Need help with understanding and how to help my son, he has a problem with becoming busy and then he poops his pants. He also seems to wait till he poops so big that he says his bottom hurts. I believe he poops at least once a day but I can say that I have never seen poop so big. He knows that it's a bad thing and I have noticed at times he will hide his underware. Most of the time when he does it he will change his underwear and I don't cetch it till I go to do laundry.
2-19-08 Thank you for your advise I will make him an app in the morning. He's been with his dad for the past 4 days, I will be getting him back tonight.
You don't say what the dynamics are, how long this has gone on / what set it off or how you are handling it... BUT This sounds like a medical thing. Take him to the doctor - but tell him you will first .... see if anything changes.
I had this same problem with my son when he was 7. He was toilet trained but would become so engrosed with his trains or activities that he would just simply not want to stop playing. Our problem was that by ignoring his natural urges, he was creating a cycle of constipation and voiding difficulties. He got to the point where he had extreme difficulties controling his bowels. I did take him to the doctor who prescribed one dose of Miralax and tested for a variety of virsuses and bugs. My son found the Miralax episode so unpleasant he was a willing participant in the plan we mapped out. 1. if he was in the middle of an "earned" video game session he did not loose game time because he went to the potty. 2. He earned rewards for increasing periods of time without an accident. 3. Once we ruled out anything medical or pyschological he had to help clean up the mess. Skids marks were excusable, but anything that could be flushed meant he had to wash out the underwear.
Our problems stopped within two weeks.
Hope this helps. Patience is the key. Encouraging him to "listen" to his body is the best approach. Good luck.
You may need to seek proffessional help. In my experience
of raising children. This seems like away for him to get
attention (good, bad, indifferent) I know that sounds crazy. I've seen a simalar problem and with some counseling Mother and child both found some even ground to solve their
problem.
I am sure this situation is harder on you than on your boy. I suggest that before you try behavioral apporaches, I would take him to your physician. It could be a neurological, GI, or other medical problem. Once ABSOLUTELY established that there is no medical issue, you could start w/ having him sit on the toilet at say 4 pre-arranged times during the day for times periods of, say, 10 minutes. He will need to sit (read a book) and try going, and he gets a reward for actually defecating. Your job is to keep a chart and have patience. You can do a lot with kids that age. If you are patient and loving, the results will work even faster. Please post if anything changes in 1 week. Good luck. Alicia
I don't have any specific suggestions to help you, but I did see on Oprah show with 2 brothers with this same problem. Dr. Oz addressed the issues but I really don't recall what he said. I suggest you send your email to Dr. Oz and ask him.
I agree that you should first take him to his doctor and rule out any medical problems. Then perhaps take him to a counselor/therapist, as his problem could be encopresis. I am a clinical social worker and until recently provided individual and family therapy to children & families.
Take a look at this link and see if it describes your son at all. http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/WELCOME/conditions/encopre...
I just went through this with my 5 year old. She is doing great now. If you think this is what he is going through, he will need some help. Email me directly and I can point you in the right direction.
M.
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