Two Year Old, toilet problems for last year

[HHarris87]

Hi everyone, hoping for some advice about our two year old and if other people have had similar experiences as we feel we have exhausted our options with the GP.

Early on this year our little one, then around 18 months was getting random temperatures without explanation. Upon speaking to the GP we realised he wasn’t drinking anywhere near enough water as he should. Dr suggested introducing squash which we did and he began drinking a lot more. Dr also suggested he was constipated so we introduced Laxido and kept it going until we were getting regular big poos.

Come September this year, he had a bought of sickness but was only being sick at night time for about a week and nothing during the day. Several visits to the Dr and eventually they said he had impaction and big build up of poo. This explained the soiling of the nappies over the past few months (we had put it down to a new baby brother). The Dr suggested disimpaction and we began the process but on day 3 the sickness got worse and we ended up in A&E where he was x rayed, confirmed it was a big back up of poo and given an Enema and strong laxative. Still no poo so was sent home and we were told to increase and continue to follow disimpaction plan with laxido.

We did this and eventually started getting lots of hard pellets out which we hoped were the blockage and had two days of just watery poo . Went back to the GP who confirmed they couldn’t feel any backlog anymore but to continue a maintenance dose of the laxido which we have done. Since he has pooed every day with what we feel are good quantity and consistency but we are now back to getting soiled and small poos in nearly every nappy which are also really smelly. We’ve been back to the GP and he has been tested for Celiac and other allergies which have come back negative. He eats a relatively good diet for a toddler and does love his vegetables so I don’t feel like he is lacking in fibre, he now drinks plenty but still having problems. It doesn’t seem like he is on control of it either as sometimes he poos in the bath and is so distressed by it. GP is now suggesting IBS. Friends are starting to potty train their little ones and nappy changes are such a stressful time with him I would really like to have a go at potty training but would like to get this under control first and also don’t want to go backwards.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated - thank you.

[Le15]

I’m not a doctor (my husband is) but I have a lot of experience with my now 4.5 year old son. It sounds like your son is stool withholding - you may never figure out exactly why - and he is constipated again. If it were me, I would do another laxative clear out (we use movicol) and make sure you get to brown water. We’ve done 4/5 clear outs over the last 12 months. It’s difficult for a gp to really feel a blockage and having regular X-rays isn’t an option but a clear out won’t do him any harm - it’s just very, very messy. These books have really helped me! They are aimed for potty trained kids - honestly I would have really waited to potty train given that my son was having constipation / withholding issues because now he’s at school on laxatives with a strict toileting schedule so try not to feel pressured. We have seen amazing progress but I know when the soiling starts, my son is probably constipated again.

Have a look at these books - ‘it’s no accident’ is particularly insightful

Best of luck!

Books

[14crosstitch14]

Hi it isn't easy, just go slow, try a game 1st with a toy bear or doll if he's got any make a game. Playing with potty pretending to poo so he knows its ok. Do it so he understands in his way. I made poo shapes coloured them in and cut them up, i tried to explain to my 5 year old at the time withba picture of it al just draw and show him. Take your time and get him regular routinr for potty. Watch his signs when he poos, then you will know if its certain times of the day, before and after meals in a morning or bedtime, maybe he can use potty when you go or his dad so he can follow your routine. Hope all goses well