Movicol absolute nightmare

[Rose0920]

Hi I'm rose. My son is nearly 3 has been witholding his poo so now chronically constipated. Been told to do movicol disempaction regime. But I can not get the 8 sachets in him. He suspects its in everything I give him. Meaning he is drinking and eating less too. Any advise please 🙏

[Yaleamanda]

How are you mixing the movicol? What are you adding it to?

[Rose0920 in reply to Yaleamanda]

I am mixing 1 sachet into 62.5ml of water then putting that in a child's sized cup mixed with vimto, I have tried apple juice milkshake. He doesn't like jelly or cereal so can't try that as I have seen these tips. He does like ice pops so going to try that. But no matter what so far I am failing miserably.

[Yaleamanda]

Make it really cold and add it to bigger drinks throughout the day. It's hard job but persistence is key.

[Rose0920 in reply to Yaleamanda]

Thank you x

[14crosstitch14]

Get im watch you make a plain drink with nothing in it. Plenty fluids and exercise with hep with the constipation. We had a toilet routine and if he has a good understanding, explain what the movicol is for and that its too help him so he's not sore when he can go toilet. Watch for the signs. Try sweet corn in his diet. Soreen and, fibre bars i'v found in aldi help my sdaughter going so she never needs to drink that nasty stuff. Sat her on toilet getting her to relax with toys and music.

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Thank you for your response I really want to go the natural way too. Have been reading on Epsom salt baths and magnesium oil. X

[14crosstitch14 in reply to Rose0920]

Don't know about any of them. Fibre bars, figs, sweet corn will help with constapation and plenty fluids and lots if exercise will also help. A warm bath can help. My husband also learnt how to bowel massge when child was a baby too. It takes a lot of perserverance when doing this, start a toilet routine after every meal, 1st thing in the morning and last 1 before bed.

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Thank you. All this info is really helping. I do massage his tummy for him and he has regular hot baths. So horrid seeing him in pain all day. X

[luffyanddennis]

Hi Rose, Keep giving what you can, by any meansyou can! orange squash (stronger than usual) seems to be a good mask. Would your toddler choose a "special" drink sometimes they like to feel more in control? Its really hard at first, their tummys are already full with the poo backlog and then you are pushing them to drink more so i think they feel like they are overflowing, you might have to settle for lower than recommended amount short term and come back to disimpaction. (Overflow soiling will likely be an issue until disimpaction process is done, i'm not saying skip it, but any reduction does help the child feel better and lessens stretching of the bowel) we find with our son his mood and cooperation improves massively when he is less constipated. If you havent already done so google the poo nurses, they are nhs nurses and make some very helpful youtube videos. And of yours if you are still struggling go back to your gp they can maybe offer alternatives.

[Rose0920 in reply to luffyanddennis]

Thank you so much for your response. Yes my sons mood is awful when constipated too. I have been given suppositories for him did one this morning and still nothing so far. I'm managing to get 2 sachets a day in him. Doesn't help that he is not well at the moment either. X

[14crosstitch14 in reply to Rose0920]

Hi i have been looking at a few bits, for my child probioctics like yogurt drinks may help woth his gut bacteria. I bought fibre gel, my step daughter can not use them due to her medical issues. Dried fruit can help. Pop corn has lots of fibre and nuts. Apple juice will help. If he still won't take the movical.

[Hobnob2006]

I give a 4 year old who also likes to hold her poo ! She has a dose of lactose every night to soften her bowels and a fibre sachet for children from holland and Barratt, we tried everything and this has worked. It's so difficult and frustrating she know she needs a poo but will not go, then when she does she's so happy with herself xx

[Rose0920 in reply to Hobnob2006]

Thank you for your response. May I ask what the fibre supplements are called as I have always hit a brick wall trying to find something for his age he is nearly 3. I will try anything at this rate. May I also ask where on the stool chart is your daughter when passing now x

[Demifilby in reply to Hobnob2006]

sounds exactly like my 2 year old! Holds and holds but happy to see the poo after just doesnt make sense. No sign of pain. What fiber sachets do u use please

[Rose0920 in reply to Demifilby]

hi movicol just did not work for my son. Then we tried suppositories they did not work either. He is now on pico sulphate has been having regular bowel movement everyday. He is in nursery now with no problems what sso eever. Honestly changed my life for the better. He is a different child completly now.

