5 Year Old Cronic Constipation

have you tried mineral oil. My nephew had this problem when he was ababy (35 yrs ago) and I know there doctor had them try this and it did help. or maybe speak to a gastro doctor for there advice. Good luck, I hope you find something that will help her.

She should see a pediatric gastroenterologist who can give you specific recommendations after a thorough examination.

MIRALAX! its available over the counter now, not just prescription now!

S.-
I am a mother of a 4 year old who has constipation constantly as well. I have read down the other emails and found some interesting things. But brand of Fiber suppliment did you purchase for your child? I would be willing to try anything at this point to help.
Thanks-
Jessica

S.,

I totaly understand where you are coming form my 34 month old is the same way. I put her on soy formula. That helped alittle. When she started eating table food, any diary would make it worse. I don't agree with laxatives for the simple reason taken to often can cause loose bowls. Then your child won't beable to control there bowls. I use Benafiber- it's all natural and you can give your 5 yr old a tablespoon. I recomend giving it to her at night. AFter about 3 days it will make it in her system enough to soften her up so poo comfortably. This with greens for dinner everynight and Lactaid whole or 2% milk. Your child from the sounds of it is Lactose intolerant. This can cause severe constipation. An your Dr is right, not enough fruit and fiber. Now my Jessica will go sometimes 2-3 days before goign #2 but with the benifiber and greens and the Lactaid milk. She doesn't hurt when she goes now. It is hard and it hurts to see them go throught this. Something else that helps them as well is a very warm bath for about 20 mons everynight. It helps soften her up for an easier bowl movement. If you ahve any question or would like to talk about this more e-mail me I will gladly help you. It took me a few months to get the hang of it all. Now that I have a system down and stick to eat she can eat and drink whatever she wants without painfull effects. Please let me know if you need to talk or if any of this helps you. God Bless!!!!

Diet is key. And exercise. And possibly dehydration.
BUT she also might be holding back for psychological reasons--if she has always been constipated, her movements probably hurt. The laxatives might help with that.

My son is a very non-constipated boy, but he does eat a lot of fruit and veggies, I made it a priority from the start to get him used to it.

Here are foods that will help. If she is a picky eater, offer her ONLY this stuff as a first course for a while--But give her a choice, sort of. In our house, one hears a lot of "You don't have to eat the peas if you don't want them, but if you want more chicken, you must finish your peas first.""You may have a cookie for dessert if you finish your peas. You don't have to eat the peas if you don't want them, but if you want dessert, you must eat the peas first."

1) strawberries!!!!! VERY high in fiber, and who doesn't like strawberries?
2) Apples. My son gets one every day in his lunch, and if he's hungry, he eats it, because the rest of the lunch won't fill him up quite.
3) Raw celery sticks and carrots. Slather 'em in dressing if that is the only way she will eat them.
4) Whole grains. Oatmeal, whole grain crackers (Ry-crisp, the "light rye" flavor" are no-fat and very healthy). (I've given up on bread; I'm tired of mold and staleness). Crackers are good with cream cheese.
5) Cereal with bran. Much has added sugar or gets soggy, however, so we rarely eat this.
6) Peaches, pears, plums. My son won't eat any of these, though, despite my best efforts.
7) I have heard that bananas are constipating. But I think they must mean *cooked* bananas? I don't know what to make of this, because my son sometimes eats 3 or 4 a day and he is rarely plugged up.
8) Green peas. They taste lovely with a little butter.
9) Whole grain pasta. There is a mac'n cheese brand with whole grain macaroni.
10) sweet potatoes, and baked potatoes with the skin on.

I don't have quick answers for you, but going that long would/does concern me too. My neice has been having the same problems for the past couple months. She was 3 in Dec. My sister has been trying to potty train for probably 8 months now - since my 3 year old did it. Personally I feel my sister's pushing her to potty train (sometimes with a great deal of pressure) led to the problem starting. Then it just compounded and now it's too difficult/painful and they are having problems solving it. Her ped hasn't really responded much either. I've suggested she look into another ped. Last thing she was trying was adding karo syrup to her drinks. She said she was having some minor progress.

