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Parenting Club Forums > Children Health > Lexi has a small problem

Posted by: lisar Oct 9 2008, 04:47 AM

She doesnt go poop like she is supposed to. Does anyone have any recommendations that I could give her. I dont want a laxative so something milder. What happens is she doesnt go poop and then she gets acid reflux from that. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Posted by: MommyToAshley Oct 9 2008, 04:58 AM

Avoid or limit cheese, bananas, and fried foods.

Eat lots of fresh "p" fruits -- pears, peaches, pineapples. If she will drink prune juice, it really works well. I'm lucky that Ashley will drink it or we'd be in real trouble. White grape juice (100% juice) will help a little.

Anything with lots of fiber will help too -- whole grain foods, hot cereals, leafy green vegetables, etc.

Hope that helps!

Posted by: MyBabeMaddie Oct 9 2008, 05:23 AM

QUOTE (MommyToAshley @ Oct 9 2008, 07:58 AM)

That covers everything i could think of, they make regular cold cereals with a lot of fiber too, check the nutrition labels.

Posted by: PrairieMom Oct 9 2008, 05:49 AM

We gave Ben Miralax for a really long time, it is just a softener, and apparently according to my Ped its really safe. Its over the counter now. Ben's problems were more severe, the fruit thing and even the corn syrup thing didn't work for us.

Posted by: lisar Oct 9 2008, 05:51 AM

QUOTE (PrairieMom @ Oct 9 2008, 08:49 AM)

thats the problem I am having, just changing her diet doesnt seem to work. How did you use the miralax? What did you mix it with and how much?

Posted by: PrairieMom Oct 9 2008, 05:58 AM

QUOTE (lisar @ Oct 9 2008, 08:51 AM)

QUOTE (PrairieMom @ Oct 9 2008, 08:49 AM)

thats the problem I am having, just changing her diet doesnt seem to work. How did you use the miralax? What did you mix it with and how much?

It comes in a white powder that dissolves really well. Thie directions say call your Ped for dosing, but mine told me to give 1/2 a cap full to start and then adjust as needed. When things improved we slowly weaned off. I would just add it to his OJ in the morning. I never actually used a measuring utensil, but when we would go on vacation I would take those long pill holder things that are marked with the days, you know what I am talking about? and fill each square up with powder. I know... clear as mud.

Posted by: lisar Oct 9 2008, 06:10 AM

QUOTE (PrairieMom @ Oct 9 2008, 08:58 AM)

QUOTE (lisar @ Oct 9 2008, 08:51 AM)

QUOTE (PrairieMom @ Oct 9 2008, 08:49 AM)

thats the problem I am having, just changing her diet doesnt seem to work. How did you use the miralax? What did you mix it with and how much?

thank you. I might try her on that and see if it helps her

Posted by: boyohboyohboy Oct 9 2008, 06:14 AM

lisa, has she seen a pediatric GI dr?

Posted by: lovemy2 Oct 9 2008, 06:56 AM

Olivia has the same problem - we used Miralax for a long time but had trouble getting it regulated - she either went too much or not enough - she now uses the over the counter Pedia Lax - I give her two tabs a day and she does great with it - it is a laxative but not a stimulant and the Ped said it is OK to use - I do wonder though at what point she will get over this - she does poop everyday (for the most part) without it but its small little pebbles - lots of em but small....

Posted by: lisar Oct 9 2008, 07:20 AM

QUOTE (boyohboyohboy @ Oct 9 2008, 09:14 AM)

lisa, has she seen a pediatric GI dr?

No she hasnt. But she has spent several hours in the ER figuring out what was making her hurt like that. They did testing and this is what it came back as. This all started about 2 months ago I think

Posted by: mckayleesmom Oct 9 2008, 07:57 AM

Hae you tried giving her that Activia yogert? Maybe that will help.

Posted by: lisar Oct 9 2008, 08:49 AM

QUOTE (mckayleesmom @ Oct 9 2008, 10:57 AM)

Hae you tried giving her that Activia yogert? Maybe that will help.

I havent thought of that. Thats a good idea, I might just try that instead of giving her meds.

Posted by: MommyToAshley Oct 9 2008, 09:46 AM

QUOTE (lovemy2 @ Oct 9 2008, 10:56 AM)

This is why my ped recommended trying to control it with diet alone. I've heard some people say the Mirilax isn't habit forming, but it is the same stuff that used to be by prescription and on the accompanying material it says that it can be habit forming and eventually the bowels will become dependent on it. I use it on Ashley only when she really needs it, which isn't too often now.

