Help! My 2.5yr old won't poop w/out Miralax and won't sleep with it

[Guest guest]

Almost a year ago, our autistic daughter started with-holding her stools after a

bout of mild constipation. Whenever she felt the urge to go, she would clench

and hold it. After a couple of months only pushing out small amounts many times

a day, I called the doctor for help. I couldn't be sure if she was passing

enough, and her bottom was sore from all the wiping which only made her more

resistant to going.

After determining that there was a lot of fecal matter accumulated in her lower

intestine, they put her on Miralax. This did the job or cleaning her out after

a couple of days by giving her diarrhea that she couldn't hold. But, as soon as

we stopped the Miralax she went back to holding her stools again. She wasn't

constipated--the bits that came out were the consistency of peanut butter--but

they were solid enough for her to hold them.

So we were told to keep giving her the Miralax indefinitely. I hated this, but

we were told many kids did this and they were " just fine " . It was just and

autism thing. And I was concerned about her getting a blockage if she held it

for too long.

It's been almost a year, and I've learned a lot. I've learned that we can't use

commercial wipes on her--they make her bottom blister if she's changed

frequently. We use warm, wet washcloths and she doesn't blister any more.

I've discovered that her sleeplessness and limited appettite--even her

behavioral fluxuations seem to be related to the Miralax. When I stop giving it

to her, she sleeps better. In fact, when I recently took her off it for a whole

week she began sleeping through the night for the first time EVER. It was yet

another attempt to get her to go using other methods: we used 's Aloe,

Metamucil, Fruit-Eze, KidLAX, and extra probiotics every day, and she STILL held

everything but tiny amounts. Her behavior was better, her appetite was better,

and her sleep was fantastic, but SHE WOULDN'T POOP.

So we're back to the Miralax and the sleeplessness in an attempt to clean her

out again. I don't know what else to do. She's really picky about what she'll

take, and getting even these products into her has been a challenge, but it's

frustrating to try so hard and have to go back.

I have a call in to the doctor for alternatives, but I thought I'd ask here

first. Any other ideas that would be safe for a 2 yr old and palatable, too?

I'm feeling worried and desperate.

Leah