Releiving extreme constipation in 1yr old

1. 52

   Kakazzaposted 12 years ago

   My 1 yr old has extreme constipation. We have tried enema's, suppositories, now 3 different types of laxatives, completely changing his diet. Giving him a high fiber diet, cutting down on dairy, cutting out bananas, white breads & pasta, increasing water consumption, adding olive oil to his milk. Sugar in warm water to drink. Belly massages, warm baths, loads of exercise. And he is still in agonizing pain when he tries to poop and still nothing happens. The enema's & suppositories work very quickly but im reluctant to keep using them if possible as i dont want him to become dependant on them. I am at the point now that I will try anything. Can anyone suggest anything else. Please. It's breaking my heart to see him in so much pain.

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   1. 86

      Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Poor little guy. He has my complete sympathy.
      
      He could very well have food intolerances, or autoimmune reactions to certain foods. I have Celiac disease and when I've been exposed to gluten, I know it because the first symptom I have is that my intestinal tract stops being motile. In other words, it doesn't push the food on. It's like having the air knocked out of you, but it happens to your intestines. I've talked with other people with Celiac disease and some of them say that they lived with chronic severe constipation before they went on the Celiac diet.
      
      By now, with pain, he may also be having severe anxiety about going to the bathroom, and that only creates a vicious cycle. Is one of the laxative products you've given him stool softener? If not, you might try that to make sure that his stool doesn't harden so much.
      
      I'd also advise that you try removing certain carbs from his diet. Read "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall. It will give you a new slant on what Celiac disease really is. At your son's age, substituting fruits and allowable carbs won't be as difficult as it would be later.
      
      If his problem is milk and it's autoimmune or total intolerance, cutting down on dairy won't work. You'd have to remove it from his diet - including all of the foods it's in. But first you could try goat milk to see if his problem is with cow milk. Then, if the problem doesn't ease up, try other milk substitutes, like coconut or almond milk. I wouldn't advise using soy milk, as you'll see if you read the "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" book.
      Good luck with this. I'll be glad to help with more info if I can.

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      1. 52

         Kakazzaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Oh wow...ok defiently worth a shot. I'm ready to try anything.
         
         How is celiac actually diginosed
         
         Dr's just keep advising to try more medication.
         
         I was told by another paren that his hips could be out of place, I asked our dr. & he pretty much laughed at me.
         
         That made me very angery. So I now looking for other options, plus a 2nd Opinion. Was just amazed he appeared to care more about his own opionons
         then the welfare of my child.
         
         Thank u for ur post. Given me something new to try. Exactly what is needed.
         
         Thank you !

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         1. 86

            Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Celiac disease is diagnosed with a blood test. However, the blood tests are not consistently done, and are not sensitive enough. So I'd advise trying the diet change before the blood tests. You'd know in about a month if it helped any. Plus the stool softener, because he's very probably holding it in now due to anxiety over how it hurts.

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   2. 67

      Greek Oneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      here is a suggestion...
      
      take him to a pediatrician

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      1. 86

         Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         She clearly stated that she's already done that. They only want to medicate and medicate more.

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      2. 52

         Kakazzaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         His doctor is a pediatrician. I don't need ur negative comments either mate.

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            Greek Oneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            you never mentioned you took him to a doctor in your opening post, mate

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Why haven't you taken him to a doctor?  These forums are no place to request help for serious health issues.

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      1. 75

         TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Apparently you already have seen a doctor, but perhaps you saw the wrong kind.  Gastroenterologists specialize in these types of problems and may well be able to help.

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         1. 52

            Kakazzaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            We have seen 6 different doctors, and need a referral to see a specialist, in Aus.. But now that I'm getting some advice of others I'll know what to ask for. I'm no doctor & don't pretend to be. That's why I'm so annoyed with the medical system, we are paying a lot of money for next to no help.

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   4. 67

      PhoenixVposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am really sorry to hear about this. I would not want to give any kind of medical advice but I was wondering if possibly they have prune baby food if a doctor said it was okay?

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   5. 89

      Novel Treasureposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Kikazza,
      
      My son has very similar problems. We give him a prune with each meal, then also put dark molasses in his soy milk. We can't give him whole milk or regular milk because it makes it worse. Also, our pediatrician has told us to use Miralax and that has been the best thing that has helped him so far. It's over the counter and comes in a big white bottle with a purple/pink top. The cap is designed for adults or children 16 or older so you can't use those measurements. Our doctor told us to give him just a tablespoon of the medicine in his drink. To try once a day, then to increase to 2 or three times a day until he can go. Now please make sure you check with your pediatrician before trying this as I am not a physician and each child is different. But you can at least ask them about using Miralax and what they think.

