constipation

about 6 weeks ago, alix had a bout of constipation. she refused to go
to the bathroom because it hurt her. the effects accumulated so it
hurt even worse. we gave her a stool softener and it resolved itself.

it's happening again. recently she hadn't pooped in 3 days so we gave
her a stool softener, prune juice, and raisins. finally she went poop
but after we put a diaper on her because she refused to sit on the
toilet. we think maybe it is the cold medicine constipating her
because we had been giving it to her on both occasions. she still
refuses to go to the bathroom today. she walks around saying NONSTOP,
"my bummy hurts. ow. ow. ow. ow. my bummy hurts." i am past the
sympathetic stage and it is just starting to get annoying. she will
not sit on the toilet.

anyone had this experience? will she be afraid go to the bathroom from
now until...whenever?

i am concerned because tomorrow is school and i don't want to keep her
home...especially to listen to her whine all day.

yes, i'm insensitive, but i've been listening to it for days and i
just want her to sit on the damn toilet and go. she's holding it in
because she's afraid it's going to hurt, thereby, making it hurt!

go ahead, rip me a new one. but beware, i'm tired and annoyed!

pam
SAHM to alix and callie 3/24/00

Pam-

Madison did the same thing for a while, but it before she was PT, so my
experience was a bit different than yours. Here's what I would do... Keep
giving her the prune juice, raisins, etc. so that she will have no choice but
to go, and will have soft stools when she does (and keep her on that diet as
long as she's taking the cold medicine). After she goes a couple times and
realizes that it's not hurting anymore then *maybe* the lightbulb will come on
and she'll see that it's okay to use the potty again.

I'd also put petroleum jelly on her "bummy" to help it heal and keep it from
hurting when the poo comes out (sorry so graphic).

HTH,
Andrea
twin girls-Madison & Jordan
3 yrs. old

about 6 weeks ago, alix had a bout of constipation. she refused to go
to the bathroom because it hurt her. the effects accumulated so it
hurt even worse. we gave her a stool softener and it resolved itself.

it's happening again. recently she hadn't pooped in 3 days so we gave
her a stool softener, prune juice, and raisins. finally she went poop
but after we put a diaper on her because she refused to sit on the
toilet. we think maybe it is the cold medicine constipating her
because we had been giving it to her on both occasions. she still
refuses to go to the bathroom today. she walks around saying NONSTOP,
"my bummy hurts. ow. ow. ow. ow. my bummy hurts." i am past the
sympathetic stage and it is just starting to get annoying. she will
not sit on the toilet.

anyone had this experience? will she be afraid go to the bathroom from
now until...whenever?

i am concerned because tomorrow is school and i don't want to keep her
home...especially to listen to her whine all day.

yes, i'm insensitive, but i've been listening to it for days and i
just want her to sit on the damn toilet and go. she's holding it in
because she's afraid it's going to hurt, thereby, making it hurt!

go ahead, rip me a new one. but beware, i'm tired and annoyed!

pam
SAHM to alix and callie 3/24/00

Pam-

Madison did the same thing for a while, but it before she was PT, so my
experience was a bit different than yours. Here's what I would do... Keep
giving her the prune juice, raisins, etc. so that she will have no choice but
to go, and will have soft stools when she does (and keep her on that diet as
long as she's taking the cold medicine). After she goes a couple times and
realizes that it's not hurting anymore then *maybe* the lightbulb will come on
and she'll see that it's okay to use the potty again.

I'd also put petroleum jelly on her "bummy" to help it heal and keep it from
hurting when the poo comes out (sorry so graphic).

