Movicol maintenance dosage

[Rss80]

Hello all,

I'm new here and very grateful to find ERIC after feeling totally alone.

My daughter has suffered with constipation from about 8 months despite being breastfed. She is now 2 years old and we are still struggling with it.

Until I read advice on Eric/watched the "poo" nurses I didn't realise that movicol was something needed daily as a maintenance dose. I'd just been giving her sachets intermittently when she had really bad constipation until the last month. This is something I feel awful about. I wish I'd known this so long ago.

My questions are:

how do you know when there is impaction?

My daughter always senses when she needs to go. Her tummy feels soft now on movicol every day. I just worry after reading stories of others where little ones have been impacted for long times without parents not realising.

Am I giving the right movicol maintenance dosage?

I'm giving one sachet a day. My daughter is VERY adverse to drinking. I struggle to even get this full sachet in her and can only manage by drip feeding it over course of a whole say. Even then sometimes a tiny amount is left. Ive tried milkshakes/smoothies/ice/squash/juices/novelty cups/straws. She just doesn't like drinking much.

She still breastfeeds so I can know she atleast gets some fluids, but not that often now.

Her poo is now currently very sticky. There is still a little form but usually part of it is stuck to her and it is very very soft. She never does a clean poo if that makes sense.

Since the movicol instead of her straining to push out tiny amounts ALL day she opens her bowels maybe 3 times which is a relief for us both. She was getting a sore bottom from all the wiping.

I'm now unsure if the movicol is too much as there is lots of water in the poo and it us very sticky. I am grateful atleast that it isn't hurting her though she doesn't like the feel of it once she's been.

Sorry to go on so long. Been trying to get through to helpline but not got through just yet.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thank you all

X

[Robinia]

Keep going with the movicol and see how else you can ensure she’s having enough fluids. Eg home made ice lollies etc. Also try to ensure she has soluble fibre in her diet. And not too much insoluble fibre. Good luck x

[Rss80 in reply to Robinia]

Thanks Robina, will do. I've bought some different fruit ice lollies to try. I just don't understand why she doesn't like drinking much. She has the most with meals but it's still very little.

Bit concerned now as we seem to be going back to little bits of poo all day again. Could be because I have struggled to get the full sachet in her over past couple of days. Got most in her and thought that would be enough but perhaps the little bit left makes all the difference. Its still very very soft but her bottom is starting to get sore from it now.

Its so hard. Thanks again for your reply and support xx

[Robinia in reply to Rss80]

Lactulose is sweet, easier to get it in them than movicol. You could ask the doctor if you try some lactulose alongside the movicol. (I deffo wouldn’t stop the movicol)

[Rss80 in reply to Robinia]

Ok..good to know, thank you xx