we are new to this site but not to autism, our son is 6 and we have been faced with many challenges since his birth but this is one that even the doctors can't seem to help with. He never had a problem pooping until he got potty trained (around 5) Now he won't poop unless we give him an enema. We have tried miralax but even with that he stands in a corner and holds it in, he has lost all sensation to have a bowel movement and we are at our wits end.......if there is anyone who has had this problem please let us know. Thanking you in advance for you advice.
keith and sadie
niko's parents

hi,
How long after potty training did you find that this started?

I have worked with children in the past that have demonstrated similar symptoms. It turned out that it was to do with the lack of sensation (snuck feelingetc) that occurs when going into the potty rather than a nappy.
We placed a cloth over the potty and retaught how to use it, the child had the pressure of the cloth on their bottom and started to go again. Over a few weeks we had the cloth less taught each day until the child was happy to go in the potty again.

This was combined with visual social stories on why we use the potty and how daddy/ mummy use the toilet etc.

Cold drinks and excersise were also used to stimulate the bowel.

Kevin,

Thank you so much for your response to our question, but I don't think that is our problem. Niko's problem started about 5-6 months after being potty trained and it all started with a time of constipation. He had one hard bowel movement and we think he was afraid of having another one so he just held it pretty much without our knowledge, (we have 2 other children and various activities) that we didn't even notice he had not been going until it was too late and we rushed him to the hospital. This has been going on for 1 1/2 years and when it first started he remember his "pullups" which is what he used at the time of only urinating on the toilet and we even offered them back to him because I would much rather have a child that did not need an enema than worry about being "late" in potty training. Anyway, thanks again for your interest, if you have any other suggestions we would love to hear them
Keith and Sadie
Niko's parents

Hi- I Don't have any advice but I just had to say Hi to someonw with the same name as my duahgter has. You even spell it the same way. That is so neat.

hi keith and sadie
you sound like you have the same problem with your son as i have with mine. jason will only pee on the toilet and not poo. he is 10 and still on nappies at night. we have tryed everything to try to get him to poo on the toilet but no joy! i will try the cloth idea it just might work with jason.
i was thinking of giving him something to move his bowls last thing at night [ not a drug ] cos i think if jason does a poo on the toilet once that will be it well we can only live in hope eh!
let me know how you get on and if you get any ideas
good luck

I don't know if this will help but I found that flax seed oil softenes up the bowel, so its almost impossible not to let it pass. It takes a few days to start working but when he does, well he can take it everyday and it will just soften it up enough to make him have to move. (Its easy to hold back hard stool) Also, flax seed oil is very healthy and is supposedly helpful to kids with autism (its got omega 3 in it) with their speech.
If you decide to get this you will find it at the health food store. make sure you look for cold pressed on the label. Barleys makes a good one.
Keggy

Hi Niko's Parents,

We had the same difficulity with our first two sons until the oldest was 6 and 1/2 and his brother 5 and 1/2. We gave them Butyrate. It's a short chain fatty acid. It smells BAD so unless he can swallow pills you'll have a hard time getting him to take it. My kids doctor prescribed Phenylbutyrate 2 tsp a day. Insurance coveres it thank God because it's soooooooo expensive! It prescription one tastes good - like chocolate. Made them poo within a few days.

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