HTH,
Andrea
twin girls-Madison & Jordan
3 yrs. old

about 6 weeks ago, alix had a bout of constipation. she refused to go
to the bathroom because it hurt her. the effects accumulated so it
hurt even worse. we gave her a stool softener and it resolved itself.

it's happening again. recently she hadn't pooped in 3 days so we gave
her a stool softener, prune juice, and raisins. finally she went poop
but after we put a diaper on her because she refused to sit on the
toilet. we think maybe it is the cold medicine constipating her
because we had been giving it to her on both occasions. she still
refuses to go to the bathroom today. she walks around saying NONSTOP,
"my bummy hurts. ow. ow. ow. ow. my bummy hurts." i am past the
sympathetic stage and it is just starting to get annoying. she will
not sit on the toilet.

anyone had this experience? will she be afraid go to the bathroom from
now until...whenever?

i am concerned because tomorrow is school and i don't want to keep her
home...especially to listen to her whine all day.

yes, i'm insensitive, but i've been listening to it for days and i
just want her to sit on the damn toilet and go. she's holding it in
because she's afraid it's going to hurt, thereby, making it hurt!

go ahead, rip me a new one. but beware, i'm tired and annoyed!

pam
SAHM to alix and callie 3/24/00

My older Son was like this as a toddler, I tried all the medicines and nice
tactic's but the fact was that he simply didn't want to do it because he
thought it was going to hurt as it had once or twice before.
It was awful, he made himself ill, he would be very lethargic and his eyes
would bulge!!!
It got quite desperate but we found a cure in the end. Quite cruel, but, we
would sit him on the toilet and tell him we'd called the doctor, my husband
would go downstairs, knock on the front door and pretend to let him in....
hey presto he would pooh instantly!!!
He laughs about it now but it was quite awful at the time, and, it never
made him frightened of the doctor only what he would have done to him if he
hadn't got it out himself!!
My twin boy now (20 months old) suffers a little too, I find just a couple
of fig biscuits a day keeps him regular, I ran out last week and as soon as
he missed, he didn't go, so that works for him.
All kids are different its just a matter of finding what works for you.
Good luck!!

Tanya

Andrea wrote in message
...
Pam-

Madison did the same thing for a while, but it before she was PT, so my
experience was a bit different than yours. Here's what I would do... Keep
giving her the prune juice, raisins, etc. so that she will have no choice
but
to go, and will have soft stools when she does (and keep her on that diet
as
long as she's taking the cold medicine). After she goes a couple times
and
realizes that it's not hurting anymore then *maybe* the lightbulb will
come on
and she'll see that it's okay to use the potty again.

I'd also put petroleum jelly on her "bummy" to help it heal and keep it
from
hurting when the poo comes out (sorry so graphic).

HTH,
Andrea
twin girls-Madison & Jordan
3 yrs. old

about 6 weeks ago, alix had a bout of constipation. she refused to go
to the bathroom because it hurt her. the effects accumulated so it
hurt even worse. we gave her a stool softener and it resolved itself.

it's happening again. recently she hadn't pooped in 3 days so we gave
her a stool softener, prune juice, and raisins. finally she went poop
but after we put a diaper on her because she refused to sit on the
toilet. we think maybe it is the cold medicine constipating her
because we had been giving it to her on both occasions. she still
refuses to go to the bathroom today. she walks around saying NONSTOP,
"my bummy hurts. ow. ow. ow. ow. my bummy hurts." i am past the
sympathetic stage and it is just starting to get annoying. she will
not sit on the toilet.

anyone had this experience? will she be afraid go to the bathroom from
now until...whenever?

i am concerned because tomorrow is school and i don't want to keep her
home...especially to listen to her whine all day.

yes, i'm insensitive, but i've been listening to it for days and i
just want her to sit on the damn toilet and go. she's holding it in
because she's afraid it's going to hurt, thereby, making it hurt!

go ahead, rip me a new one. but beware, i'm tired and annoyed!

pam
SAHM to alix and callie 3/24/00

My older Son was like this as a toddler, I tried all the medicines and nice
tactic's but the fact was that he simply didn't want to do it because he
thought it was going to hurt as it had once or twice before.
It was awful, he made himself ill, he would be very lethargic and his eyes
would bulge!!!
It got quite desperate but we found a cure in the end. Quite cruel, but, we
would sit him on the toilet and tell him we'd called the doctor, my husband
would go downstairs, knock on the front door and pretend to let him in....
hey presto he would pooh instantly!!!
He laughs about it now but it was quite awful at the time, and, it never
made him frightened of the doctor only what he would have done to him if he
hadn't got it out himself!!
My twin boy now (20 months old) suffers a little too, I find just a couple
of fig biscuits a day keeps him regular, I ran out last week and as soon as
he missed, he didn't go, so that works for him.
All kids are different its just a matter of finding what works for you.
Good luck!!

