Please help with constipation

[mme4johnny]

We have had my son (4.5 diagnosed with Autism at 18 months) on a GF/CF diet now for 5-6 weeks. He has always had issues with constipation to the point that we had hoped the diet would help.

It has gotten worse (behaviors/speech/eye contact much better). Every 3-4 days he gets so constipated he cannot have a BM. He cries, pushes, whimpers and this can go on for 24 hours.

Have any of you had this issue and if so what did you do? Any insight or suggestions would be appreciated.

[ang64063]

You might try giving him things like prunes, raisins, apples, Mott's applesauce, apple juice or prune juice. If that does not work, you may have to go to things like Benefiber, Citacell, stool softners, X-Lax, etc.

[mme4johnny]

Thanks...we have tried prune juice, milk of magnesia, suppositories. You name it we have done it. We were up most of the night with this little guy in pain trying to push. Off to the doctor today, something has gotta give.

[lilee]

hi there
i've been reading mostly and needed to reply! Better late than never...
my dd has been seen by a gastroenterologist for 18 mos. she is 2 years/4 mos. chronic constipation is often caused by many things, hers has been treated successfully with over the counter (although prescribed by the doc in accordance with her weight) meds. the prescription meds require a much larger liquid intake (she is still nursing at will, and takes in very minimal outside fluids). i have seen 7+ days w/o bm. our doc says never past 3, if so, induce. we tried all the baby lax, etc. she now has her using adult strength, cut in half. if diligent about m.o.m. 2x day, she almost always has one every 3rd day. please don't settle with what a pede. may say, ask for a referral to a specialist who can correctly test and diagnose the problem.
btw
yes, i know breastfeeding is supposed to have a laxative effect. it did until 6mos...bronchiolitis....antibiotic...tri ed probiotics, been a problem ever since.
good luck.
don't stop trying to help!
poor baby...

[mme4johnny]

I thought I posted after my little guys appointment...knowing me I probably inadvertantly deleted it...oh well. Wanted to give an update in case any of you need help this might be it.

J was diagnosed with Encropresis which is very common with our kids. They are constipated and with that they fear passing a BM. It becomes a viscious cycle where they need to go but "withhold" in fear of pain. What happens is the bowels become very stretched out and they are able to withold alot. What eventually does pass is called leakage. They usually can't clean out the lower intestine. Poor things.

Our Gastroenterologist put him on mega doses of Magnesium Citrate to clean him out...yes, it worked. He is now on miralax dailey to keep stools soft. We need to retrain the bowels so that he does not associate pain with BM. They tell you to put him on the toilet for 10 minutes (ya right, do they know how impatient our kids are) after every meal.

Hope that is helpful to some of you out there and that my post is not too graphic.