Farmermummy]

My daughter is the same, i have found that hydramol, like vaseline in texture, has really helped wity the soreness and as a barrier.

We had the skin splitting, infected and its absolutely awful, steroids, antibiotics and every other chemist cream available just made it worse. Aveno in a warm bath helps aswell, that is the routine we have been using for 6 months and its working. Just need to sort the withholding now x