How to tell if child is disimpacted?

[Bondimummy]

Hello

I would be so grateful for any advice. My 9 year old daughter had an x Ray just over a week ago that showed severe constipation and she has been on four senna a night plus we are now on day 5 of 12 sachets of movicol. Her tummy still hurts and she hasn’t reached the “rusty water” stage yet. Do we persevere on these high doses? Thanks so much

[Yaleamanda]

Yes absolutely keep going. Disimpaction can actually take time, but it's worth doing correctly to prevent the issue reoccurring, not that you can't becomes impacted again.

[Bondimummy in reply to Yaleamanda]

Thank you so much for both replies. So should I expect to see watery rusty coloured stool as per the Eric website for quite a few days, or just once? It goes clear, then the next morning is quite dark and gravy like again. Apologies for the graphic detail! It is such a minefield knowing what to watch out for isn’t it. Good luck to everyone out there struggling ...

[Yaleamanda in reply to Bondimummy]

It's best to have three consecutive days of rusty water looking poo before you start reducing very slowly by one sachet every three days 12,12,12,11,11,11,10,10,10 and so on until you reach a suitable maintenance dose to remain on.

[Robinia]

Yes it can take a month plus on 12 sachets. It causes no harm and is better than being constipated.

[Bondimummy in reply to Robinia]

Thank you Robinia. The specialist told us it should only take five days maximum on such high doses, but it is certainly not at that point yet so we will keep going. Thanks for taking the time to get back to me

[Robinia in reply to Bondimummy]

My sons maintenance dose is 12 sachets atm. He’s been on 12 for months. I have found the nurses on the Eric helpline more knowledgeable than the so called specialists. A bowel nurse at a hospital said to me “you need to get him clean and keep him clean”. From her I learnt soiling means constipated after hundreds of doctors telling me he wasn’t constipated. He was horrifically constipated but with soft poo, not hard poo.Until you have completed a full disimpaction you will not be able to resolve the issue. If you contact Eric they will give you great advice 😁

Good luck and keep us posted x

[Bondimummy in reply to Robinia]

Thank you Robinia. I try the helpline constantly and can never get through. Have also emailed. Best of luck to you and your son!