I know you said you've done the diet stuff. One semi diet thing is trying dark brown sugar. My daughter had VERY minor incident when she first started oatmeal. Our ped recommended this and it worked for us. We had her a 1-2 ounce bottle with dark brown sugar diluted in water. It's kind of along the lines of the karo syrup too I guess. I'm not sure how it works, but

i've had the same thing since a kid...( i have to eat alot of fruits and i drink a glass of prune juice before bed) i drink it so much my daughter now loves it....Please be careful with laxatives, she may get dependant on them. try giving her a glass of prune juice before bed. you have GOT to get her to drink more water.. here is a web site that may help you..http://www.webmd.com/parenting/toddler-constipation.... (copy and paste it in your browser) or... The goal is to help your child to have soft, comfortable stools again. In toddlers, constipation is almost always related to diet, so a step-by-step approach that targets what she eats and drinks is the best way to treat this condition:

1. Make sure your child is drinking enough fluids -- juice, milk and water. If your child is dehydrated, her stool will become harder, leading to constipation. It is particularly important for your child to stay hydrated in hot weather. Since it's difficult to make specific recommendations as to how much fluid is enough, try following the pediatricians' rule of thumb: If your child is urinating at least every three hours while awake, then she's probably getting plenty of fluids.

2. Increase your child's fiber intake. Many fresh fruits and vegetables are high in fiber. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit daily for 2- to 6-year-olds. This may seem an impossible goal to meet if you've got a picky eater, but not all high-fiber foods taste "yucky." Prunes and raisins are particularly high in fiber. In addition, fiber breakfast bars and cereals, bananas, apples, peas, grainy breads and peanut butter (which does not cause constipation, but actually helps prevent it) are all good choices.

In addition, supplemental fiber preparations such as Metamucil, Fiberall and Citrucel can be helpful as they make the stools absorb more water, allowing them to move gently through the intestines.

3. Try giving your child mineral oil. This remedy is somewhat controversial, but in my practice, I've found it's one of the best treatments and is generally safe. Mineral oil coats the stool and helps it slide easily through the intestines. At one time, it was thought that it blocked the absorption of important minerals through the intestinal wall, but this was recently found not to be the case. In rare instances, it has caused pneumonia, but only in children who were unable to swallow properly.

I recommend that parents start by giving their child 2 teaspoons of mineral oil twice a day, for a 20- to 30-pound toddler. Thereafter, increase the dosage by 1 teaspoon every other day until the child is passing soft stool and any anal fissures have healed. (Mineral oil tastes awful, but it can be well-disguised in shakes, juice, Jell-O and ice cream.)

4. Encourage your child to sit on the toilet after meals. Children who have experienced painful bowel movements are often reluctant to sit on the toilet. But the longer a child avoids going to the bathroom, the harder the stool will become. You can help break this cycle by having the child sit on the toilet for 5 or 10 minutes after meals, when intestinal reflexes make passing bowel movements easier.

5. Consider eliminating milk from your child's diet. On occasion, a child can become constipated due to a cow's milk allergy or sensitivity. However, because cow's milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium, which are both essential for growth, you should not eliminate it from the diet without first consulting your doctor. If you have tried the above strategies without success and feel that milk may be the culprit, contact your pediatrician.

Don't give your child an over-the-counter laxative. Laxatives should be used rarely, if at all, in children and can cause serious problems such as electrolyte imbalances. Only a doctor can determine if this level of treatment is needed.
Do consult your doctor if constipation develops suddenly or is associated with pain or fever.
Don't worry if there is a small amount of blood on the surface of the stool or the toilet tissue. This probably indicates an anal fissure, a painful but non-serious condition. Larger amounts of blood, blood mixed with the stool, or blackening of the stool, however, may indicate a more serious condition.
Do contact your doctor if constipation develops in early infancy -- this might indicate a more serious condition, such as intestinal blockage, and should be evaluated quickly.

