Impaction - how can I help my son?

[Guest guest]

My nearly 9 year old son who has been doing SO WELL recently has

developed an impacted bowel for the first time in years and years. His

abdomen is extremely distended, he says he's " sore inside his bottom " ,

has only passed tiny fragments of stool for a couple of days and now

has overflow diarrhoea, which is distressing him considerably.

HELP! What shall I do? It's so horrible to see him suffer like this,

somehow worse (for me) now he can tell me about the hurt and that he

feels so lousy.

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks in advance.

Sharon

[Guest guest]

We've lately been discussing Movicol, lactulose and senna on this list - they all have drawbacks, but do work at the right dose. Caroline has warned us about Movicol possibly being partially metabolised (it shouldn't be) but I have to say it IS effective, more so than lactulose. Both of these are stool softeners and it is advisable to soften the stool before giving senna which makes the gut gripe and expel.

One way or the other he needs a good clearout. I was recently advised by a specialist constipation nurse to give my son 2x 10mls lactulose daily plus double the normal age related dose of senna at night. if that didn't work, keep up the lactulose and give four times the age related dose of senna the next night. It worked.

Then to keep up the lactulose twice a day to prevent recurrence. (Though I may soon try vitaminc/magnesium B5 etc as suggested on this list recently.)

I am prepared to use more drastic measures in the short term to clear a blockage than I would long term.

Dr McBride recommends enemas, but I think in this country you could end up in trouble with the Law if you gave these to your child at home. Though they can be given (exceptionally) in hospital - perhaps your Doctor could actually help, but I dare say they'd take weeks to do anything. our Gp recommended weak and ineffective doses of stuff..

Margaret...

Impaction - how can I help my son?

My nearly 9 year old son who has been doing SO WELL recently has developed an impacted bowel for the first time in years and years. His abdomen is extremely distended, he says he's "sore inside his bottom", has only passed tiny fragments of stool for a couple of days and now has overflow diarrhoea, which is distressing him considerably.HELP! What shall I do? It's so horrible to see him suffer like this, somehow worse (for me) now he can tell me about the hurt and that he feels so lousy.Any ideas gratefully received, thanks in advance.Sharon__________ NOD32 Information __________This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.http://www.eset.com

[Guest guest]

Hi,

You can actually buy paediatric glycerine

suppositories over the counter, but even more effective are micralax enemas

which can also be bought over the counter. The debate about enemas often surrounds the

psychological effect this could have on a child your sons

age. But I have given them to (only

last week). I told him what I was going

to do and he was fine about it. If you

decide to use enemas then the longer your son can hold onto it

the better. This would hopefully relieve the immediate

problem but you would have to use something that softens the stools afterwards,

to keep him going.

If you have an understanding GP he could

arrange for the district nurse to administer the enema also.

Hope this helps.

Elaine

From: Autism Treatment [mailto:Autism Treatment ] On Behalf Of sharon_asd_uk

Sent: 20 April 2006 20:39

Autism Treatment

Subject:

Impaction - how can I help my son?

My nearly 9 year old son who has been doing SO WELL recently has

developed an impacted bowel for the first time in years and years. His

abdomen is extremely distended, he says he's " sore inside his

bottom " ,

has only passed tiny fragments of stool for a couple of days and now

has overflow diarrhoea, which is distressing him considerably.

HELP! What shall I do? It's so horrible to see him suffer like

this,

somehow worse (for me) now he can tell me about the hurt and that he

feels so lousy.

Any ideas gratefully received, thanks in advance.

Sharon

[Guest guest]

some kind of enema is the " only " solution,

oil, saltwater, soap...

and when the stool is " delivered,

some dietary changes should be made

as yeast overgrowth is the probable reason.

Geir Flatabø

sharon_asd_uk skrev:

>My nearly 9 year old son who has been doing SO WELL recently has

>developed an impacted bowel for the first time in years and years. His

>abdomen is extremely distended, he says he's " sore inside his bottom " ,

>has only passed tiny fragments of stool for a couple of days and now

>has overflow diarrhoea, which is distressing him considerably.

>

>HELP! What shall I do? It's so horrible to see him suffer like this,

>somehow worse (for me) now he can tell me about the hurt and that he

>feels so lousy.

>

>Any ideas gratefully received, thanks in advance.

>

>Sharon

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>DISCLAIMER

>No information contained in this post is to be construed as medical advice. If

you need medical advice, please seek it from a suitably qualified practitioner.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Poor little man. Have you tried psyllium husks (spelling is off)

>

> My nearly 9 year old son who has been doing SO WELL recently has

> developed an impacted bowel for the first time in years and

years. His

> abdomen is extremely distended, he says he's " sore inside his

bottom " ,

> has only passed tiny fragments of stool for a couple of days and

now

> has overflow diarrhoea, which is distressing him considerably.

>

> HELP! What shall I do? It's so horrible to see him suffer like

this,

> somehow worse (for me) now he can tell me about the hurt and that

he

> feels so lousy.

>

> Any ideas gratefully received, thanks in advance.

>

> Sharon

>

[Guest guest]

Sharon

Only saw your post or would have replied sooner since I consider myself the Queen of Impaction, joke!!

Movicol as Marge says does keep things moving the best and I would use for severe impaction as it will work... For everyday usage for us its a no no, just like anti-freez\e, no thanks!!

