6 year old doesn't want to poop

[natesmom616]

I hope that I'm in the correct forum for this.  I have a 6 year old (7) in June of this year who does not like to poop.  He was potty trained fairly quickly when younger and had no real problems.  A few years ago, I noticed that he would go for days without having a bowel movement.  When I'd ask him about it, he'd tell me that he didn't have to go, though it was obvious that he did and was holding it in. If he was standing, he'd run to a chair or the floor and sit down and rock or shake his legs or something.  I took him to his pediatrician who thought that possibly he'd had a very large bowel movement at one time and it caused some pain. (He is rather small. At almost 7 yrs of age, he is in a size 4)He believed maybe this made my son apprehensive about going for fear of the pain.  He put him on a bulk stool softener.  This did help him go more often, but only because he can only "hold it" for so long.  For a little while it got better.  He hasn't been on the softener for over a year and half.  However, this is still a problem.  I can tell when he has to go, though he will deny it every time.  I've tried everything from trying to explain how it can hurt his body to hold it in, not allowing him to go places if he hasn't gone and I know he has to go, and even rewards for going. On the rare occasion that he does go without holding it, I'm always quick to tell him how proud I am that he isn't holding it in.  Every time he goes, I ask him if it causes him pain and he says no.  He says that he doesn't like the way it feels.  I've explained that he will have to poop for the rest of his life, regardless of if he doesn't like the feel of it.  He's never constipated and his stools always seem soft, though formed.
Then, last week, he said that when he goes, it hurts his stomach.  At first I thought maybe this was his stomach cramping up when he has a bowel movement.  But I asked him to show me where it hurt and he pointed to his lower abdomen and then also pointed up higher in the center of his torso.  
Is this most likely a psychological issue?  Or can it be medical.  It's not that he doesn't HAVE to go.  By his behavior, I would guess that he would have a bowel movement every other day at the very least.  The urge to go is there, he just holds it and holds it and holds it.  If I wasn't watching, he'd hold it for up to 5 or 6 days.  Could this be a medical issue?   Should I take him to a specialists?  I'm at a loss as to what to do.  Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.  

[justamom79]

THANK YOU!!!!! This link is exactly what I was looking for. Now I can explain to the doctor what is going on and get help with the necessary laxatives as well as an exam to check for damage caused by this.

[Babygirl787]

http://www.practicalgastro.com/pdf/November02/LoeningBauckeArticle.pdf

This is a link to a website where I happened to find the name for this kind of condition that our children are going through (functional fecal retention). I havent finished reading through it but, as I started....I noticed that the symptoms match precisely to those of my child (and most of your children). I hope the information will help us all! best of luck!

[lolamama]

my 6 year old hasn't poop for 8 days now, and I am going to give her miralax, but before this episode of not pooping, her poop has been normal. She gets to it everyday or eveyr other day with no problem, but has been complaining about stomach pain everytime she eats for as long as I can remember. The last time she poop, she did it twice the same day in less than an hour. The first poop was ok but the the second time she asked me it was kinda black with greenish tint to it. I freak out and went to the urgent care, when I showed the picture to the doctor, the doctor said it's not something to worry about. from that day my daughter hasn't poop yet. Anyone experience the same thing? I am worried sick but her pediatrician said it's normal.

[amyerineden]

How does ur son get on with going to the toilet now? I have a daughter who is now 5 and a half and its very similar story now after holding it in for past few years for 4 and 5 days at a time she has now started complainin before and after goin to the toilet of pains in the middle of her stomach??

[kelz87]

wow yea i have read a bit up on encopresis a few months ago there are some people who are 20 od and still carry on at holding on to there poo not wanting to go.. the docotor has now givin us movicol half to try him on.. starting it in 2 days time so hopefully he will eventully relize that it isnt going to hurt and to stop holding on..ive tried to put him back in nappies but he doesn't want to at all..so ive recently have been putting pads in his undies which makes it easier to clean.. how long has your grandson been doing it for? aww that is sad that no pre school will take him...its hard aswell because im sure the kids tease him at kindy

[Poppy51]

Hi, My Grandson is turning 5 next month & still wears a nappy because he says he can't feel the poop coming & it just falls out. If he didn't have a nappy it would just run down his legs. This is causing a problem because no pre school will take him because of the problem. On checking Google on Bowel Problems I came across articles on "Hirschsprung's Disease" a problem in the nerves of the large intestines that can be cut away to allow the poop to move, there is no censation of the poop being there .Also , "Encopresis " which is voluntary or involuntary bowel movements.Check these out for your kids. Some doctors just think you have not tried potty training them or you feed them the wrong things.My grandsons symptoms was shared by his older brother who is now 12 & still messes his pants if not allowed to go to the toilet when at school, he has to just run out , or he soils his pants. The Father had this problem also, so looks hereditary. I'm taking him to the doctor to get a referral to a pediatrition or bowel specialist, someone that can access the condition for proper medical treatment. It's not all psychological.