I would demand to see a specialist. There is no reason why your child should have constant constipation. Most children do not get enough water, fiber, etc. How many children do you know that eat a healthy diet full of water and fiber, for goodness sake, adults don't get enough of those things? I would say if she was getting constipation often but not constant that it could be that but it sounds like something else is going on. No one should have to take a laxative at that age to be regular unless something is wrong. I would go and get a second and third opinion if necessary. When my son had problems with his eyes, the insurance company wouldn't pay for a second opinion, we took him to a specialist and found out he had a serious problem that could have affected his vision for life. We had the insurance company reimburse us for the cost and we are so glad that we did it. Don't let the insurance companies or the doctors hold you back. Keep calling and make them listen. Good luck.

Mu 4 and 1/2 year old has this problem and has pretty much since birth. She was breastfeed and as a newborn didnt have a bowel movement after the mecomnia(sp?) until she was 2 months old and put on cearal. At 2ish she started having the problem again that it was noticeable ebcuase we was potty training her. She has encropsis(sp?) Her doctor has her on Miralax and told her to ask for a diaper to poo in (we think it was caused by not wanting to poo in the potty) She will pee in the potty with no problem. She still refuses to poo in the potty. If you have any more concerns try to get a referral from your doctor to see a gastrologist (SP? I think this is the specialist you would need) We havent had to send her to a specialist yet but I am thinking of maybe at her 5 year appointment getting a referral if this doesnt straighten its self out. If changing her diet doesnt work and the doctors are telling you the same thing over and over then i would seek out the help of a specialist. Our doctor has beeen really good with helping us with this but I think she may even be wanting to send us to a specialist if this isnt corrected soon. Good luck. I know how miserable you daughter feels and I know how hard it is on you. I am going through it myself.

My son is soon to be 4 and he went through the same exact thing, he's ok now, but for about a year he would cry in pain trying to go to the bathroom and sometimes he would go more than a week without going and he would just lay on the couch because he was in so much pain. The dr. recommended a suppository or an enema and I refused to do either to my little boy, that is horrible, I could not even imagine, but anyway, I bought this powder fiber, it has no taste or smell and you can put it in your daughters food and she would not even know. My dr. also made my son go for an xray to make sure his intestines were not impacted. It's such a hard thing to go through and watch your child suffer. Best of luck, let us know how everything turns out.

I am having the same exact problem with my 5 year old son. Doctors put him on Miralax about three years ago and if he misses a dose, he is miserable. I don't know what to do. His diet has been changed according to the doctors recommendations but nothing has changed. Your body can get use to having medications do the work, so I am very hesitant about laxatives. He takes Miralax daily, sometimes more than once and I use a suppository to help him, but he still is having a hard time. He is in kindergarten and sometimes he has accidents and I'm sure he is embarrassed. It has gone too far for me and we are getting an appointment to a specialist.

Is it truly constipation, where she is straining to have a bowel movement, and what comes out is small little dry pebbles? Or does she have normal looking bowel movements, but only goes every few days?

The first is constipation, the second is a normal variation of moving your bowels.

She really does need more water in her diet - that's #1. If she won't eat more fibrous foods (veggies, fruits) then you could sneak extra fiber in her diet, by mixing over the counter fiber supplements into the food she already eats (softer foods like mashed potatoes, or mix it into meatloaf at dinner).

Just keep trying to push the water. If she is a huge milk drinker (mine is!) I know it can be very hard. Watered down apple juice will give her more water, if she likes juice.

Jennifer

I don't think you are overreacting. I would definately have a more in-depth talk with your pediatrician, because laxatives are not the solution. If used too much, the body will become dependant on them. It sounds as if a definate change in your daughter's diet should happen. Sometimes it's hard to get a child to eat the right things, but there are more choices than ever as far as produce is concerned. Maybe if you take her to the store and let her choose her own fruits and veggies,and then let her help prepare them, she'll be more likely to eat them. Good luck

Maybe she has a disorder called Hirschprung's disease. I suffered with constipation ever since I was a little girl also. I have gone through several test and they found that I dont have it. I think that it may be a good idea to ask your doctor to check for the disease.

Good luck
H.

I really don't have an answer for you but I have A 4 year old daughter who has had the same problem as yours. Since the day she was born she has been constipated. She cries almost every time she goes to the bathroom and it takes her a half hour to go. I feel so sorry for her but guess what her doctor has told me the same thing that yours said. I think it's something more also. She even bleeds when she goes. I took her off of milk and she has been drinking apple juice for the past few days and yesterday she probably had the best one since shes been born. Maybe try that.