If you want some let me know you increase up to the maximum number of sachets until everything goes.

Hope he is better, Nightmare City to which we have been many times, not fun.

Lotsa Love and thinking of you

Caroline

xxx

[Guest guest]

Hi sharon,

coming late to this one and must agree you have been given lots of

good advice.

My ds has a very stubborn bowel with which we are constantly

battling, we are winning at the moment!

Have tried Oxypowder, got very excited when i found out about it and

that Dr J McC reccommended it for constipation. Unfortunately it

did not work for us but hopefully it will for your son, fingers and

toes crossed here for you.

Several years ago, when we were living abroad i was shown by a

wonderful lady Peadiatric Gaestro.(private practice of course) how

to feel to see how backed up my ds was. I have found this a very

useful skill and will try to describe it here in case it could help

someone else. This allows me to sort things out before it gets too

severe.

You need to feel your childs abdomen whilst they are lieing down and

relaxed (i do it when he is asleep, otherwise he gets too

ticklish!). Feeling along the childs left side just in from the hip

bone, near the groin, if there is a back-up of poo it will feel like

a squidgy sausage, normally you can't feel anything if all ok. If

this back-up goes all the way up the side to the height of the navel

then things are quite bad. It is common for impactions to develop

where the bowel turns at navel height and goes down the left side of

the child. I have felt this a couple of times in my son (not

recently luckily) and it is quite scary. Nowadays i get things

going way before then.

If what you are planning to do does not work, see my earlier post on

Bisacodyl suppositories, they work very dramatically on even the

most stubborn of bowel (my ds). Available OTC or from a friendly

doc.

Hope this helps you or anyone else in a similar situation.

Good luck, Nikki

<sharon_asd_uk@...> wrote:

>

> Dear Margaret, Geir, Elaine and Steph,

>

> What a great list this is.

>

> Thank you SO MUCH for your excellent and prompt replies giving

advice

> on how to help my impacted son.

[Guest guest]

Sounds like we must try Oxypowder!

is it related to hydrogen peroxide?

Margaret

Re: Impaction - how can I help my son?

Hi sharon,coming late to this one and must agree you have been given lots of good advice.My ds has a very stubborn bowel with which we are constantly battling, we are winning at the moment!Have tried Oxypowder, got very excited when i found out about it and that Dr J McC reccommended it for constipation. Unfortunately it did not work for us but hopefully it will for your son, fingers and toes crossed here for you.Several years ago, when we were living abroad i was shown by a wonderful lady Peadiatric Gaestro.(private practice of course) how to feel to see how backed up my ds was. I have found this a very useful skill and will try to describe it here in case it could help someone else. This allows me to sort things out before it gets too severe.You need to feel your childs abdomen whilst they are lieing down and relaxed (i do it when he is asleep, otherwise he gets too ticklish!). Feeling along the childs left side just in from the hip bone, near the groin, if there is a back-up of poo it will feel like a squidgy sausage, normally you can't feel anything if all ok. If this back-up goes all the way up the side to the height of the navel then things are quite bad. It is common for impactions to develop where the bowel turns at navel height and goes down the left side of the child. I have felt this a couple of times in my son (not recently luckily) and it is quite scary. Nowadays i get things going way before then.If what you are planning to do does not work, see my earlier post on Bisacodyl suppositories, they work very dramatically on even the most stubborn of bowel (my ds). Available OTC or from a friendly doc.Hope this helps you or anyone else in a similar situation.Good luck, Nikki<sharon_asd_uk@...> wrote:>> Dear Margaret, Geir, Elaine and Steph,> > What a great list this is. > > Thank you SO MUCH for your excellent and prompt replies giving advice > on how to help my impacted son. __________ NOD32 1.1499 (20060421) Information __________This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.http://www.eset.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Nikki

You are not late with your comments at all, and thank you very much

for your contribution! I will be doing some close examining of my

son's abdomen at the next opportunity. I'm pleased to report that

all the extra magnesium and vitamin C I've been pumping in is

starting to improve the situation a little and he is perking up -

still waiting for the Oxypowder to arrive. Shame it didn't work for

you.

Best wishes

Sharon

> >

> > Dear Margaret, Geir, Elaine and Steph,

> >

> > What a great list this is.

> >

> > Thank you SO MUCH for your excellent and prompt replies giving

> advice

> > on how to help my impacted son.

>

[Guest guest]

if you're the Queen of Impaction Caroline, can i vote my son in as

King of Constipation please!!!

lol, Nikki

>

> Only saw your post or would have replied sooner since I consider

myself the

> Queen of Impaction, joke!!

[Guest guest]

good to hear vit c and magnesium are having an effect, sticking with

them would be much better than resorting to laxatives if they are

working. Perhaps up the doses slightly to loosen things a bit more?

Will you be rummaging under the bedclothes late at night like me or

will your child co-operate when awake? !!!

lol, Nikki

<sharon_asd_uk@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Nikki

>

> You are not late with your comments at all, and thank you very

much

> for your contribution! I will be doing some close examining of my

> son's abdomen at the next opportunity. I'm pleased to report that

> all the extra magnesium and vitamin C I've been pumping in is

> starting to improve the situation a little and he is perking up -

> still waiting for the Oxypowder to arrive. Shame it didn't work

for

> you.

>

> Best wishes

>

> Sharon

>

>