Almost 5 year old - soiling

[Drhebby]

My almost five year old has been having a lot of soiling issues particularly since starting school (although he was also hard to potty train especially for poos and had a few relapses of constant accidents when routines changed (e.g. on holiday)). He typically does a poo once or twice a week but it's quite an effort to get him to go. I can see he is holding it in and he just refuses to go, and if i get him on the toilet he just sits watching the ipad and nothing happens.

GP has just prescribed a sachet a day, and to call back in two weeks if no improvement. Can anyone advise what to expect and whether he'll be ok at school (I am a key worker so he goes three days a week, home school the other two).

Thanks,

Heather

[Yaleamanda]

He needs a stimulant to be added to the regime, he also needs to be disimpacted and you need to instigate regular toilet sits after every meal.

[Aoifedearg]

Hi

As mentioned sounds like hes v constipated and needs dísuompaction. He will then need to be on maintenance dose, every child is different but ideally they need be doing a bm every day or at most every other day. Be prepared that this long road you may be on. My 4.5 is on movicol a year and whilst there have been good patterns, we've also had setbacks, needing do disimpaction again and restarting routine all over again. You will need encourage toilet sits 20 mins after a meal. It will take time for his bowel which likely stretched to heal and recognise toilet urges. My 4.5 still not self initiating and would still withhold if we did not insist on toilet time.

Loads and loads of water too!

If notice soiling/constipation /no bm for few days, treat aggressively and proactively.

[Basicilly]

Hi Heather,

Been on a similar road ourselves. After seight months of withholding we realised last June that the withholding would not resolve itself without intervention. Our little one is 4 and a half and after implementing potty time and a daily dose of 2 movical a day we have moved from never having pooed in the toilet and wearing pull ups to a regular daily poo in the toilet. There are still some accidents but progress and really slow but steady. I would recommend this book as a good place to start. amazon.co.uk/Stool-Withhold...

The cases may not fit exactly but gives you the gist at least. We had a private appointment with a Gastroenterologist before Christmas and it was very reassuring also as it reinforced what we are doing and had some good suggestions which we have made. We found it a long and trying experience so far but can see an end in sight. I wish you and your little one the best of luck

Dave