5yr old grandson with severe constipation
I was looking after my two grandsons yesterday, as I do often while mummy and daddy go go work and the 5 yr old went to the loo, after a few seconds he started crying and then screaming, when I went to him I found he was severely constipated, it was extremely hard and big, and I could feel it from the outside backed up in his large colon.
I tried massaging round the area and bit by bit, with some help from me he got it all out. It took about 50 minutes, with him sitting on the loo, very distressed and me trying to help and keep him calm. It was extremely upsetting for him and for me.
I wondered if anyone had any similar experiences and could suggest anything, he has a very healthy diet, they both have fruit every day and my son and daughter in law are always reminding him to drink water. I haven't any experience of constipation as my two sons never suffered from it.
I tried massaging round the area and bit by bit, with some help from me he got it all out. It took about 50 minutes, with him sitting on the loo, very distressed and me trying to help and keep him calm. It was extremely upsetting for him and for me.
I wondered if anyone had any similar experiences and could suggest anything, he has a very healthy diet, they both have fruit every day and my son and daughter in law are always reminding him to drink water. I haven't any experience of constipation as my two sons never suffered from it.
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I find this very difficult to believe. And the idea of massaging to help out even more difficult to believe! There are well-known methods of dealing with this problem but I've never come across that one.
In which case they will no doubt inform you if there is any future action you need to take when he is in your care.
He's five!! Of course he forgets
So it has been a problem, the parents have sought medical guidance...apparently drinking more water has been advised...so keep giving him drinks of water on a regular basis...job done.
He is five, of course he will forget to drink, but the adults around him must help to by reminding him.
Poor lovey, it must have been very painful for him, what exactly did you massage? his tummy?
Oh really,? what is it you find very difficult to believe because I can tell you that is what happened, maybe, instead of being critical when all I've done is ask for some help, you could tell me what these well known methods are.
I have to also add for Barts sake that yes you can feel it on the outside when they are straining to get a big poo out.
The thing is, I only see him once a week, when I look after him and his little brother after school, and I do know that mummy and daddy are always reminding him to drink, they also have a good varied diet, with plenty of veg and fruit every day. I don't know if they've had a word with the school though.
Just seen my daughter in law when she dropped his little brother off for me to have while she puts in a couple of hours, she said that what she does is massage either side of the anus with a little bit of toilet paper and that seems to help. I don't know if she was advised to do that by the doctor or nurse. He's fine now though, but never having had to cope with it before, my two sons never had it , I found it quite upsetting.
You mentioned fruit and veg in his diet...it's high fibre that's more important...maybe consider switching the bread/breakfast cereal he has?
Exercise is also important...is it possible now he is at school he's actually getting less than when he was running round all day at home/nursery. My mother swore by a brisk walk if we were ever a bit constipated as kids and never ever had us to the docs or being given medication to cure it. I followed the same with mine.
Also some kids can resist the "urge" resulting in build up...won't poo in a strange place or at school or develop a sort of phobia for some reason they can barely articulate or the result of some embarrassing incident...is it possible he is doing this? One of mine had a brief spell of poo avoidance at 4/5 after a fart produced rather more during a family outing
I know it's upsetting, but once a good medical routine is established then it will ease his problem, water is the key though, you can eat any amount of fibre, but without water it will not help that much.
Thank you TWS, that's the sort of practical and sympathetic help I was looking for, I also have to add that his little brother doesn't seem to suffer with it, but then he is always drinking.:)
its funny isn't it my youngest drinks and drinks and drinks and never suffers with it, the only time he doesn't drink is when he is a bit poorly so then sometimes he ends up with rabbit droppings as I call them lol
I tend to keep a good eye so to speak on my eldest motions and keep lactulose in stock so to speak then I will give him a low dose over a couple of days if needed, I work as a care assistant so bowel movements and stool softeners are my forte lol
No-one is advocating messing around with his bottom however sometimes it is needed to help them pass a particularly horrible poo unless you want them tearing which is far worse than having a bit of damp cotton wool and some Vaseline rubbed on it. Animals lick their babies bums to stimulate pooing, humans do it with the above method when hand raising baby animals as well.
Around the rectum possibly. But the OP said they could feel it in the colon. I don't really know anatomy but I thought the colon was hidden away behind muscle and bone at the back, and beneath muscle and small intestines at front. With a bladder in the vicinity, would it be wise to start squeezing around the abdominal area (if that's what the OP meant) unless you were a medical professional?
(And I would have suggested some ex-lax.)
At most schools now they ask that children bring in water bottles or give them water bottles so they can drink throughout the day. If his school doesn't do this, perhaps they could be persuaded. If they do already allow at desk drinking, maybe they aren't actually reminding the 5 year olds to use their water bottles.
They don't generally recommend that type of laxative for children they tend to prefer the stool softener approach.
. If he is on the toilet raise his legs towards his body ( knees up and your hands under his feet to help him squat rather than legs dangling )
I'm not sure this should be done without the express permission of the parents.
She's really upset by her grandchild suffering and thats all you had to say. Can you give her advice please rather than questioning what she did and for your info my aunty did this to my sibling when she was a toddler and yes it was painful for her and my sibling.
Id really take him to the doctor even though doctors aren't helpful these days. Add more fibre in his diet more fruit and green very. When I was small my mum always used to make freshly squeezed orange juice and it used to work a treat. I know castor oil used to help too but...I'd seek medical advice first. My sis normally goes to the toilet after she's had alot of green juice (spinach,apples and carrots) try that temporarily?
Well the OP is his Nan and seems to have been in contact with his mum , so I would presume she would ask if its ok ?
And a spot of Vaseline or a bit of sudocrem on a child bum that I am looking after is to me very normal ?