Posted 3/22/2012 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,
Newbie here. I'm a mom to a 3.5 year old DS who has been dealing with reflux (resolved) and diarrhea/constipation (encopresis) since he was a very young baby. We have been doing clean out doses with Peg 3350 and daily doses of 2.25 tsp for well over a year and a half now, but nothing has worked. He eats healthfully (although will NOT touch many veggies) with plenty of fibre, fruits and water and is very active. Our pediatrician had x-rays done two weeks ago and they showed that once again, he is very constipated. Since nothing else has worked, she has asked us to do a clean out with Pico Salax this weekend. We are to give him half a packet with 500 mL of water at night, and then repeat 12 hours later. I am doubtful that he will even take this because a) he won't drink that much in one sitting (and it must be consumed all at once); and b) it apparently does not taste that fabulous and he is not a fan of anything orange (cranberry is not available).
So assuming that this works (which it probably won't; I know my DS), what can I expect? I am nervous about giving him an adult drug that is described as a powerful bowel cleanse (according to Pico Salax's website). My other option is an enema, but I doubt that he would let me administer it (he is 3.5, stubborn and acutely aware of his painful bum and tummy), and the pediatrician isn't sure that it would work anyway. I would continue with the Peg after this clean out.
What are my other options if this does not work? Manual disempaction has been somewhat ruled out (general anesthetic would just end up constipating him further), and I don't know what else is possible.
FYI, I posted in the IBS forum because in spite of not believing in the term IBS, the pediatrician has said that it is what he has if she were to use that term.
Thanks,
M.