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Poop
My five year old is "withholding". At least that's the technical term. It's where he won't poo. He just holds it in and holds in for a few days on end because one time a year or so ago he was constipated, and didn't crap for a few days, and the turd that came out of him was HUGE and it really hurt him, so he's scared to go poo now because he thinks it's going to hurt every time. Of course, since he's holding it in now, when he finally does drop a deuce, it's huge and it hurts. The problem is that when he gets really excited about something, like when he's at the park, or playing on the Wii, his mind forgets about holding in the poo, and he craps himself. Sometimes it's just a little bit, then he realizes and pinches it off, or he'll let the whole thing go in his pants. Either way, he's 5. This shouldn't be happening. It's disruptive, and unsanitary because sometimes we'll find bits of poo on the carpet. We keep trying to explain to him that he needs to go "number 2" whenever he feels it coming on, but he refuses. We've given him mineral oil, because that's supposed to help, be he is determined to hold that poo in. We've tried bribing him. I've taken away the Wii and the computer for every time he craps his pants. Nothing is working. I don't want to yell at him about it because I don't want to have him develop some sort of complex about crapping, but damn, I don't know what else to do.
Anyone have experience with this? Can you guys help me?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by bethany on -
Friends of ours had the problem. (our kids are too little). They went to the doc, and were told to mix fiber power into every beverage, and to feed foods that would not bind her up until she got over the fear. Good luck, and welcome back!
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Permalink Reply by mcglory13 on -
Mineral oil would have been my recommendation. In addition, is it possible he has irritable bowel syndrome or something that does cause continuous poop woes? if so, there are dietary things you can change that can make that better for him.
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Permalink Reply by Boring User Name on -
Flaxseed. Put it in everything. Oatmeal, cookies, smoothies, stirfry. Flaxseed has changed the habits of everyone in our family.
Or talk to the doctor.
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Permalink Reply by GreenLantern on -
mcglory, I didn't even think about IBS. I don't think it's that. But isn't that when you have a lot of gas and poo a lot? I don't know.
I'll try the dietary stuff you folks have recommended. Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by mcglory13 on
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GL, No, it's not. It's when the brain in your gut is oversensitive to pain and your nerves misfire and cause you distress when other people wouldn't feel anything. It can lead to extreme and constant constipation (and thus pain when pooing). On the flip side, it can involve diarrhea and gas. Or, it can alternate from one to the next as your system attempts to right itself.
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Permalink Reply by wookie on -
You could also try stool softeners, but you would want to consult with a doctor or pediatrician before pursuing that course.
After 9 months of constant, chronic stomach complaints, we finally met with a doctor who discovered my daughter had MEGA COLON. Which isn't as cool as it sounds. It can take a colon a long time to heal once everything is out and working again.
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Permalink Reply by GreenLantern on
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Oh. Ok. Thanks for clearing that up.
I'm thinking we should take him to a doc to see what they might say on top of the suggestions here.
mcglory13 said:
GL, No, it's not. It's when the brain in your gut is oversensitive to pain and your nerves misfire and cause you distress when other people wouldn't feel anything. It can lead to extreme and constant constipation (and thus pain when pooing). On the flip side, it can involve diarrhea and gas. Or, it can alternate from one to the next as your system attempts to right itself.
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Permalink Reply by The Oracle on -
Yeah, it's really a combination medical/psychological thing, and not to be messed with (ahem). I would get to the doctor sooner rather than later. Holding it in can impact it and cause further problems like intestinal enlargement and loss of sensation in the intestine, and loss of strength in the sphincter (which then creates accidents), exacerbating the cycle more and more.
Google "encopresis in children" for more info. I think you're right to pull back on the punishment for it as I don't think it's wholly intentional after a while.
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Permalink Reply by jenra on -
Popcorn. Give him a bath tomorrow a couple hours after breakfast. Put on a movie and tell him you'll pause it any time he needs.
Use some coconut oil instead of butter, have him just wear underwear since he just got out of the tub or even nothing and about 30 minutes after gorging on popcorn he'll use the toilet, no question.
Do not punish him over toileting accidents, maybe this is partly behavioral, but is that a power struggle you want to engage in? Even if he gets punished for it, you still have to clean it up because he's 5, nobody wins. If it's fear/trauma based then punishments will only feed the fear/trauma.
If you can't deal with this at home, try the doctor. They have heard this before and dealt with it successfully.
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