22 month old ? Withholding

[FrankSpencer]

I have a 22 month old son who I think could be withholding. He is on 10ml lactulose daily and this is resulting in him opening his bowels frequently but only small amounts. The poo looks dry to me at times and his bottom is becoming very red. Should I try and increase the lactulose or try something else?

My other son had similar issues and takes movicol daily.

Thank you in advance, the gp seems to think that the lactulose should work but it isn’t.

[Yaleamanda]

Withholding behaviour usually requires a stimulant. I would request something like senna from your Dr to go alongside the lactulose.

[FrankSpencer in reply to Yaleamanda]

Thank you, that was what I was thinking. Can I try movicol with it?

[Yaleamanda in reply to FrankSpencer]

Movicol is not a stimulant it is a stool softener like lactulose.

[FrankSpencer]

Ah ok, thank you.

[14crosstitch14]

Try prunes or figs, you can bake them in biscuits or smoothies, put in their cereal or anything really. Their really good forconstipation.

[FrankSpencer]

Thank you for the advice. The lactulose is helping to make the stool soft but he is still not wanting to let go off it therefore it is coming out in small amounts. I used a suppository as advised by the pharmacist the other day which helped but now we are back to square one 😩

[14crosstitch14]

Try lots of fluids on top with lots of fruit, try prunes mixed with apple pureed/juice or prune puree and with food or baked. Light exercise that'll also help.