Tanya

Andrea wrote in message
...
Pam-

Madison did the same thing for a while, but it before she was PT, so my
experience was a bit different than yours. Here's what I would do... Keep
giving her the prune juice, raisins, etc. so that she will have no choice
but
to go, and will have soft stools when she does (and keep her on that diet
as
long as she's taking the cold medicine). After she goes a couple times
and
realizes that it's not hurting anymore then *maybe* the lightbulb will
come on
and she'll see that it's okay to use the potty again.

I'd also put petroleum jelly on her "bummy" to help it heal and keep it
from
hurting when the poo comes out (sorry so graphic).

HTH,
Andrea
twin girls-Madison & Jordan
3 yrs. old

about 6 weeks ago, alix had a bout of constipation. she refused to go
to the bathroom because it hurt her. the effects accumulated so it
hurt even worse. we gave her a stool softener and it resolved itself.

it's happening again. recently she hadn't pooped in 3 days so we gave
her a stool softener, prune juice, and raisins. finally she went poop
but after we put a diaper on her because she refused to sit on the
toilet. we think maybe it is the cold medicine constipating her
because we had been giving it to her on both occasions. she still
refuses to go to the bathroom today. she walks around saying NONSTOP,
"my bummy hurts. ow. ow. ow. ow. my bummy hurts." i am past the
sympathetic stage and it is just starting to get annoying. she will
not sit on the toilet.

anyone had this experience? will she be afraid go to the bathroom from
now until...whenever?

i am concerned because tomorrow is school and i don't want to keep her
home...especially to listen to her whine all day.

yes, i'm insensitive, but i've been listening to it for days and i
just want her to sit on the damn toilet and go. she's holding it in
because she's afraid it's going to hurt, thereby, making it hurt!

go ahead, rip me a new one. but beware, i'm tired and annoyed!

pam
SAHM to alix and callie 3/24/00

Good advice there, another treatment I've used, instead of petroleum jelly,
was a bit of Neosporin (OTC antibiotic) Ointment (not cream) with pain
reliever. The ointment does the work of the jelly and the pain reliever,
well, that goes without saying.

On a more cheerful note, I can remember my hotel bound boys being afraid to
use the potty on the 7th (?) floor, because they were afraid that they would
fall in and flush all the way down to the ground floor. This went on for
several days with one of my boys, without the "benefit" of constipation,
just a strong will. Finally, on day three, I had a little 3 1/2 yo boy
running around the hotel room, a bit doubled over, insisting that we GO HOME
RIGHT NOW!!!!. Needless to say, a little tub side hand holding and all
became right with his world.

Cheer up - this stage too shall pass - PUN INTENDED. ;-

Lorraine

Good advice there, another treatment I've used, instead of petroleum jelly,
was a bit of Neosporin (OTC antibiotic) Ointment (not cream) with pain
reliever. The ointment does the work of the jelly and the pain reliever,
well, that goes without saying.

On a more cheerful note, I can remember my hotel bound boys being afraid to
use the potty on the 7th (?) floor, because they were afraid that they would
fall in and flush all the way down to the ground floor. This went on for
several days with one of my boys, without the "benefit" of constipation,
just a strong will. Finally, on day three, I had a little 3 1/2 yo boy
running around the hotel room, a bit doubled over, insisting that we GO HOME
RIGHT NOW!!!!. Needless to say, a little tub side hand holding and all
became right with his world.

Cheer up - this stage too shall pass - PUN INTENDED. ;-

Lorraine

No answer for the current situation but I find for the older one of mine who
has problems (bleeding during pooping) that grapes with the skin on really
help.

