NSBR - need some mama help

[MamaBee]

I'm sorry if this is TMI for some...

My three year old son (will be four in a few weeks) is just having a heck of a time with constipation for the last 2 weeks. He can get some out, but he strains like you wouldn't believe and keeps telling me, "It hurts, mama." So I feel horrible that I just can't get this swung around... and I feel like I've tried everything... more fiber, more raw veggies, more bran and whole wheat, then less fiber (my step dad has a problem where too much fiber cause constipation), stool softners, pushing more liquids, warm baths, cutting out dairy, high fat, glycerine suppository, prunes, warm apple juice... I thought I had a winner with less fiber because we have two... uhm, messy uhm yeah... yesterday. Then tonight he is telling me it hurts and straining again. He is not potty training (a whole other issue - just not taking so we haven't been trying for months)... so it's not that he is "holding it" because of that...

Any ideas as to what I can try? I really do not want to do a saline enema... if I can help it... I've called the nurse and they are no help and since he doesn't have any other pain, seeing the doctor wasn't suggested. He doesn't have a fever and activity and eating has been normal. If this doesn't straighten out in the next day or two... I'm going to have to take him to the doctor, but I'm hoping that you lovely and brilliant ladies would have some ideas...

THANK YOU!!

[DawnMarch]

Have you tried Miralax? That's usually the pediatrician's laxative of choice for kids. My son has used it and it works pretty well although it's not always the complete answer for long-term constipation.

[knlchevys]

Sorry for you! We drink pear juice when my kiddos have that problem. It sounds like you've tried lots of stuff though!

[MamaBee]

Originally Posted by DawnMarch

Have you tried Miralax? That's usually the pediatrician's laxative of choice for kids. My son has used it and it works pretty well although it's not always the complete answer for long-term constipation.

Does that have a flavor to it? I've only tried stool softener since they are non-addicting... and the one that I found at the store has such a sweet taste that I have to trick my son into drinking it and it is still a struggle...

[MamaBee]

Originally Posted by knlchevys

Sorry for you! We drink pear juice when my kiddos have that problem. It sounds like you've tried lots of stuff though!

Hmm... I'll have to give that a try, thanks! In the past all I had to do was give him one of those Fiber One Bar with a prune chaser and he was good... but this time, none of my tricks are working.

[hollyxann]

My only child is a newborn so I don't have any experience advice but I know my mom always gave us prune juice or apple juice if we had bowel problems.

[deepounds]

Oh, Rebecca, I'm so sorry you're having this problem . . . all these newer moms have much better remedies than what I had to use for my son so many years ago, but he used to have that problem off and on as a child. When juice didn't work, we used a mild suppository laxative (per doctor's recommendation), which Bill hated (of course!), but it worked. Hope you don't have to resort to anything that he can't take by mouth . . . I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of you!!

[aly321]

I have heard that Miralax is the way to go. So sorry... such a sad thing when your kid is in pain and you don't know what to do. Poor little guy! Good luck sweetie!

[Paula]

Try giving him unsweetened applesauce. I have IBS and that always does the trick for me, and it was recommended by my doctor.

[Milmomma]

With all that you tried I have to ask, has he had enough water? Lots of fiber without enough water will only make him more constipated. :/ My kids are huge water drinkers.

[MamaBee]

Originally Posted by Paula

Try giving him unsweetened applesauce. I have IBS and that always does the trick for me, and it was recommended by my doctor.

Hmm.... that is interesting... I'll give this a try... thanks!

[MamaBee]

Originally Posted by Milmomma

With all that you tried I have to ask, has he had enough water? Lots of fiber without enough water will only make him more constipated. :/ My kids are huge water drinkers.

You know, that was one of the first things I did was increase his water... J usually is a very good drinker of water and juice through the day, but I thought maybe with the dryness in the house hoping that was the issue... thanks for asking the question!

[MamaBee]

Originally Posted by hollyxann

My only child is a newborn so I don't have any experience advice but I know my mom always gave us prune juice or apple juice if we had bowel problems.

ha, ha... I got some prune juice for J... he took one sip and said, "yuck!" He doesn't know what he is missing...

[rach3975]

My peds recommended Miralax along with the iron supplements that my 4 year old is taking. We have a once a day powdered kind, but the peds had to give us the dosage because the bottle only tells the adult dosage. Hold on a second-I'll go taste it.

