My child needs help, I don't know where else to go. Does anyone have any suggestions?

For the last 2 and half to 3 years my daughter, who is now 9 has had issues with having accidents. She has several accidents a day with BM. It started around the time I got pregnant with my youngest, so we just assumed it was due to trying to deal with that, but it just kept continuing. Now years later, we have tried everything. We have taken her to a family doctor who ran a few tests (for parasites, blood in her BM, etc.) When nothing came of that he recommended a pediatric gasternologist (he is suppose to be the best here in Tucson). We went to see him, followed his order to a t and tried to help her as much as possible. Last month he said that he doesn't need to see her because she is doing much better. Which is not the case at all, and I let him know how I felt. I have yet to see any improvement. We done everything he has said, enemas, laxitives, stool softners, fiber, diet. I have to admit, my husband does get frustrated at times, my husband tells her a lot to stop being so lazy. I dont know if thats really the case at all or if she truly cant feel the urge. I was confiding to a close friend about this and she said it sounds like she could have something called Encopresis. I have researched it a little and feel that is a good possiblity. I asked our family doctor about it, and he refered me to the same doctor. It's just a continous circle with no hope in sight. I dont know what else to do. Sometimes I feel so sorry for my daughter because this can't be easy for her. She has accidents at school, and she smells bad. We send extra clothes and have talked to her principal and teacher. My fear is that it will never end and what kind of life will my daughter have. Please if you know where I can get help for my daughter, let me know.

[musicmama]

I know how closed minded doctors can be if you are searching for a solution and they didn't come up with the answer.  You may call your child's doctor telling him you want a second opinion.  You are entitled to one.  You may have to travel to a larger city, but it could be worth the trouble.

In the meantime, please be patient and caring with her.  This could be a psychological/control issue.  Children who feel threatened or have anxiety may have these symptoms as well.

Good luck and God bless.

[LRM1021]

Encopresis is something that a family dr, and esp a gastroenterologist, should be able to detect rather easily. Additionally, you have put your daughter through the treatment regimen for this condition already. So it could be this, but that would really show that these two drs are not on the ball.

A few other things I would encourage you to consider:
-- believe it or not, food allergies-- I say this because one manifestation of food allergy, and even food intolerance,can be diarrhea that comes on very fast and may not be able to be stopped
-- neurological testing-- if your daughter really can't feel the urge, there could be a nerve problem, and that could be detected by a neurologist


I agree that you should call your primary care again and ask for referrals to another gastro and/or some other specialist who can help you help your daughter. I think you are right not to give up --good luck.

[Byancey]

Please check for blockage in the bowels or intestinal track.

[margypops]

Sounds like a lot of Anxiety to me , maybe feels left out maybe Dad needs to give mor attention also,I doubt its lazyiness,she is making a statement . have a good chat with her or ask a professional to there is a need there and it is acting out in a negative way.

[missy442]

I worked as a social worker with foster children for 7 years. I found that many of the children that I worked with had problems with encopresis after going through a traumatic event such as physical or sexual abuse. The Psychiatrist that we worked with said that most of the time , the encopresis is a warning sign that something has happened that affects their psychological well being. Some times kids wont tell things that really bother them and this is how the body deals with it.