My son had some issues with this and we began adding simple grape juice into his diet. This was recommended from the hospital after he became so impacted he had a bowel obstruction. They had to do an enema and we began the grape juice daily. Works.
Well... Give him laxitives I would it might be the only way i do this but I do go eventually when a commercial comes on tv or my show ends or whatever maybe try making him go every day even if he doesn't have to... It might sound a bit kiddish but it will probubly work... Don't worry about my name i don't wear diapers or anything I just want to for comfort so it's not like he will need diapers but you could and atleast he might use them because he said he's to busy well in diapers you just go so busy or not :) im not saying you should or shouldn't im just giving ideas im 13 so I don't know a lot bout this stuff but you might as we take it from another kid and if you put him in diapers even temporarily I would put laxitives in his fiod
Pretty much where I'm at with this issue also. My son can still hold it on large doses of common laxitives and we have almost been to the ER several times from the pain an still refusal to go. That vicious cycle you mentioned is where we're at now. We give him mineral oil to help it along and fiber like he's a rabbit... Gonna need a plan from the doc cause were back to everything not working. Finally some good advice ^ not just people bashing your parenting style
Sometimes when kids hold their stool like this, liquid stool seeps out around the formed stool. If this is diagnosed as encoparesis, it takes targeted techniques to best achieve a more regular elimination. A pediatric gastroenterologist should be experienced with this and able to treat it, but sometimes a psychologist is added because the holding of stool can have an emotional element. It may be a fear of pain - and it's a vicious cycle. If a bowel movement hurts and then the stool is held in for fear of pain, it then becomes so hard and large it hurts again the next time, reinforcing the fear.
Resolving this for your son is important so he doesn't have repeat episodes of impaction that require hospitalization. Also, it is not healthy for the bowel to be always distended. Elimination counts on the ability of the bowel to contract to push stool along. Think of elastic that has been stretched out so much it loses its elasticity.
Aside from adequate fluid intake and dietary changes, I think it would be safest to work closely with a doctor on this. They may prescribe laxatives or an enema, but there could be specials considerations if a bowel is not in its best condition, so I'd be hesitant to self treat.