Constipation and Mood

[RachelBing77]

My 4 year old daughter has had constipation issues for about 2 years now...at last we seem to be getting medical help but the thing that’s causing most concern now to me and the rest of our household is the sudden mood/ temper changes that seem more than a ‘toddler meltdown.” As a mum of 3 I recognise those.... these are sudden and erratic and can be very angry. She’s generally a happy confident little girl. Has anyone experienced the mood change side with their child during prolonged periods of constipation and how did you cope?

[Yaleamanda]

Being constipated vet much affects moods. Have you disimpacted?

[RachelBing77 in reply to Yaleamanda]

Sadly not yet bless her ....hence the irritability and severe bad mood. It’s so hard when they get like that to remind yourself that this is the reason not that they’re just being naughty

[Yaleamanda in reply to RachelBing77]

I would disimpact.

[RachelBing77 in reply to Yaleamanda]

Oh believe me we’re trying….I wouldn’t leave her uncomfortable…..she’s on docusate and movicol

[Yaleamanda in reply to RachelBing77]

How much is she on?

[RachelBing77]

10ml docusate 3 times a day And 10ml movicol 2 times a day

[Yaleamanda]

I would look at fully disimpacting her.

[Helen36]

Hello - sorry for slow reply. I read your message and thought OH YES. My daughter has just turned 8 and has had ongoing constipation issues since she was very small. We have things reasonably under control now but a bad mood/total meltdown is one of my first red flags that she might be getting backed up again. It totally makes sense to me that it would leave her feeling grumpy, and she has always also got really upset by the lack of control that comes with constipation.

I’m not sure I have any particular tips other than obviously to try and clear any constipation with a full disimpaction (oh if only it was that easy!), keep a really regular toilet routine and just to be super kind with her. I always say ‘it’s not you, it’s your tummy/poo’ and have tried to send the message that I will help her in every way I can. This is not always easy but is important for them to hear. I know it drives her mad now if she is having a crazy meltdown about something totally unrelated and I say ‘do you want to go and sit on the loo’ but often if she does, a poo will come and she cheers right up!

[RachelBing77 in reply to Helen36]

Thankyou Helen! Oh yes if only it was that easy to fully disimpact….sometimes I want to just shout ‘IM TRYING!!’ Trying to get 5 lots of meds into her daily at mo and often failing miserably…..but her mood is calmer this week at last…(maybe because I’ve just started putting meds in her drinks and not mentioning it….so less pressure etc)….? even tho she’s still extremely uncomfortable….

[Helen36 in reply to RachelBing77]

Oh I know! I remember how hard it was at 4 to get all those litres of movicol in and you just feel terrible as the advice it to have it! The medicine side does get easier as they get older.

My little one used to love a game we’d play where I would put the drink in front of her and I would say (with a wink and a grin) “don’t drink that when I am not looking” and then I would turn my back… then fake crazy cross with everyone else in the room for drinking it for her - with her laughing her head off that she had drunk it. I also used to do big dinosaur roars for when it was all gone (my poor neighbours) and we also used to call for the ‘drink fairy’ to come and drink it for her - then i would fake fall asleep and wake up and feign amazement that the fairy had been and drunk some.

I also used to call movicol the ‘poo softener’ - I think it helps them understand why you are giving it too them …

For the discomfort - I also used to get her to do the cosmic yoga videos on you tube. Stretching can really help. When they are truly in pain I have always thought it is the bowel squeezing round a hard bit of poo. Do you know if you can increase your dose of stimulant? Or ask about switching onto a different one? There are a few options, even at four, and you might find it just gives you the oomph you need.

Anyway.. bit of a ramble, but hopefully things that might help you get a couple of extra ml in her xx