Posted by: gr33n3y3z Oct 9 2008, 09:55 AM

QUOTE (lisar @ Oct 9 2008, 11:20 AM)

QUOTE (boyohboyohboy @ Oct 9 2008, 09:14 AM)

lisa, has she seen a pediatric GI dr?

No she hasnt. But she has spent several hours in the ER figuring out what was making her hurt like that. They did testing and this is what it came back as. This all started about 2 months ago I think

I actually think she should see a Pediatric GI Dr before doing anything bc so many things could be causing that problem as well as like our Katie had

Posted by: lisar Oct 9 2008, 10:01 AM

QUOTE (gr33n3y3z @ Oct 9 2008, 12:55 PM)

QUOTE (lisar @ Oct 9 2008, 11:20 AM)

QUOTE (boyohboyohboy @ Oct 9 2008, 09:14 AM)

lisa, has she seen a pediatric GI dr?

No she hasnt. But she has spent several hours in the ER figuring out what was making her hurt like that. They did testing and this is what it came back as. This all started about 2 months ago I think

I actually think she should see a Pediatric GI Dr before doing anything bc so many things could be causing that problem as well as like our Katie had

I had the same problems growing up. It isnt a constant problem at all, it comes and goes. There isnt anything they can do except give her something to help make her go every now and then.

Posted by: momofone Oct 10 2008, 08:16 AM

Lots of water, beans cuz the fiber and the activia does good too. I notice when i do not drink enough water i have the same problem. Beans work great.

Posted by: lisar Oct 10 2008, 08:53 AM

thanks for all the advice. I am gona start her on the activia this weekend and see how that works for her.

Posted by: moped Oct 10 2008, 11:00 AM

Is it constipation or just the poop is too hard?

Posted by: Nina J Oct 10 2008, 03:15 PM

If it is constipation, I would try the Mirilax or Pedia Lax. I don't like to use laxatives on the girls, but if I have to I weigh up how often they usually go to the toilet against how long since they've gone.

If she usually goes like, once a day, and hasn't gone for 4 days, it might be harder for foods, etc. to work because their could be a lot of 'stuff' in the bowel.

Also, have you seen the fibre stuff you can add to food and drink? I think there are a few different brands. Thats really good, too. I have that and you can even add it to drinks, it's so tasteless. If you don't have those, maybe try them out so she gets plenty of fibre

Posted by: Jamison'smama Oct 10 2008, 03:20 PM

Just to add, Jamison took Miralax for a year, we were doing it daily until things started moving along, then switched to alternate days, once a week, then as needed, etc. It was a MIRACLE drug for us. Life Changing! It takes a few days to become effective since it isn't a stimulant and just starts softening things up so that it is never a strain to go.

Posted by: boyohboyohboy Oct 10 2008, 03:22 PM

lisa for what its worth I just wanted to tell you that when caleb was about a yr old, he couldnt go either..and then when he did it was only a small amount and usually loose stools..
finally we had a dr do a colonoscopy on him and they found out he had a polyp way up there that was so large it was obstructing the poop from coming down..once they took it out he went normal again.
do you think she might have something like that?
i also think the activa is a good idea.

Posted by: luvmykids Oct 10 2008, 10:49 PM

All the other suggestions are really good, but I have to second the water....how much water does she drink? TMI but I started having trouble with this type of thing and suprisingly, drinking a lot of water through the day was all it took for me.

Posted by: lisar Oct 11 2008, 07:29 AM

QUOTE (Nina J @ Oct 10 2008, 06:15 PM)

Also, have you seen the fibre stuff you can add to food and drink? I think there are a few different brands. Thats really good, too. I have that and you can even add it to drinks, it's so tasteless. If you don't have those, maybe try them out so she gets plenty of fibre

I was adding that to the food I was cooking, and dh came to me and asked what I was doing diffrent. LOL. He could tell in his bowels. I thought he was going to kill me. It was so funny. So I havent really used it since. Maybe I need to start adding it to her lunch. But the think is I am not 100% sure she eats all of her lunch at school. I know they swap things. And she never drinks all of her drink, so I dont know that would work either.

And yes she drinks plenty of water. She gets water with her lunch everyday, normally flavored water. And she drinks it at home alot to.

And for the other question, I think its that when her "poop" moves thru her bowels before she ever has to go is when it hurts. Thats how it was with me when I was kid. Maybe just a stool softner would work?