I'm not sure what to do about this issue. My daughter turned 5 in July and I'm thinking of taking her to the doctor. She goes #2 in her underwear all the time and I can't get her back to doing it in the toilet. That's not really the problem though. The issue is that is smells so bad that the stench stays in clothes even after washing them with backing soda, vinegar, and wisk detergent. I've used tide detergent as well. I've let the clothes soak for an hour and then washed them and still had no luck. The stench even stays on my hands after I clean her up. I was thinking of talking to her pediatrician about this, but I wanted to know if there are any moms out there that had this problem. What could it be? I'm making sure my daughter gets her vitamins every day so that her #2 will be more solid so she can feel when she needs to go (sensory issue being that if it's too soft, she can't feel when she needs to go). I'm so tired of washing my hands so many times and the stench still being there. I feel like I didn't wash my hands. Any suggestions? Please keep in mind that my daughter is autistic and that may have an effect. Thanks.
Thank you all for the advice. I have to admit, there was a lot I didn't know about detergents. I bought some Totally Toddler and IT WORKED on her clothes. I had to wash some of them a few times as the stench has set in a bit, but if we wash her underwear out as soon as she goes and then put it in a bucket to soak until I do the wash, we don't have to throw them away anymore. Thank you so much for the money saver on that. As far as her stench, I will be talking to her doctor. I know it's not the vitamins because the stench has been around since before I gave her vitamins. I will be looking at her diet and making sure she gets some other foods. We also had a thought that it might be her teeth. As a child I was an early teether and she was as a baby. Although she is 5 and 1/2, her 6 year molars might be coming in and she might start losing teeth to make room for her adult set of teeth. She does need a dentist check up, so I'm going to check that out too.
vitamins can really make poop smell different. Iron can make is smelly as well as other vitamins. Write down all of the meds she is taking and her diet and research each one.
A couple of things that may help with the stench problem...first there is a product we used when my kids were small called "Totally Toddler" you can find it at Toys r us or Babies R Us. That stuff took the smell and the stain out of everything including the clothes of an adult with a bad case of stomach flu. For your hand invest in some disposable gloves. You can get them at BJs, Sams, Walmart. They are a cheaper version of what is used at your doctors office. I would still speak with your daughters doctor though. Good luck.
hi E. -
there are lots or reasons this might be happening - behavioral and diet. I would check out the GAPS diet if you have not done so already - www.gapsdiet.com. Many families with children on the autism spectrum have had success with elimination habits and sleep habits improving as well as social, behavior, and development gains. You will be amazed at the families with similar situations and stories as you in terms of bowel issues related to autism. The person who suggested acidophilus is on the right track too - probiotics are great and can help regularity and consistency/smell of eliminating. I use them with both of my kids. I hope you find the right answers for your family.
L.
Read websites on encopresis. Also, the odor can improve after a couple of weeks on acidopholis bifidus (probably spelled wrong) - the kind that is effective is in the refrigerator section of a health food store or Whole Foods type of store. It really helps. There is a powdered form for kids.
You can get a box of gloves at the drug store which may help keep your hands fresher.
Some vitamins have iron which can cause constipation. It is the stool that has been in the colon for a while that really smells bad. I would ask the doctor for help because maybe it is something else.
This can be a real struggle but getting the laundry and cleaning issues and odor problems managed can help with staying practical and calm. I'd rather pay for underwear than scrub it feeling upset. But the clothes have to be cleaned.
You are not alone. I hope it gets better.
Suggestion? Was she potty trained b4? Maybe you have do that. Re-train her. I personally don't have a child w/such disadvantages but my oldest was diagoned w/ADD...that really took a total on all of us...he is now 23 and married. But it affected him a bad way...he feels like he can't get a better job then just working fast food...we homeschooled our boys after Josh's school embassment. The school system was trying to make the other boys' pay for Josh's sins..We felt it was unfair to them to carry such a burden. We have 4 boys. My husband is disabled but he helps me teach them. He also likes to play chess...maybe you and he could play online sometime? C. husband's name is Garrett..maybe you could help him find a site you and he can play chess together...thank you...I will send you private email if you are interested.