I don't know where you are located in DE or your financial status, but A.I. Dupont is an amazing hospital. If I were you I would take my child there. (And outside of copays, anything your insurance doesn't pay...is free!) All of their equipment is top of the line and if there is something wrong...they'll find it.
After all, a mothers intuition is hardly ever wrong!

Hello ~ we finally got our sons problem figured out when he was 9. He ate plenty of fruits, we did increase veggies, he drank water. It did come down to what he was eating that did not agree with his body. DAIRY and bananas! Once we cut milk almost completely out of his diet, no more bananas and really push the green veggies...he has no problems! Hope this is helpful. J.P.

Yes, her diet has a lot to do with the end result of digestion. Does she drink cow's milk? If so, cut out the cow's milk for 2 weeks and see if her constipation improves. Cow's milk isn't really good for human consumption in large amounts - some is okay but it shouldn't be a staple (which is contrary to what doctors tell you in the pediatrician's office). But, it is worth it to TRY and see. It may not affect your daughter's digestion, but it might. There are many alternatives to cow's milk such as rice milk, soy milk, even almond milk.

You said that this has been going on since birth. Was she formula fed or breastfed? Formula is made with cow's milk most of the time (except for soy and rice formulas, obviously). If she was on a cow's milk formula and then went to cow's milk in a cup, that could explain why this cronic problem has plagued her since the beginning. If she was breastfed, then she it is less likely that cow's milk is the culprit.

Increasing water is primary. Chase her around the house and make her take little sips of water all day. She will get used to it in a few days and seek the water out herself. I have a 5 year old myself and it is difficult to get him to drink water when he doesn't want to. But this could mean the difference in her not experiencing constipation.

There are people who specialize in natural remedies to help children with chronic problems. I know of one lady in Maryland who will do phone consultations - you tell her the symptoms, answer a detailed questionnaire, and together the two of you decide what methods to use to try and fix your child. It really worked for my son who had chronic abdominal pain (colic) until he was 3 years old. With him, it turned out to be his immune system was "off" and the lymph nodes in his intestinal tract were inflammed, causing severe pain as food was pushed through. This obviously isn't your daughter's problem, but it is digestive, nonetheless.

Finally, as the mom, listen to what your heart tells you. Don't put all of your money on what one person says (even a doctor). YOU are mom and you are with this little girl every day - you love her like nobody else loves her and you know her like nobody else knows her. Trust your instincts!

A. in Warrenton, VA
____@____.com

Hi, My daughter is six years old and went through the same thing. She would get fevers and seriously ill from the chronic constipation. We saw a gastroenterologist from Dupont who prescribed Miralax which was like a miracle for us. Our PCP kept saying the same thing like to give her more fiber and told us to try things like Kondremul or mineral oil. None of that worked for us. Miralax helped so much I would recommend it to anyone with constipation problems. I would definately recommend getting a referral for a gastroenterologist also.

Hi S.,

Go with your instinct, and take her to a gastro Dr. someone who specializes in pediatrics if you can find one. You can try putting fiber-sure in her food and drinks, it has no taste and should help her get the fiber she needs. Your poor daughter must be miserable, I have ibs, and nothing is worse than being constipated and it is unhealthy also. Good luck, and always go with your gut, and you are not over reacting.
L.

My daughter has had constipation problems since birth, but her problem was due to a physical obstruction. I would advise that you have your pediatrician refer you to a pediatric surgeon to investigate the root of the problem. This is extremely necessary as constipation can lead to a whole lot of other ptoblems. My daughter sees Dr David Powell at Childrens National Medical Center in DC. I would gladly recommend him as my daughter's quality of life has improved dramatically since he's helped her, she didn't have a life before, didn't play, didn't eat, etc as she ws constipated all the time. I can strongly recommend him. He has my daughter on Miralax, which is the safest laxative. My daugter is now 2 yrs old and has been taking Miralax (or the generic Glycolax) since July 2006. He has been able to help her where countless others have failed. I also watch what she eats. Foods that constipate include: Applesauce, fries, nuts in any form, bananas, sodas or carbonated drinks, milk and milk products. But, remember, its impt to find out what the cause of the constipation is. I pray that your little girls is well soon.

