9yr old daughter suffers from constipation

[skyler411]

Hi,my 9yr old daughter suffers from  frequent constipation ,several times a month  she can't poop and when she finally goes it very large ..to the point of clogging our toilete!! The doctor prescribed an oral laxative that seems to help a bit but ,not entirely..I push her to eat fiber filled foods and to drink water ..I hate to see her suffer this way .I'm worried there's something else going on and it's not just from lack of fiber.I don't think a 9yr old should be having any of these problems ..but I don't know what else I can do to help her!!

[skyler411]

Wow ,thanks ....No she isn't in pain all the time..she gets has problems  a couple times a month..and she gets cramps and gas with that .and asks me for my heating pad  and usually once she finally goes to bathroom ..she feels better and is ok four a week or two or three but then ..we start all over again...I  will take to get her tested ,ty again for your quick responses..

[ticked]

Celiac is an allergy to Gluten. You can take a blood test to diagnose this disease. I would definitely get it done to rule it out. My daughter went through bowel issues for the first 5.5yrs of her life it was crazy, I never thought it was going to end but it did and she has been good since and she is 9 now.

Try going to a health food store and see if there is a childs probiotic as well. I would decrease dairy significantly if you can.

Is she in pain all the time?

[specialmom]

My own son has had severe constipation to the point of ending up in the er with an impacted instestines (with stool.  yuck) which was acting like a bowel blockage.  He had a distended abdomen, nausea and vomiting.  It was awful.

The best advice I can give is simple-------------  grape juice.  My son drinks it a couple of times a day.  It was recommended by the hospital on our discharge orders.  We also increased his fresh fruit intake.  I've even gotten the baby food prunes and called it purple pudding (it is tasty).   We decreased all dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt) per their instructions as well.  And there is also various medications that you can take over the counter.  We never went that route though and avoided it.  

We have a potty routine each night.  Whether he says he has to go or not, he sits on that pot.  We have books in there and he has a glass water with him.  That routine helps a lot.  It helps set up a clock for his body that there is a time of day that it should go.

good luck.  We've had much luck getting my son regulated.  Try the grape juice.  Also keep her physically active as it keeps everything moving.  

[skyler411]

Yes..she is on Polyethylene Glycol 3350NF ..and it does help ..but after weeks on it ,it has the oppisite effect!! So we cut back and then she starts being constipated all over again!! I will try giving her more probiotic it can't hurt ! She is active and doesn't really sit around ..she's a picky eater and often will only want to eat what ever meat is on her plate ..I don't know what Celiac is ..?? I will google it! And ask my doctor ..what type of testing  is involved for Celiac ? Is it blood test or more invasive?? Thank you for your responses

[ticked]

Yes that as well!!! I would have her tested for Celiac as well, as this sounds a lot like my friends daughter who was diagnosed last year when she was 6yrs old.

[margypops]

How about trying probiotics they work, and maybe the answer,  , Does she get good exercise so many children just sit around nowadays after school  and exercising the body does keep it' running' well..Plenty of water especially when its hot ..

[ticked]

Maybe you can talk to your doctor about putting her on Peg3350 I think thats what its called, if that is not what she is taking already. Its a non habit forming laxative powder. I had to give this to my daughter for about 6 months due to the same problem. She hasnt had problems since.