Okay, there's very little taste. A tiny bit chalky when I tried it straight from the bottle, but definitely not sweet. We've just started DS on it (like 2 days ago), and he doesn't notice when I mix it into his milk.

[jessica31876]

my doctor told me prune juice. Apple juice works too. I would just keep giving him apple jice and mix in some prune juice. Id probably still take him to the dr though simply because sometimes little kids dont show pain the same way an adult would. Like when I had kidney stones I literally thought I was dying it hurt so bad and Ive seen grown men reduced to tears by them but my neice had them and when I asked her if it hurt (she was like 7 at the time) she said she had no pain at all. IDK it is just a thought that having him checked might be a good idea to see if there is maybe some sort of obstuction keeping him from being able to go.

[sugirox]

Prunes and raisins helps for DS!

[farrijc]

We had this problem with my eldest... unfortunately a problem that I thought would be a few weeks to fix turned into a problem that took years to fix. The doctor pretty much told us that upfront, but of course, I was hoping he was wrong. Having said that, I hope yours is a temporary issue! I would definitely recommend Miralax. We mixed it in my son's milk, and he didn't notice it at all. Our problem became that he was afraid to go because he associated going with pain, and so it was a vicious cycle. We even took him to a gastroenterologist because I really felt it was becoming a behavioral issue, and my pediatrician didn't agree. The GI specialist did agree and couldn't find any physical issues that needed to be dealt with. We did have to do some enemas and finally got it under control with Miralax on a regular basis. It was a long road, and I had no idea constipation could wreck such havoc! I've hoped and prayed that my two younger kids wouldn't have the same issue, and so far we've been good I hope this gets resolved for your son soon!

[Leah]

The girls in our house have the same problem.

We have Senokot - a natural laxative. Works nicely. Pill form.

We drink Youth Juice and that works wonders. It's all fruit and both us and the kids can drink it.

[Sarah8914]

So, my oldest has lots of consipation issues... here's the order the doc gave us of things to try:

1. Increase juice and water (which you have done... also any "p" fruits are good... peaches, pears, plums)

2. milk of magnesia and mineral oil (it's called something slightly different, but that's it basically--and it sounds like you've tried that too)

3. Miralax, like others suggested. That's what we did with my dd. The store brand was still like $15!! Our doc said to mix it with juice, so that's what we do... and even after a good bm, you can still do it for a few days... then just as needed.

I've read that they keep it in more when they know it will hurt, which is probably also happening with your son, so hopefully you can get it resolved!

[lauren grier]

make him eat 11 prunes.. trust me, it's the magic number
lol

gl though.. :[ poor bub. everyones suggested everything i know to do. I worked with a kiddo that had to take so many things.. including drinking mineral oil every single night. *shudders*

[newfiemountiewife]

I used to get the BABY prunes, you know regular baby food. For some reason this used to work with my kids, and they would even eat it til they were about 4 years old LOL!

Mine used to eat lots of pears, strawberries, blueberries, etc, and it seemed to work too. I know it worked when we used to go to the U-pick strawberry farm as kids, and we ate a ton LOL.

[DawnMarch]

Miralax is tasteless and can be mixed with juice, so it's fairly easy to use if you kid (like mine) is the kind who won't try new things. Just give it a couple minutes after mixing it to fully dissolve. It is non-dependence-forming, which I guess is why the doctors like it.

[nikkiARNGwife]

DD had pretty bad constipation when we switched her from formula to whole milk...her doc also recommended miralax. I just mixed it with her water or juice and she never knew it was there...it's more of a stool softener.

[MamaBee]

thanks so much for the help ladies... "it" was bit better today and so far haven't heard any, "mama it hurts..." but not 100% what it should be. I'm going to check out the Miralax... and look for different fruits like the peaches and pears... see if that helps... I'm not sure about 11 prunes, LA... the only way that I can get him to eat a prune is if I eat one with him... oy, 11? Since I don't have the issue... yikes!! LOL! But I'm willing to take one for the team... but if you don't hear from me for a few days, you know where to find me...

[sprauncey1]

If he doesn't like prunes, try apricots. They do the same thing. Hoping he's comfortable today!

[taracotta7]

We have used stool softeners when needed and drank Apple juice. If that doesn't do the trick, I take my DS to my chiropractor. Honest to God....one adjustment and within 30 minutes all is well.