[Rose0920 in reply to Demifilby]

i struggled to find fibre sachet suitable for Children in holland aand barret. They literally could not reccomend anything.

[14crosstitch14]

Start a routine of following you useing the toilet she'll soon learn, keep her in for 2 week with knickers and top and make the toilet area fun, music and books or a toy. I also did toy potty game with dollys and bears.

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Thank you this is most definitely something I am working towards with him. Brilliant tips thanks so much x

[14crosstitch14]

Its just things we have done, taken a long time, with my step daughter, we have her 50/50 so its taken a lot longer, with her mum not doing the same as us. Hopefully will you 6 months and not 18 like it has us. All you can do is keep the routine and carry on as much as possible, play music and we have a fidget toy in the bathroo.. its all about them being relaxed and not rushed or pushed too much. Sweet cor will help. Watch for the signs, squeezing bum and fidgeting was her signs.

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Thank you so much. He has has a suppository today and there is definitely something coming but I can still see him trying to withold. It's awful to watch. All I can do is try calm him and reassure him pooing is good xx

[14crosstitch14 in reply to Rose0920]

Have you tried the poo story with him? Its nhs approved by them, so ots not rubbish. Really helped my step daughter.

[14crosstitch14]

Flush him with plenty fluids, get some exercise useing his stomach to get his bowels moving. Sweet corn will help with and fresh orange. I found fibre bars in aldi which help and soreen flavoured with banana or apples. My step dauggter eats with no problems and she is now regular with toileting on the weeks she stays with us. High fibre diet. She struggles to toiket at her mothers. Not sure what diets like. Hope this helps.

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Thank you I appreciate any advice. X

[14crosstitch14]

Hi just figured out when we had step child for 3 weeks, she had no bread and was never constapated in that 3 week. Came back at 2 week at her mothers and she's back to constipation again. I did let her mother know. So were backwards again. I did get some fibre gel sachets, she can not use them due to medical isues so going to try dulcalax to just soften her up. Hope everything gets better for you all. Xx

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Oh I see must be frustrating trying to deal with it whilst co parenting. Well lucien is now on sodium picsulfate 5mls a day pooing everyday. I fed him sweetcorn yesterday he has pooed it out today yay. I hope you all figure it out too. It's a stress. And thank you for your messages our conversations have been so helpful xx

[14crosstitch14 in reply to Rose0920]

Thats brliant to hear.

[Rose0920]

Thank you to everyone who has responded. It so helps being able to talk to other parents whom can relate 🙂

[14crosstitch14]

Oh thats good, also i tried the dulcalax and that has worked well. I'm glad its going well for you hope it just keeps getting better. Figs work and orange juice. Walked to school with child last week and she was a lot better. Doing the school exercises also helps. Just keep going

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Yes fruit juice so helps alongside exercise. Now onto potty training. Fingers crossed

[14crosstitch14 in reply to Rose0920]

Hi yes good luck with the potty training. My youngest copied the oldest so we had that bit of help. All i know is little and often and keep at it. If its easyer for him to follow you or husband to toilet that can also help. I did a poo game with my girls dolls so they could see it was not scary. Toys music a book something that helps them relax. The fidget toy helps also.

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Yes his 5 year old bro sits on potty so he will follow lead. Have managed a morning wee on potty but no poo yet. Will try fidget toy. Thank you.

[14crosstitch14 in reply to Rose0920]

Have you tried prune puree with dark chocolate. Also pureed some prunes with apple juice and my daughters prefered that and i'm going to put some in some gravy for tea today. Better than that movicol. I tasted it is vile.

[14crosstitch14]

Try some pureed prunes 1st thing in the morning with apple juice and mix with chocolate, or maybe a little in yogurt. My girls actually liked it and mixed with melted chocolate was even better. Puree prunes with apple juice, you can get baby puree. I put it in cakes too. I try all natural food with lots of fibre, dried fruits and give him his favourite drinks.

[Rose0920 in reply to 14crosstitch14]

Thank you. He is doing really well now I am just wondering how long he will have to be on the dulcolax. Goes regularly everyday now but does have 2.5 ml every night. Anyone have any idea of how long he may need to be on the medication. X