Almost 4yr old. severe constipation and pain, afraid to go poo because it hurts. Help!

My Almost 4yr old has been having severe constipation and pain. She is afraid to go poo because she says it hurts, has been going on for about a year. I have taken her to see a Dr. and to the hospital several times they take ex-rays give her something to make her poo right away and send us home with miralax saying she'll be fine. she does not drink juice anymore, she doesn't eat very well.    What can we do?  

[Caryopteris]

Try stopping dairy.  Soy can also be a problem, as can nuts.  Have blood tests done for Celiac disease.  If it is not a food allergy, she could have a long, twisted colon.  Don't let the doctors tell you it's emotional; it is probably not unless there are severe stressors like abuse or bullying.  Do continue the Miralax every day.  Increase the dose if it is not enough.  Use suppositories to get things started when she is uncomfortable.  Don't make her feel guilty.  Avoid fried food and get her to chew her vegetables well.  Lots of veggies.

[FurballsMom]

One thing to keep in mind about the blood tests for Celiac:  They are not 100% reliable.  One can actually have false negatives.  It happens all the time.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that one doesn't have to have Celiac to have gluten intolerance.  Casein and/or lactose Intolerance usually goes hand in hand with the gluten issues.  

I agree about the stress.  I've had problems my whole life.  I remember when I was small like that that I was rushed when I had to strain to go poo.  This only aggravates the problem.  While she is little, when she has to go poo, allow her to take all the time she needs.  When she starts school, be supportive of her and be prepared to talk to all school staff she will have to encounter, because there will likely be someone objecting to her needing to take her time on the porcelain throne when the urge starts during the day time.  

I watched a program on PBS about a naturopath talking about gut health.  She talked about how it's actually fine to use adult strength probiotics for children, because this is sometimes needed.  It won't hurt.  She even mentioned a real life example of a child she helped to prove it.  All of us need probiotics in this modern world, and this is one area where more is okay.