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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
9 year old daughter and constipation
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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9 year old daughter and constipation
by ttcoffin, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
You guys have helped me so much with questions about my husband, so I wanted to run this past all of you. My husband has crohns amd all sorts of intestinal problems, well my 9 year old daughter has been having constipation problems for several years now. She has had the same pediatrician since she was 1, and I love him to death! He is an older man and very knowlegable, so I hate to not trust him but he has her on milk of magnesia and a stool softner, every night and he said from looking at an xrau he took of her tummy, she is so backed up, that she will need to keep taking these things through the school year! He has put her on this before but the minute she stops, she backs up again. It is very hard for her to go(when she can even go at all). I told him about my husband having crohns. My daughter only gets pain in her side , when she is very backed up, then she can hardly walk,because it hurts so bad. Does any of this sound like she needs a gastro doc? Or is her pediatrician right on his treatment? Tahnks for any advice...........Tanya
Here are some more things you might want to consider, too:
1)Acidophilus & Bifidus are beneficial (edible) bacteria called "pro-biotics" that can help to normalize the large intestine (bowel), when antibiotics or other medications have destroyed the good bulk-producing bacteria. Health food stores sell these. Keep refrigerated. Take with water, between meals.
2)Dehydration can cause or worsen constipation. Does your daughter drink enough good quality water? Certain medical conditions require that patients shouldn't drink too much water (glaucoma, diabetics taking certain anti-diuretic hormones--just learned about this today from another forum--, etc.), but, many children are chronically dehydrated. Soda pop is dehydrating. Caffeine (found in colas) is dehydrating.
3)If your daughter's diet doesn't include enough "roughage" (can be from many different sources, but VEGETABLES are among the best sources, including pectin in carrots, etc.) then, the colon (gut/large intestine/bowel) can get sluggish.
Does your daughter eat a lot of "denatured" foods, like WHITE bread, WHITE crackers, WHITE rice, WHITE pastas (as opposed to WHOLE GRAIN pastas) etc.? These WHITE grain products don't have any fiber (roughage) at all, and this lack of fiber, makes them VERY CONSTIPATING.
What kind of food and beverages does your daughter eat? Start keeping a food diary, so that you can see which foods agree or don't agree with her. This can be tedious, but is often very helpful.
A good holistic nutritionist can be very helpful to you, once you get a diagnosis. If you can't get a diagnosis other than irritable bowel syndrome, a holistic nutritionist can help your daughter to greatly improve her diet, in ways that you and I might not think of (delicious & nutritious).
4)Perhaps your daughter has some food allergies &/or food sensitivities. Some of these can cause constipation. An allergist specialist doc can help with figuring this out.
a)Cow's milk can cause diarrhea or constipation. Does your daughter drink a lot of cow's milk products (can include cheese on pizza, etc.)?
b)Gluten sensitivity, like Celiac Disease, can cause diarrhea or constipation. Gluten is found in wheat (breads, crackers, etc.), rye, oats, barley, buckwheat. Spelt & kamut are ancient types of wheat, and these contain gluten. (Pizza crusts have gluten in them, when they are made from wheat.)
Going on a gluten-free diet can sometimes be tremendously helpful for mysterious cases. Avoid glutenous foods for about a month, to see if this helps. Grains that are gluten-free include brown rice & corn. But, many are allergic to corn, so avoid corn temporarily.
Health food stores sell brown rice cereals, brown rice pastas (delicious!), and plain organic brown rices.
Does your daughter eat a lot of "glutenous" foods? (&/or corn?)
5)Does your daughter get enough exercise? Being sedentary can cause or worsen constipation.
6)Once you have a diagnosis, ask the doctor if abdominal massage would be OK. This (if safe & if gently done) can stimulate a bowel movement.
7)Drinking a cup of warm water can stimulate the gastro-colic reflux, causing a bowel movement.
8)Some children don't always go to the bathroom when the urge hits. When they "hold it in", it can make them more constipated. If a child is under stress, this sometimes can be a factor, with constipation.
What your doctor has done, is to just treat your daughter's SYMPTOMS, but he hasn't done the tough "Sherlock Holmes" medical detective work, to find out what is actually CAUSING her constipation. There may be SEVERAL CAUSES of her constipation.
Once you know the CAUSES, you can try to get rid of the causes, or lessen the causes, or gently treat them.
Your daughter is lucky to have you as her mother, and I believe that because of your caring and questioning, she will get better.
I wish you and your daughter the best! Find a GOOD pediatric gastro-enterologist, and keep asking questions. :-)
Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com
My son and I just saw the pediatrician yesterday for the EXACT problem. My son has been suffering with this problem for years.. and as in your case, all docs have been 'treating' the symptoms..not the cause. This new ped. said that if the laxative doesnot work, then we will see a ped. gastroentologist . This is a necessary step.
My son started showing signs of this at 9 months old - he is now 10 years. We have tried EVERYTHING...fiber supplements, fiber cereals, senakot (child's laxative - very good), milk of magnesia, etc.etc. But as soon as he stopped taking the medicines - he's backed up and cranky! Even when we increase his fiber intake with food -- it's not enough.
Our pediatrician said that some kids are like this. Nothing to worry about. But my son's behavior turns sour with his abdominal pain.
I, too, have this problem (and Irritable Bowel Syndrome). So I do know what the kids are going through - it can be very painful and definitely annoying to feel full and sluggish constantly. But I can regulate my constipation with a high fiber cereal (Fiber One has 57% fiber).
For almost 2 years my son was 'symptom free'. His stomach aches dissipated, his appetite increased, had normal BMs everyday. The reason? *OPTIMIZE high fiber drink*. We love this stuff. He would drink it every morning and it kept him regulated - he would occasionally have gas -- but it's worth it.
Problem is, I can no longer find it in our stores. The Optimize Website lists stores that still carry it -- but I can not locate them here in Ohio. It has been nearly 2 months since he's had this drink - and now - he's in pain, cranky and he's completely backed up from top to bottom.
So, yes...take your daughter to the pediatric gastro. and find optimize. It comes in many different flavors that my son loved... it is somewhat expensive -- but your daughter won't need a stool softener or Milk Of Magnesia, etc.
I truly hope you finally get some answers - and in a week, if I find out more from our ped. gastroentologist - I will let you know.
God Bless!!
You both are great parents! :-)
I must tell you both that when I was a child, I too was severely constipated. It was only as a young adult, that I finally listened to a wonderful person in a health food store who educated me as to the use of ACIDOPHILUS/BIFIDUS "PROBIOTICS", and the use of digestive enzymes! The result, finally, was:
No more constipation!
I'm going to post some Gastric Reflux tips, in the next message. These "tips" are for more than just reflux. These tips usually will cure constipation.
BUT...I still think any child who has severe constipation needs to see a very good pediatric GI (Gastro-intestinal doc), for testing, to see if something serious is going on, that you and I haven't thought of. MAKE THE APPOINTMENT, for your peace of mind, and for your daughter's sake.
I agree with you both! It is not normal for a child to need laxatives, etc. in order to have a bowel movement! Any doctor who thinks this is normal, is in massive "denial".
Ttcoffin, I also don't agree with the doc who said that your daughter has to suffer with this, all her life. NOT IF YOU DO SOMETHING NOW, to find out what's causing her problems. Once you have causes, you can get rid of the causes, or lessen the causes, or gently treat the causes.
Good medicine looks for causes.
However, even if you can't find the real causes, right away, try all the "gastric reflux tips", and these may help you figure out some of your daughter's causes.
For example, let's say you try giving your daughter a milk-free, gluten-free diet