12-year-old daughter's chronic constipation

Our daughter, 12, has chronic constipation; typically having a bowel movement only once in three days. She holds her bowel movements whenever she is away from home. She recently returned from a 5 day trip in severe pain, having held herself closed the whole time. Despite the discomfort, she refuses to use any toilet except that in our house. She resists talking about it, but we're worried. She is very active physically, a bit skinny, and we try to feed her fiber rich foods, although she's quite the picky eater. Any suggestions? Worried parents

Severe constipation post-partum

This is totally embarrassing, but I am having a horrible post- birth pooping problem. Whatever it is that makes poo cylindrical shaped isn't working! I can feel all my poo massing up right at the anus, and then it tries to come out in a huge ball. This means that I end up writhing in pain, when I finally go it rips my anus so that it's bleeding, and then I deposit such huge things in the toilet that the toilet clogs. Seriously, it's almost as bad as giving birth (my first child was delivered vaginally; this didn't happen then). It's gotten so bad that I'm afraid to go at anyone's house or in a public restroom, because it'll clog the toilet. I'm three month post partum, and had a C-section. I've been exercising and doing kegals and have regained a lot of core strength, and I've been drinking lots of water and eating fiber, and nothing's working. This isn't like constipation, because it's not like I end up with those little rabbit pellet poos. Help! Am I the only one this has ever happened to? What can I do?
anon, of course Hello: I feel for you. When my first was born, almost twenty years ago, I had the same problem. It lasted for about 6 months and then slowly got better over the next 6 months or so. It hurt badly enough that I had to strip down and do my birthing exercises in order to go to the bathroom. One of the worst parts was that as I began to dread going to the bathroom, I would put it off, which lead to more difficulty. I hope that someone writes with more information for you, but I did all things you're doing, and rode it out. Best of Luck!! Michelle

Secondly, I wonder if something was damaged in your intestines when you had the c-section. They have to move your intestines aside, I believe. Maybe a muscle was torn, or something else was damaged. Possibly an MRI would show this(?) I don't really know, just a thought.

Also, sometimes when people have digestive problems one of the added factors could be weak abdominal muscles (I'm a massage therapist). The abs help give structural integrity to the organs. Is it too soon to start strengthening your abs? If you can, start with very gentle easy ones (ask your Dr.) Hope this is helpful. Good luck. anon

Try Colace (or the generic equivalent which is cheaper). Get the one which does NOT have a laxative and is simply a stool softener. I would use this until any rectal fissue (the tear you describe) heals, which could take up to 1 month. After that, try Citracel. If you are taking pre-natal vitamens with Iron, switch to something with NO iron. You can also use cortizone suppositories to help heal/sooth any swelling/hemmorhoids which you may have. Continue to drink lots of water (especially if you are breastfeeding...drink a full glass before each breastfeeding session).

Also, what type of fiber are you getting...it has to be insoluble fiber (not oatmeal, celery etc which is soluble fiber). Raw carrots, grapes, blueberries, whole grain cereals like Smart Start, prunes, etc. There is a lot of misleading info out there. Given that Citracel says it is soluble fiber...I don't know why...but it does work.

One other thing...try to relax during bowel movements...don't push too hard. If it's bad, try a water enema (I believe oil enemas are supposed to help to break up hard stools). I don't know much about these...you might want to check with your doctor. But there are things which can help. Good luck and you are not alone! anon

As embarrassing as it is, you need to contact your primary care physician and discuss with him/her. familiar with it.

Constipated 3yr-old: should I worry?

my son has had infrequent (every 3-7 days) bowel movements for the last 1 1/2 years -- since he stopped breast feeding. They are always large, and cause pain, although only occasionally hard and compact. We have tried everything: mineral oil. prune juice, homeopathy, decreased dairy, increased fiber and water consumption (as much as I can considering that he loves refined carbs). some remedies have partially helped, but he continues his cycle of a few days of happiness followed by a few days of clingy unhappiness preceding the poop. He is like a changed child after the BM: our whole household feels relieved and lighter. His preschool teachers don't believe that he could have a psychological problem -- he is so relaxed and easy going. Our pediatrician has told us that some children nauturally poop less frequently and we shouldn't be concerned. My questions are: 1. Is it really normal to have such emotional swings related to bms, to poop so infrequently, and to dread the pain of pooping? 2. Who should we go to if the pediatrician offers no help? should we demand certain tests? are there possible conditions that she has overlooked? We have tried a homeopath with some success but couldn't get messages returned when the treatment stopped working. 3. how will my son ever learn to poop in the potty if he can barely accept pooping in a diaper? he can't go to kindergarten with slippery mineral oil poops sliding out uncontrollably. Thanks

