My daughter is on 4 packets on Movicol daily. Her constipation problem started from birth I think, but came more apparent when potty training and got a bit older. Anyway, she is 5 now and is at school, and has been on the Movicol for about 18 months. She has started school in January and its awful! She loves school but keeps soiling herself - and its not just abit of poo in her pants, its a full poo. She worries about going to the toilet herself incase she is in a mess - and there isn't always an adult around to help. She often sits in her mess until I pick her up - which causes other problems such as a urinary tract infection and has now been left with kidney damage as it got really bad!
I just worry that she won't ever get the hang of going to the toilet 'just in time' and then won't mess herself. She will be starting Y1 after the school holidays and I hope she has got her confidence. She is great at home, the 4 sachets seem to be good for her. The hospital suggest decreasing her movicol to 3 sachets to hopefully encourage her to 'hold on' just to get to the toilet in time (her poo on 4 sachets is very runny).
If anyone's child suffers the same conditions, it would be great to hear how you deal with it.
Thanks
Hi Shell
Does she soil herself around the same time each day at school? If so, I'm quite sure the teacher or the SA would encourage your daughter to go to the bathroom regularly.
The problem with school is there are so many different things to be doing and is very easy for any child to forget they need to pay a visit. Have you spoken to the teacher about this problem? They should be very understanding of the problem and be more than willing to keep giving your daughter quiet, gentle reminders.
I certainly would suggest you speak with the teacher who will be more than happy to help your daughter overcome this slight problem she is facing at the moment.
Ask her teacher what the toilet routine is - are the children just able to go without asking? Do they have set toilet times (I doubt this one for such young children) although they will probably have routine toilet times for lunch and break times after this they may well just be allowed to go when ever they feel the need to go!
Good luck
Melbi xx
Thanks for your advice Melbi. Yes I have spoken to the teacher, and the hospital, and have come up with a 'toilet pass' system, whereby she doesn't need to ask to go to the toilet she just shows the pass and they know where she is going. The other part of the problem is that she is scared to go to the loos by herself in case she has soiled and can't clean herself up. She tends to wait to ask an assistant, she is a shy girl and won't interrupt if the teacher is busy - and needless to say its often too late. Hopefully the ticket system should help. We have reduced her Movicol as well to 3 packets a day which I give her when she gets home from school and things have 'firmed up' a bit, so hopefully she will have got a bit more control.
I will keep you posted as to what happens over the next few weeks!!
Shell
Hi Shell
Fingers crossed the card system will help :D I know it isn't your daughters fault that she is soiling herself but another thing you can try is a reward system. At this moment in time I'd try this at home only and not bring it into school at this point. A star chart for when she gets home and hasn't soiled will help your daughter to have a little reminder about going to the toilet during the day at school. Decide on a number of stars she will need to receive a reward (keep the reward small) at the end of each week. As she becomes more successful in not soiling herself at school add another star she needs to gain to receive the reward. You might start by saying one start out of 5 (days) and slowly build it up to having to gain all 5 stars to receive the reward. Don't rush with the number of stars she needs to gain as this would just set her up to 'fail'.
Good luck
And yes please do keeo us informed of her progress.
Melbi xxx
Hi Melbi
Thanks for that, and we have started it. She wanted to go bowling so that was her first reward and we made it. I know its going to be a long process and difficult, I just worry about her as she gets older and the name calling starts at school. Things are getting a little bit better, but will keep you informed in a few weeks to let you know how we've got on.
Shell
How is your daughter now and if so what routine did you get her in. Desperate for answers as little boy has really bad constipation and is having movicol too.
Hello, my son is now 12 and he has been suffering with the same condition for several years. He has been on Movicol and the effect of taking it regularly is leakage & therefore soiling his pants plus he seems drained all the time having to go toilet constantly. Am worried that this could be long term.....