Both of my kids had this problem one was more severe than the other. Give your daughter a teaspoon of mineral oil in something she likes to drink (juice, milk etc.) it is a natural laxitive and will not harm her system at all. don't change her diet let her eat all of the things she is use to eating. Good Luck!

Hi S. - This seems like a subject that many can relate to. My son is 3 and also suffers from chronic constipation since he was a baby. I used to put karo syrup in his baby bottles as he got older I switched to apple juice and prune juice. When he turned 2 he became a very picky eater and his constipation got worse. At 2.5 I started to give him 1 teaspoon of mineral oil everyday mixed in with his foods (apple juice alone wasn't working anymore). Mineral oil isn't absorbed by the body and doesn't make the child actually go but it lubricates the stool. The mineral oil worked. My pediatrician said that it's safe to use but also placed my soon on a prescription stool softner, Lactulose. I mix this in his drinks. Currently he's on 1 tsp. 2X a day but it can go as high as 6 tsp. 2X a day if needed. Lactulose is a man-made sugar solution is tastes much better than mineral oil. It also doesn't cause a child to go but pulls water into the stool and softening the stool. If your daughters' stool is impacted, laxatives will not help. I was told by my pediatrician to use a pediatric enema (found at any drug store). If the enema doesn't produce a bowel movement than she'll need more care. I had to use an enema on my son once and it wasn't fun. His stool was huge and very very hard (it was impacted). The enema will first dislodge the loose fecal matter and then the stool. I wanted my son to be as comfortable as possible during this process so he was in the bathtub. I have also received the "change the diet" advice. I know how hard this is. I'm constantly looking for new foods to give my son. He won't eat vegetables unless they're in a casserole, soup, or a stew. He doesn't touch fruits except for applesauce (but not apples). I give him fruit smoothies in his cups but I even mix these w/ seltzer water to get him to drink them. I also add benafiber to his foods. He will eat whole grains and I make sure he consumes as least 8 grams of fiber a day. The general rule for fiber is the childs age plus 5. For whole grains look for whole grain spaghetti and other pastas. Lipton - past sides - alfredo contains 4g per serving. Pediasure makes nutripals (granola bar) that contains 3g per bar. These are found in the baby food isle. There are also crackers in the baby food isle that contain fiber. Last weekend I found "Flat Earth" crisps (chips) in the snack food isle. These claim to either contain 1/2 serving of real vegetables or fruits in every ounce. They contain 2g per serving (12 crisps). They come in different flavors. Always make sure you read the serving size, sometimes it's ridiculously high. My husband picked up fries and was happy to report they had 2g of fiber. I read the serving size - 45 fries! Peanut butter, nuts (almonds and cashews), and beans (including baked beans and bean soup) also contain fiber. Fluids are also very important along w/ physical activity. I look for ways to encourage drinking as well by buying new cups or using straws. My son seems to always drink in the car so I give him a nice full cup everytime we need to go some where and bring extra for the return trip home. Lastly a "slow digestive system" causes constipation. My pediatrician thinks that this is the culprit in my sons' case. She said that if there was a medical problem that his bowel movements wouldn't improve w/ the mineral oil. Good luck w/ your daughter and please let us know how you make out. - S.

my son had this problem when he was young. I went to specialists and they said the same thing. If it goes too long you can give her an infant suppository or a child's enema. It is a psychological problem. It hurts when they go, so they hold it to prevent the pain. and on and on. He out grew it when he was about 11 -12. My teenage son likes those Fiber Choice Chewable Tablets - Orange Flavor. It says under 6 consult your doctor. Good luck!