Two-year-old's long term constipation

Ever since my two year old was born, she has had severe cases of constipation, hard stools. She is a big eater and therefore poops really big. No matter what I have done, it wont help her constipation. Can toddlers have hernia's trying to push the stool out? If so, what would a hernia look like? I tell her pediatrician but of course she would just only say its normal for kids to have constipation, eat fiber, drink a lot of fluids and then dismisses the fact that my daughter's constipation has been going on ever since she was born. Her constipation doesn't happen evertime she poops but nearly half the time. And when it happens, its pretty bad. I have done everything to prevent her constipation but to no avail. Will this cause damage to her anus in the future? I am really worried about and feeling like Im useless helping her. I have heard about cranial-sacral therapy for kids, will this help with constipation? Help

Chronic constipation - 2YO

I am at my wits end. My 2-year-old daughter has been suffering from chronic constipation for about 1 year now! And it seems to be just getting worse. She is constipated more often than she is not. This has affected her moods greatly. I notice she is more sensitive and aggravated when in a constipated state (which has been all the time lately) and talking all the time about '' ouwie poo-poo''. We were first advised by our pediatrician to use mineral oil, which has been in her daily diet for at least 10 months now. This does loosen her stool but we still often have bouts of ''ouwie poo-poo''. I was than recommended a prescription drug called Miralax. This caused a lot more talk of ouwie poo-poo to the point of tears. I believe she was suffering from the side effects, which I had read to be bloating and cramping. I than told her pediatrician that we wanted to see a gastrointestinal specialist. She told us no specialist would see us unless I kept my daughter on the Miralax for at least a year. Meanwhile this stuff has not been tested on children and claims to be addictive. Sooo, now I am seeking alternative approaches. We have seen an osteopath just once. She did some cranial work and she told us not to give my daughter any grains! No rice, no corn, no wheat, no rye, no oats, etc. This has been near to impossible to do. If she can't eat grains, I can't eat them in front of her. I am 8 months pregnant and eating this way does not feel right. I have lost 2 pounds. Besides, my daughter has showed no signs of improvement. She has been suffering with days of constipation. I am willing to continue with the osteopath, but cannot stick to this no grain diet. We have kept prunes, raisins, pears avocado, tofu, nuts, and eggs in her diet, and have stayed away from bananas and other foods known to be binding. The only vegetable I can get her to eat is broccoli and sometimes spinach if it is disguised in a quiche, but I worry about the cheese because it is binding. Sorry so long winded here but I really need advice and truly believe that my daughter may have a more serious internal problem than just constipation, but I can't seem to get her doctor to take her and me more seriously to send her to a specialist. Any advice will help Please.

In desperation, we tried the elimination diet. Basically, you remove most things from your diet for about 2 weeks then reintroduce items one at a time and see the effect. It turned out my son was sensitive to dairy, corn, and soy. Dairy in particular will make him constipated immediately. Even goat's milk will make him constipated. I am still kicking myself for listening to the doctors for so long and I am furious at their cavalier attitude towards constipation. However, I am grateful that we (quite blindly) stumbled upon the solution to my son's problem. I wish you and your daughter the best. Anon

I also recommend seeking other types of help. I have used ''alternative'' medicines for most of my kid's health and medical problems, with great sucess. One easy thing you can do is give your daughter a firm but gentle massage on her tummy. Generally, you would massage in large circles, clockwise, which eases the intestines (I would probably consult a book to get the specifics on this type of massage).