I can only suggest something to help her with the sensation of having to go. My son was born with an imperforate anus (no anal opening) and all has been repaired. He is now four and we are still in the potty training process. He needs additives to bulk his stool so he feels the need to push. You can try giving her ONE square of regular strength Ex-Lax daily. I give my son his around 4:30pm. I also give him ONE tbsp of Benefiber mixed in a drink in the am and one in the pm. The Benefiber adds the bulk to the stool and the Ex-lax causes the colon to constrict like it is supposed to which gives the child the sensation to push all the poop out at one time. She may still have a couple of accidents during the day but she may not. My son has responded so well to this treatment. Incentives don't work well with my son to get him to potty (stickers, etc). I did buy him a 130 piece train set (he absolutely loves trains) and I gave him ONE section of the track every time he went in the potty instead of in his underwear. That helped. One last thing I would recommend you do is contact the Colorectal Center in Cincinnatti. You will immeadiately be able to speak to someone and after they have records from your child, they WILL be able to help you. Trust me its worth it. They are the ones who suggested the Ex-lax and the Benefiber and it has made such a huge difference. Good Luck and hang in there.
I agree with Shannon C. I LOVE Totally Toddler!!! I use it on everything! Also I would definitely use gloves when cleaning her up. Put them in all of the bathrooms, her bag, the car, etc.
Another thing to try is 'Nature's Miracle'. Its a pet odor eliminator and it works wonders!
As for the frequent elimination issue, I would check with the doc. about a possible back/spine issue. I had a slipped disc in my back and my chiropracter said that frequent soft stool can be a sign of a disc or pinched nerve, etc. I went to treatment for a few months and things got back to normal and the weekly massages were great!
Good luck
M.
E.,
The smell from your daughters BMs are most likely from a yeast overgrowth, my 7 year old son had the same issue with smell, his breath was horrible as well even with good brushing of his teeth. I havent had much luck in getting him to have bms on the potty but we are still working at it, I think its a big sensory issue for them. I didnt have much luck with the Pediatrician as far as helping him, I have 2 on the spectrum, so I took him to a Dan doctor and she is the only one out of all the specialsist and therapist that he has seen who was able to help him. I know they are expensive and a lot of people and Doctors dont hold them in high regards but after almost five years of listening to them I Thank God I listened to my gut. If ever you would like to talk or have any questions I would be more than glad to help. Oh and back to the smell, you have to get rid of the yeast to get rid of the smell and I know it is horrible, after we got that under control it is much better, his stinky breath even went away. Good Luck to you and God Bless.
K. in Virginia
You have to be note the hour or events after which she eliminates (after meals, or drinking milk or juice)and take her systematically in the toilet. Even if you will have to wait for a while before she does it, after one week or so she will react. Kids generally eliminates at regular hours. If her brother is eliminating in the toilet, take her there with him so she will know what toilet is for. She is 5 and even if she is autistic you have to be firm and teach her popoh, etc. and tell firmly that she should not do it in the diapers.
Hi!
Do you take her to a DAN doctor? My stepson is on the spectrum, and we began seeing a DAN doctor, who did a culture on his blood, stool, and urine. THat way we were not blindly trying elimination diets to see if there was a change in his stool/behavior/whatever. Turned out he has an intolerance to dairy and peanuts. Not an allergy, an intolerance. We only just started this new diet, and it's not easy, but my stepson has chronic diarrhea.
Just wondered because if there is such a strong stench I would think there's a good possibility there's a problem with the digestion of the foods she's eating.
Might be worth looking into!!!
I would also be concerned about the smell. Could have to do with diet, but might be an underlying health condition. Definitely talk to doctor. Meanwhile, read http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003132.htm. As for the defecating on herself, you will have to try to set up a bathroom schedule as you did when she was potty training. I agree there could be a sensory integration thrill she's getting, but you have to help her learn that's not acceptable. I've heard that diets with wheat and yeast cause some children to have trouble focusing and on self-awareness. Not sure if she's eating things like spaghetti or macaroni and if she's getting enough water. Also, some vitamins can cause smelly urine and feces.
