My 9 yr old son still poops himself

My son is 9 yrs old and poops in his pants. It could be any time of day or night. He does it while in his room playing or even just laying in bed watching tv. He will hide the soiled underwear in his room, in the bathroom cabinet and has even tried flushing them. He has been diagnosed with ADHD and is on meds for it and for anxiety disorder. Ive taken him to a stomach doctor, child therapist , and his pediatric doctor. Ive tried talking to him, punishing him and rewarding him, nothing seems to work. I'm very stressed out about this and i truly need help.

[margypops]

May i ask what med you son is on for the ADHD and the anxiety , as they do have side effects punishing him will only make it worse ,do you know what he is anxious about , how is he doing at school any problems there, does he poop in his pants at school?

[AnnieBrooke]

Have you read up on encopresis?  It might be that your son has no physical control of his bowel, and needs some active treatment.  Sometimes a child with encopresis has to be on a stool softener every day for a year or more.  Have you talked to a pediatric gastroenterologist?

[PAMomOf2]

If he has been to a pediatric gastroenterologist (digestive doctor) and they have no physical concerns, it is likely psychological acting out. I would stick with the child psychologist/therapist and see about making progress there. Developmentally, there is no reason for a 9 year old to still have those problems if everything has physcially formed on time. Good luck, hun, that is rough. Stick it out!

[Cheryl33]

He takes adderall (adderrall) for his ADHD and fluoxetine for his anxiety. The anxiety started about a month or two after starting the adderall (adderrall). My sons doctor told me that it is common once the ADHD is treated that other problems which were masked by the ADHD come out. He had anxiety about bad things happening to his younger brother, such as thinking he was going to get hurt while he was running, playing or climbing on toys.  His anxiety is under control now. He does have some problems in school with talking constantly to the point of getting himself in trouble and sent to the office. He also fidgets with things on or around his desk. His grades are good though hes honor role.

[Cheryl33]

Yes I've had him to the stomach doctor and they said he doesn't have and problems with his bowels.

[Cheryl33]

I'm taking my son to his family doctor tomorrow to get a referral to a child psychiatrist. I really hope they can help diagnose and treat the problem.