I also highly recommend the well-known and loved Homeopath, Christine Ciavarella. Her number is 510-524-3117. She is a wonderful resource and exceptional with children. I can also recommend a fabulous chiropractor who does lots of cranial sacral work (similar to an osteopath) on infants and children. Her name is Chinabear Joseph and her number is 510-272-9019. Both my kids have seen her since they were infants and my husband and I see her regularly. I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me directly if you want more info about the folks I reccommeded. awinger

Potty training a child with a history of constipation

My almost 3 year old daughter has a history of constipation and is taking miralax. She has shown interest in potty training and has all the text book ''potty readiness'' skills. She is however more interested in underwear than actually using the potty. She was wearing underwear at pre-school and her teachers thought she was doing great sitting on the potty, however she was actually starting to hold everything and became very constipated. She is great at the holding part but not ready to use the potty. She is now on a potty training break, prescribed by her doctor. The most important thing is for her to just go and not hold. She has excellent social skills and we are worried that she will sooner than later be separted from her peers at school because of the potty issue. We have the opportunity to switch her to what might be a better school but may not be able becuse of the potty issue. Any ideas on next steps. She is still interested in potty training despite her recent constipation. Help!

To add variety, make fruit smoothies that include plain yogurt and cinnamon she gets to sprinkle into the blender - one sprinkle for each year of life, so she doesn't dump the entire container in.

If one parent goes Big Potty at the same time each day, your daughter could be added to the routine, even if it's ''Mommy will go first, and then it's your turn to try to poop''. She doesn't have to be in the bathroom while you're going.

OR, her routine could also be to try right after a warm bath (which encourages muscle relaxation).

This doesn't specifically address the psychological component of holding one's poop in, but food is a good, natural thing to use in addition to working with the stressors. Having several successful poops-with-no-pain is a great way to get past psychological barriers.

Healthy Poop Promoter

2-year-old is constipated since introducing solids

My 2 years old boy is chronically constipated since I introduced solid food in his diet.He has very big and hard stools that are very painful to pass. So far, I have been giving him mineral oil - 2 teaspoon - everyday and try to have him drink prune juice as often as possible. Otherwise, his diet is quiet good : he drinks quite a lot, and eats vegetables and fruits in a regular basis. Still, as soon as this diet is not respected, even for a day, I'm sure he will be constipated again and have a terrible time going over it. Does anybody have a suggestion or have experienced the same trouble and find a durable solution ? Thank you in advance.

Seriously, she recommends keeping a large glass of water generally at hand, and getting into the habit of sipping from it frequently. It works well for her and for a lot of other people, and it's good for your body in many ways. (My own experience is that it's better not to use mineral water, because the carbonation can lead to gas. Tap water and spring water both work well.)

I agree with you that it is important to solve constipation problems in very young children as quickly as possible, because little ones may react by holding back their bowel movements for fear of discomfort, which just adds to the problem.

Water would seem to help, as well as some foods, but one thing I would recommend is PRUNE JUICE!!! This works amazingly well (I used it during the week or two after I gave birth, when fear of painful bowel movements can be very high!).

I'm not sure what a good dose of prune juice for a child would be; be careful-- it works very well. For me, a glass (8 or 10 ounces) was plenty. For a 3-4-5 year old, perhaps 4 ounces. Experiment, but start on the lower end. If I recall correctly, it worked within an hour or two.

I would not recommend any prescriptions unless necessary for a reason other than as a stool softener at least not until after two natural fluids were tried regularly: lots of water and some prune juice. My son suffers from constipation. By trial and error we have discovered that "Fiber One" (General Mills) bran cereal daily works for him. BUT, "Fiber One" contains NutraSweet so I do not want to give it to him anymore. The first ingredient in "Fiber One" is wheat bran. So, I bought some at El Cerrito Natural and have been feeding him that in the morning.

Mineral Oil and its alternatives

We are having some success with lactulose, though it does cause gassy abdominal distention. Because of the gas, we'd like to switch from lactulose to mineral oil but we're having a hard time getting it into him; even cold and blendered, the oil quickly separates from the juice and is pretty unappealing. What's the least gross way you know of to get mineral oil into your cutie? Thanks!

(Some children don't have a bowel movement every day, but when they do it's soft and comes out easily--you don't have to do anything about that!) I'm a health care provider and I sometimes see children who have been constipated and holding back their bowel movements for quite a while, and it's a tough problem to solve.