5 Yr Old Poo Issues

I just got back with my first appt. with the Pediatric Gastrointologist! I have a 5 yr old son with the same problem. He stated it is the most common problem and he can see sometimes 20 of these cases every week! I feel for all of you because it is so very frustrating. The dr stated that it is basically a behavior problem. (which is weird cause all my kids are so well behaved- he just is obstinate I guess) He stated his tummy was full of poop! He is not wanting to go and would rather play. He stated little kids don't always understand the "feeling" adults do as needing to "go". Tonight and for the rest of the weekend we are to clean out all the poop in his system. I am giving him one chocolate laxative (over the counter) and four separate doses of Mucloax?? (over the counter) in gatorade in the first half of the day for two days. Lots of pooping this weekend. Monday, we are supposed to give him a 1/2 dose every morning for the next two weeks. After every meal, he has to go sit on the potty (to train himself how to feel when he needs to go and get in a routine). He told me to have him blow bubbles and work on blowing a balloon to help him. He will get a reward (sticker/gum) each time sucessful and a big prize (underwear or Chucky Cheese) if he does well all week.

I hope this is helpful. It was nice for someone to give me some correction. I felt kinda silly cause I can do all this from home, but it is nice to know it wasn't a medical condition. Try this. Two other women I work with have children with this issue also and their dr.s treat it the same also. It's called Endocoprecia?? I think.

Oddly enough, my 4-year old is going through something similar. I thought it was because I had gone back to work, leaving him during the day for the first time in his life. Maybe it's just his age, though!

He had an accident the other day for the first time in months, peeing and pooping his pants at the same time. I had a very hard time potty-training him to begin with, but once he got the hang of it he was very dependable with it. Now, however, he poops at least a tiny bit in his pants at least once a day, and the thing that makes his Dad maddest is that he won't say anything about it. You don't know until you get close enough to smell it! It's awful.

My boy doesn't play in it, but he talks about it all the time. Everything he sees that is brown he compares to his "nuggets". It's embarrassing. So, while I can't really offer much advice, I guess we can both take heart knowing it must be an age-thing.

My son used to make a big deal about going potty as well. He would hold it for so long that he would cause himself to be sick and or have accidents. We found that making him sit on the potty at the same time everyday (whether he had to go or not) got him in the routine of having to take time out and go potty. We encouraged him to sit there by letting him play his hand held video games or reading a book with him to distract him from his anxiety about actually going potty. Within days he was on a regular schedule and no longer having accidents.

have you talked to your doctor to see if there could be a logical explanation for this? maybe he has trouble getting to the bathroom on time.

S.,

Hey. It sounds like you've gotten good advice but I want to add a possibility. A friend of mine has a child with an attachment disorder and the counselor says spreading poop or pee is a symptom of this disorder.

As far as the holding it in, I think that is common. Playing is fun and sitting on the toilet is not. Our 6 year old had that problem and we made him sit on the toilet 3 times a day until his body got on a schedule. It didn't take long until he was back in underwear. Before our friend suggested that, he had been in pullups in kindergarden for most of the year.

And the talking about poop--my boys tend to do that alot. I hate it! My friends say its just a boy thing.

Hope this helps!
A. S.