Constipation/IBS?

[partyhat]

My daughter has had severe constipation for years (she's 13), it's caused a LOT of pain.

She's on two capfuls of miralax a day, but sometimes it stops working, we've got no clue why, so she goes up to five caps a day if she feels backed up.

If that doesnt work she does two enemas, two suppositories, and 8 caps a day of miralax. no fun.

She has some pain when everything's going normally, but it's more when she's backed up.

Bloodwork/endo/colonoscopy were all normal.

One doctor says IBS, the other says constipation, but niether of them have done anything more than the miralax regiman. Is there anything else we can do?? Also, why does the miralax randomly stop working?

Thanks!

[protea]

I am really sorry for what you are going through.I am going through a similar thing with my son.Although he is only 3 years old.He sees a ped.G.I. dr and he is now going to do a motility test on him and a biopsy to see if he actulaly has the nerves cells in his colon to push stool out.There is a disease called Hirshprungs Disease .I have the spelling wrong I am sure but all it takes is a simple biopsy by a ped.GI dr and you will have the answer.I really think you need to get her to one.The miralax rigeme is no fun for her or you.My son is only on 1 cap full a day I cannot imagine up to 8 caps a day.Please look up that disease.You can leave me a message if you want or read my sons story.I really hope you find some answers.

[cavgirl]

Turkey Rhubarb from health care stores help me.  I have severe constipation.  I take 2 turkey rhubarb pills, 1 capful of miralax and colon health by Philips.  It works great.

[Jaybay]

Has she seen a pediatric gastroenterologist?  They're hard to find, but I think that's the doctor you need to see.  A diagnosis of IBS is usually nothing more than a cop-out, meaning, "We don't know what it is, so we'll call it IBS so we can have a billable diagnosis."   Yeah, she's constipated, but that should be treated as a symptom, not a final diagnosis.  The question is "Why" is she constipated?  Could be she just has really slow gut motility and a course of reglan might help speed that up.

Poor kid - I really feel for her having to go through all the testing and still not getting any good answers or relief.  All you can do is keep asking for more opinions.