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   6. 100

      leahleflerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Kakazza,
      
      Pediatricians can be awful when a child has a real problem (our pediatric facility is horrid and ignored my son's failure-to-thrive issues for well over a year - fortunately he has an ENT for his hearing loss and she managed to get us into a GI specialist). Five years later, he has had nearly 10 surgeries and is currently tube fed overnight - so our pediatrician was clearly an idiot.
      
      I would continue to get into a GI specialist (unless you already have one), and if your current GI is useless, push to get a second opinion from another. I am not sure how difficult that is to do in Australia, but severe constipation requiring laxatives and enemas is obviously not normal. They need to scope him and take a biopsy to make sure he doesn't have hirschsprungs or another disorder, and they can also look for villous flattening that could be caused by Celiac (or other disorders). My son has inflammatory cells infiltrating his entire gut and flattened villi, but no Celiac.
      
      I'd take away all sources of lactose for a week or so and see if that helps - but his constipation seems far more severe than the typical transient constipation seen sometimes in childhood. He really needs a GI doc to look for the cause of the slow motility in his colon.

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2. 58

   quatrainposted 12 years ago

   I have been there. It may help you to try a fruit called bael. It's something of a natural remedy for child constipation and it worked for my son:
   http://www.collectivewizdom.com/ChildCo … alRemedies
   
   It also helps to add olive oil to their diet. Good luck and prayers to you and your baby.

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3. 73

   Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

   I seem to be gluten sensitive as I grow older.Drinking two glasses of prune juice does the trick..and a daily probiotics tablet.

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      Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Dr. Christiane Northrup says that about 3 out of 5 women become gluten sensitive by about their mid-50's.

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         Stacie Lposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks..I meant that it works for me and maybe it's gentle enough for the baby.

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4. 95

   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   One teaspoon of coconut oil in the morning and one before bed. Make sure to get all natural extra virgin coconut oil. Works like a charm for all ages. No point in putting the poor little one through more unnatural methods.

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5. 73

   Mom Katposted 12 years ago

   Wow, all I have to say is that I am so sorry for the way people have attacked you so far in this forum.  You came here for some advice and help with a serious problem & WHAM - tons of slams for no good reason.   That isn't right.  So I am apologizing for those who will not apologize for themselves over this uncalled for behavior.
   
   Now, my niece had similar issues when she was a baby.  My sister took her in and they discovered that she was allergic to gluten.  Total diet change.  There are also other food sensitivities she has, so they did a total over haul on the diet in that house.
   
   I would suggest speaking with a nutritionist who has experience with identifying possible food allergies along with their symptoms ~ hopefully they will be able to help you make a modified menu plan for your family (or just your child) that will/can work for you. 
   
   While you're waiting for that to happen... I know peppermint tea soothes a tummy ache, as does rubbing peppermint oil on the tummy.   
   Lower back massages - starting up & moving downward - gently - help the system move things along in infants & toddlers.
   In addition to a high fiber diet - be sure your child is drinking enough water.  Many of the prescription & over the counter medications for constipation are actually dehydrating.  (crazy at that is)
   
   I hope you figure out what is causing this.  I'm sorry your little one is struggling right now.

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      elle64posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Try and give him some grapes. They always worked for my girls, Best of luck, it is so hard when little people are hurting.

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   2. 52

      Kakazzaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank u. And u need not apologize for all those people that have nothing better to do with their small lives, than to put other people down. If I had all the answers then I wouldn't be asking for help.

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6. 63

   bulldogrocksposted 12 years ago

   My daughter also struggled with constipation since birth.  When we put her on lactose free formula her constipation got better.  We also gave her apple juice once a day which worked fine til she turned 4 then we had to add Miralax.  That combo worked until she was 8 then again started having problems so went to the dr and they added fiber.  However that made things worse to the point of needing to do a bowel clean out.  Poor thing had to take ex-lax and miralax every 3 hours.  Now my daughter is on gluten free diet and can have lactose and is doing great.  No more fiber, ex lax only a half dose of Miralax until her intestines heal.  Remember you know your child best and Dr's  are practicing physicians using us as practice dummies.

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