As for the baby, she is still a horrible mess (poops in great pain at
*least* every two weeks, yes weeks, whether she needs to or not) and has
other problems like hourly constant *miniscule* but messy and gritty
diarrhea in between times. The doc is investigating her for bugs and
lactose intolerance (no dairy in her diet) right now ... but in a week since
we started the regimen nothing has improved and I haven't managed to scrape
together enough out of her diapers to top up even ONE of the bug-detecting
test tube kits he sent me home with, let alone the FOUR we are supposed to
do.

Which I mention only to underline how sympathetic I am -- goodness knows how
I will ever PT this one given how often she drips and how rarely she does
anything meaningful.

--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)

"pam " wrote in message
...
about 6 weeks ago, alix had a bout of constipation. she refused to go
to the bathroom because it hurt her. the effects accumulated so it
hurt even worse. we gave her a stool softener and it resolved itself.

it's happening again. recently she hadn't pooped in 3 days so we gave
her a stool softener, prune juice, and raisins. finally she went poop
but after we put a diaper on her because she refused to sit on the
toilet. we think maybe it is the cold medicine constipating her
because we had been giving it to her on both occasions. she still
refuses to go to the bathroom today. she walks around saying NONSTOP,
"my bummy hurts. ow. ow. ow. ow. my bummy hurts." i am past the
sympathetic stage and it is just starting to get annoying. she will
not sit on the toilet.

anyone had this experience? will she be afraid go to the bathroom from
now until...whenever?

i am concerned because tomorrow is school and i don't want to keep her
home...especially to listen to her whine all day.

yes, i'm insensitive, but i've been listening to it for days and i
just want her to sit on the damn toilet and go. she's holding it in
because she's afraid it's going to hurt, thereby, making it hurt!

go ahead, rip me a new one. but beware, i'm tired and annoyed!

pam
SAHM to alix and callie 3/24/00

No answer for the current situation but I find for the older one of mine who
has problems (bleeding during pooping) that grapes with the skin on really
help.

As for the baby, she is still a horrible mess (poops in great pain at
*least* every two weeks, yes weeks, whether she needs to or not) and has
other problems like hourly constant *miniscule* but messy and gritty
diarrhea in between times. The doc is investigating her for bugs and
lactose intolerance (no dairy in her diet) right now ... but in a week since
we started the regimen nothing has improved and I haven't managed to scrape
together enough out of her diapers to top up even ONE of the bug-detecting
test tube kits he sent me home with, let alone the FOUR we are supposed to
do.

Which I mention only to underline how sympathetic I am -- goodness knows how
I will ever PT this one given how often she drips and how rarely she does
anything meaningful.

--Janet
Elliot, Hanna, Connor (10/21/96)
and Holly (4/4/01)

"pam " wrote in message
...
about 6 weeks ago, alix had a bout of constipation. she refused to go
to the bathroom because it hurt her. the effects accumulated so it
hurt even worse. we gave her a stool softener and it resolved itself.

it's happening again. recently she hadn't pooped in 3 days so we gave
her a stool softener, prune juice, and raisins. finally she went poop
but after we put a diaper on her because she refused to sit on the
toilet. we think maybe it is the cold medicine constipating her
because we had been giving it to her on both occasions. she still
refuses to go to the bathroom today. she walks around saying NONSTOP,
"my bummy hurts. ow. ow. ow. ow. my bummy hurts." i am past the
sympathetic stage and it is just starting to get annoying. she will
not sit on the toilet.

anyone had this experience? will she be afraid go to the bathroom from
now until...whenever?

i am concerned because tomorrow is school and i don't want to keep her
home...especially to listen to her whine all day.

yes, i'm insensitive, but i've been listening to it for days and i
just want her to sit on the damn toilet and go. she's holding it in
because she's afraid it's going to hurt, thereby, making it hurt!

go ahead, rip me a new one. but beware, i'm tired and annoyed!

pam
SAHM to alix and callie 3/24/00