Enema Trouble - Still

[joybell322]

My gastro doctor is out of town and I need some help - still.

We did an enema on Lizzie last night and she still had to potty 3 times this morning. And every morning after she does NOT have an enema, she had to go a couple of times.

Should I be doing one every night for now? Would that be bad for her medically? We use 1 tbs of salt in 1 quart warm tap water. I use not quite half of that mixture per enema.

[Barb]

I don't *think* that the water enema can hurt her. C flushes almost 1000 cc's of water every other day so that is a lot less volume.

I know we have talked about this in other threads but do you benefiber in her diet? That may help get more volume out at once. You can get it in any store, Costco is the cheapest, if you don't already have it. Odorless, colorless, tasteless....

[cutie patooties mom]

Are you still giving her the Ex-lax? Could she be having loose bowels because of that?
Does your urologist have anything to say about the bowel program? Our urologist takes care of bladder and bowels. We have never seen a gastro dr. Maybe ask the urologist while the gastro is out of town.

[Gymp]

I'm new here and don't know if it's appropriate for me to reply to this post but here goes...

If the child's feces is compacted inside her and is hard I don't think an enema will work.Here's why,the poop is hard and in chunks the enema liquid won't absorb into the fecial matter to make it soft and slip out.To find out if it's compacted feel the lower abdomen area by pushing on her lower belly with your hands and see if you can feel lumps if so it's probably compacted.

When I was young I had this problem and enemas for me were useless the solution for my mother and the nurses at the hospital was to do a manual evacuation.Sit her on the toilet and put a new pair of latex or rubber gloves on.Have her bend forward on the toilet while you reach around back of her inserting one of your fingers into her rear and manually pulling her poop out.(wet the finger you insert so it's not dry so it slips in easily).This also moves her insides so that more poop will work its way down,it sort of massages her rectum and opens it up so it can fill up with more feces.

Make sure you clean up well afterward!

It's not pretty and seems a bit gross but this is how I had my bowel movements for years and at around the age of 8 I learned how to do this myself and had done it this way for many years.You gotta do what you gotta do.

Enemas never worked for me and always squirted out like what was mentioned earlier.Also keep in mind that the human body isn't like a clock you're always going to have some accidents no matter how you try to time out when she goes.I remember these accidents happening to me at the most inappropriate times like in the middle of class at school and getting teased about it.

Shit Happens !!!
(and I don't mean to make light of your daughter's given situation)

Good Luck...
Gymp

[joybell322]

Yes, still exlax - but we are going to see her urologist (who I like a whole lot better than her gastro) in November. I will be talking to him then. Until then though, do you think there would be anything wrong with me trying benefiber instead of exlax? I know her doctor said to do exlax, but after all, isn't all this poop stuff just trial and error?

[cutie patooties mom]

Yes unfortunately, its all trial and error. I feel your frustration!! I would absolutely get off of the ex-lax because I know that if I ever take something like that, I end up having to go to the bathroom all day. It's really uncontrollable and uncomfortable. I think the benifiber would help make it easier but not give her loose bowels like the ex-lax. My daughters urologist told us to get on a high fiber diet to go along with the enema program. So that makes sense. I hope you find something that works soon.:happy065:

[Dodger67]

Bran flakes for breakfast!

[Barb]

I have thought for a long time that the exlax is part of the problem but what do I know? I just have never heard of a kid on that as a regular program.

Benefiber is certainly not going to do any harm and it is what Cuties mom said, it is all just trial and error. Instead of an enema, have you heard of the 'magic bullet' suppository? Benefiber will both make the stool softer but bulkier (if that makes sense). Cart actually makes this up himself, he puts three spoonfuls in a glass of milk with 3 (or more if I am not watching, lol) spoonfuls of Nesquick (chocolate powder)

Bran flakes is good idea but most kids won't touch them, try whole wheat cheerios maybe.

I have to agree with the Cuties mom too. I think talking to your urologist may be a great way to go

[joybell322]

Thanks a billion! I love this site! & we're going to go off exLax and try benifiber tomorrow.

Lizzie is 6 and weighs about 38 pounds. I think I'll just start giving her 1 tablespoon in her drink at meals - 3 times daily. Any thoughts on that - too much or too little? I know I'll have to figure her out, but I'd like an idea on how much to begin with.

Thanks again. I appreciate so much the ability to ask questions and you all actually take time to answer. It's wonderful to have found this site!

[Barb]

This is just our personal experience but I would give 3 Tablespoons 1 time a day with a high fiber meal....breakfast is our choice. That way it all bulks together rather than spreading it out (um, quite literally, lol)