Hi S. yes i would be very concerned i would demand the ped take this more serious if you get no results from him consult another doc until you find one that is listening and taking your concerns seriously. I suffer from ibs so i know how painful it is not to have regular bowel movements. I will tell you i have been seeing a gastrologist for about 7 years and he says the worst thing for it is laxatives because your body becomes dependent on them to have a bowel movement. As you said his diet has to consist of things high in fiber. I would try karo syrup i had two preemies and they both had problems with constipation and thats what the doctor put them on. He probaly needs a stool softener also. I have been on the miralax. Please continue to push the doctors into finding out what the problem is and doing something about it because the poor little girl should not have to suffer with that kind of pain. I would only use a laxative once in a while if none of the other things work for her Good luck steph

please ask your ped for a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist. We have been on miralax--a prescription laxative--for some time. I don't beleive it has ANYTHING to do with diet or fiber--I think some kids bowels have slower motility and it takes them longer to mature. Alos, there could be a serious problem causing it--so go see a specialist.

good luck.

Hi S.,
Yes, you should be worried about this. My son has it too. We tried the diet and the fiber additives. Neither one worked, because he learned to hold it because it would hurt. The Dr put him on a prescription stool softner. It works great. My son developed a mental problem with going number two and so I had use the stool softner for quite awhile in order to get him potty trained. We have finally gotten through it all, but I still give the stool softener if he hasn't gone a day or two. I personally would not let him go for 2 weeks without going. I bet she is pretty backed up. I wouldn't use a laxative, use a stool softener. It is much easier on the system and can be used more often. If she hasn't gone a few days, it could take a day or two for that laxative to work. Once you get her "cleaned" out with the laxative, switch to a stool softener to keep her regular. Make her Dr prescribe the stool softener for kids. It will help. Then you do need to introduce more fiber into her diet somehow. If she won't eat fruit and veggies, then use a fiber additive to her juice or milk like Benefiber. Anyway, hope that helps. Good luck.
A.

Hi S.-

My 2-year old has had the same thing since birth! He now takes a daily dose of Miralax. I also bought Activia yogurt and made them into yogurt pops with a home made popsicle kit. In addition, I have started buying products made with whole wheat and not bleached wheat flour. I also found this juice called Plum Smart and it's for digestive health. One more thing I have done since my son has never voluntarily eaten a vegetable is I bought a food processor. I sneak veggies into everything! I was doing it before Jessica's Seinfeld's book came out, but she does have some good recipes. I put processed brocolli, cauliflower, carrots etc.. in brownies, cookies, pancakes, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, peanut butter (then put the jelly on top!). It takes a little work, but it's worth it. He's finally regular now! It did take about 3-4 days for the Miralax to work. Once it worked it was about 1 week before it got regular.

It's possible that she has a fecal impaction, where the stool is so impacted in the colon that nothing wlse can get out. It can be a very serious condition if not treated. Unfortunately, the way to resolve it is to digitally remove the stool (the doctor will use his fingers). It's unplesant, but necessary. A very good laxitive that we use in my hospital for the kids is called Miralax. It's a powder and can be mixed in a drink. It's nice because it's gentle and can be adjusted to the strength that is needed according to how your daughter's stools are. Some days she may need more, some days she may need less.
I urge you to find out if she is impacted and get it treated ASAP if she is. Also, since it is a chronic condition, use the laxatives. It's not going to hurt her. Be sure, if nothing else, she drinks plenty of water everyday. Apple juice works even better with constipation.
I hope she feels better.

My 2 yr old also has chronic constipation. My doctor had me put her on colace everyday. It has really helped her out, so maybe this is something that you should talk to your dr. about.

S.,

I'm sorry to hear of your little girl's troubles.

My only question is, does she drink/eat a good deal of dairy? It honestly sounds like she doesn't handle something IN her diet very well. Perhaps eliminating the dairy ... in milk, cheese, yogurt etc. might help.

I know you've heard the "change her diet" thing one too many times, but to me it's screaming dairy issues.

Let us know what has happened since your post.

Blessings,
Rolinda
Wife, Mother, Friend

I am sort of having the same problem with my two year old. I am not sure if this is something you may have already tried but i have started giving her prune juice and prunes in heavy syrup (which actually do not taste bad) along with lots of juice and fruits as snacks whenever she is hungry and at first i did not think this was working but after a few days of doing so i have noticed that it is working. I have also read that you should limit milk and milk products to no more than three cups milk or the equivenlant in other dairy prducts. Hope this helps! I know it is very difficult! Good Luck!