Bathroom and tummy issues

[SarahBear]

Violet has been complaining of her stomach hurting. It seems to happen when she eats, regardless of whether or not she over-eats. It also happens when she hasn't eaten. I've tried explaining to her that sometimes it hurts when you're hungry, sometimes it hurts when you've eaten too much, and sometimes it hurts when you're sick. Of course being 4, she has a hard time distinguishing between the various reasons for it and it's not clear to me when and why it's hurting. There have been a couple times recently, however, where she didn't know whether to eat or stop eating because of it. She thought she had eaten too much, but then she was still hungry, so that clearly wasn't the reason for it. I'm not sure if she ate too much or too little in the end.

Additionally, she was constipated recently and during that time, she had issues with feeling like she needed to pee, even though she didn't. This interfered with bedtime and between the confusion and being tired and ready for sleep, she became quite distressed and I couldn't do anything to calm her down. I had to just wait for her to process through the situation and calm down on her own. She also had issues with it in the morning. Well, eventually she didn't seem constipated anymore, but still complained of feeling the urge to go when she didn't need to. Last night it caused significant issue again.

So, I'm left wondering what to do, or if there's anything to do other than to wait for it to pass. Any thoughts or ideas? This also isn't the first time this has happened. Last time it happened, I thought she may have had a UTI, so I had her drink cranberry juice. After a few days, she had a huge poop and it went away and I realized it was constipation. This time, it didn't seem to go away after the constipation seemed to clear up. Is it possible it is just constipation that isn't clearing up as fast?

 

[k4th]

My dd had a bout of chronic constipation. She complained of tummy ache frequently, passed small, hard, smelly stools & actually ended up with overflow diarrhoea. I think that's the term used - it's where the bowel can't move a solid stool and it gets stuck so the bowel actually stretches around it and very soft stool escapes. Obviously this led to her feeling like she needed to go all the time, but also not recognising when she was about to pass a very soft/diarrhoea type stool.

The consequence of that was then that even the slightest constipation could put pressure of her weakened area of bowel and lead it to stretch again - right back to overflow constipation.

I'm not trying to freak you out with that information - only tell you what happened to us. If you feel she is maybe having bouts of constipation I would deal with it now. Go to a dr, discuss it & discuss whether a regular stool softener would help her get back into more regular habits. We used laxido for about 6 months in decreasing amounts and it really helped get dd into healthy, regular habits (without any pain or straining) that has led to us being over 16 months without any issues now.

Maybe it's not that bad for Violet at all - but given our personal story - I would deal with it quickly and discuss it with a dr.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

 

[SarahBear]

When it first happened, I just made sure she had some prunes. That seemed to clear her out and decrease symptoms, but they didn't go away entirely. They're back though. Do you think I need to take her to a doctor, or do you think just getting over-the-counter medication would do it? I'd take her except that we've been there so many times since Christmas and it's not always easy to get her there because of work and how far it is.

 

[k4th]

Maybe talk to a pharmacist first then? You want a medication that helps to prevent the build up and keeps her going regularly... as opposed to one that fixes the problem for now but doesn't stop it coming back. Does that make sense? Maybe at violets age you can buy something over the counter?

As a side - I still give my two prunes or dried apricots with breakfast every day as a longer term preventative measure. I'm much happier with that than using medication wherever possible.

 

[SarahBear]

I'll see what I can find and pick up some prunes as well. If that doesn't solve it or if it comes back, I'll take her to the doctor.

 

[SucreK]

I recommend this to start: https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/f...ble-tablets-watermelon/ID=prod3946402-product. And then a daily dose of Miralax, starting with 1/4 cap daily (we use that, or as much as 1/2 cap per day). This is all per our pediatric GI doc.

 

[Teri7489]

I'm very much for natural ways of clearing constipation in children. Apple and pear juice daily have pretty much stopped a year long battle of constipation with my daughter (which used to get so bad she would throw up from trying to hold in poo). Prune juice works too but is processed differently, similar to orange juice so isn't as effective but does still work. Fresh prunes are funnIly enough the best way to clear you out if you can manage to get her to eat them?

Constipation can block the bladder so will cause the feeling of needing to pee but will prevent you from passing urine effectively so could be quite distressing for a little one. Also gas associated with Constipation can be really uncomfortable and cN unsettle them.

Personally I would try daily apple juice, warm baths followed by a tummy massage. YouTube specific ones for paediatric Constipation and it will show you the main points to help. It should help to regulate her and avoid this happening again. We do tummy massage twice a week now and always shift a lot of wind which makes my daughters tummy go down a lot. I don't like medication unless it really is needed as for things such as Constipation the body becomes reliant on it and often can become a life long need.

 

[SarahBear]

I recommend this to start: https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/f...ble-tablets-watermelon/ID=prod3946402-product. And then a daily dose of Miralax, starting with 1/4 cap daily (we use that, or as much as 1/2 cap per day). This is all per our pediatric GI doc.

I actually JUST bought Pedialax from the store. It says to take with 8 ounces of water. That's a LOT of water! Violet doesn't drink in those portions all at once. I'm planning to make apple jigglers in order to get the liquid into her with the pill. Then I'm going to get dried prunes and have her eat those regularly for a while. Between liking them and knowing they help, she's very willing to eat them.

 

[SucreK]

Raisins are also AWESOME for getting kids to poop. But don't be afraid of Miralax. Here is a great article from the New York Times: https://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/when-bedwetting-isnt-an-accident/?_r=0

 

[SarahBear]

Well, the pedialax has successfully made her poop every time she's taken it, but I'm not sure it's enough to have fully cleared her out. The dose for her age is 1 to 3 pills in 24 hours. I gave her two yesterday evening and was considering giving her one in the morning. I decided to not give it to her this morning and see how she was feeling later today. We're also going to the doctor today because she has a finger infection, so I'll bring up the constipation as well and see what the doctor has to say.

 

[k4th]

Good to hear she's going again. Is she feeling any more comfortable?? Hope she is!

 

[SarahBear]

She says her belly is bothering her less than it was. I think all the symptoms are still there, just less than before.