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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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7 Year Old, Having Bowel Movement Problems. Taking Laxative, No Improvement. Advice?

7 yr old been on Laxaday for almost 1 month. starting from 1 tsp/ day to now 2 tsp/ day. Bowel movement has not improved. It was initially 3 days in a row, nothing for one week. The last one was over 3 wks apart. We asked MD about Dulcolax and it was prescribed. My 7 yr old is having anxiety about it and refuses. I don't feel comfortable doing it if she doesn't. I don't want to tramatize her. Should we force her or return to MD for another solution? Will the bowel movement improve if we continue with Laxaday?
Wed, 24 Jul 2013
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Pediatrician 's  Response
Here is the protocol I follow that works very well and I'm sure you can find the equivalent medications without a prescription. I apologize that the protocol refers to "he" rather than "she".
Chronic constipation is a common problem in children, especially boys. The protocol for treating this, while fairly simple, does require strict adherence to it for many weeks or months before the problem improves. Here it is and please let me know if you have questions:

First, all children with soiling have chronic constipation and have colons full of stool. This needs to be evacuated completely so buy a few Pediatric Fleet's Enemas and give him one now, one in the morning and then you can continue to use an enema if he goes more than 4 days without a stool.

Second, eliminate all dairy products from his diet for now as the calcium in dairy caused the colon to slow down and the calories from dairy products only spoil their appetite for other foods. Increase his intake of juices, especially apple juice, as this will help with keeping his stools soft along with the next step.

Start him on Miralax, 2 teaspoons daily in juice, to help keep his stool loose or soft and moving.

Over time his colon will shrink back down and he will regain his control over his bowels in time, but you should expect this protocol to work only if he is willing to participate fully in it.

He should sit on the toilet after each meal for 5-10 minutes to help retrain his bowel to respond to the natural urge of needing to empty after meals.

It may take weeks or months to see improvement but if you stick with this protocol I've yet to see a child not get better eventually.
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Pediatrician Dr. Taher Y Kagalwala's  Response
Dear user,

Constipation is one of the tougher problems that pediatricians have to tackle in their day-to-day practice. Both the origin and the ongoing care of constipation is layered by emotional and maladjustment problems, and an adherence to medical regimens is considered essential but not compulsary to achieve a cure.

While most patients tend to improve over time, some don't, and need management of their problem for a long, long time. If Laxaday is working, then rectal medicines are not needed, but if increasing doses of oral medicines are not working, rectal medication in the form of a suppository or even a saline enema HAVE to be resorted to. Unfortunately, this is the reality.

- Dr. Taher
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7 Year Old, Having Bowel Movement Problems. Taking Laxative, No Improvement. Advice?

Here is the protocol I follow that works very well and I m sure you can find the equivalent medications without a prescription. I apologize that the protocol refers to he rather than she . Chronic constipation is a common problem in children, especially boys. The protocol for treating this, while fairly simple, does require strict adherence to it for many weeks or months before the problem improves. Here it is and please let me know if you have questions: First, all children with soiling have chronic constipation and have colons full of stool. This needs to be evacuated completely so buy a few Pediatric Fleet s Enemas and give him one now, one in the morning and then you can continue to use an enema if he goes more than 4 days without a stool. Second, eliminate all dairy products from his diet for now as the calcium in dairy caused the colon to slow down and the calories from dairy products only spoil their appetite for other foods. Increase his intake of juices, especially apple juice, as this will help with keeping his stools soft along with the next step. Start him on Miralax, 2 teaspoons daily in juice, to help keep his stool loose or soft and moving. Over time his colon will shrink back down and he will regain his control over his bowels in time, but you should expect this protocol to work only if he is willing to participate fully in it. He should sit on the toilet after each meal for 5-10 minutes to help retrain his bowel to respond to the natural urge of needing to empty after meals. It may take weeks or months to see improvement but if you stick with this protocol I ve yet to see a child not get better eventually.