That's so awful for both of you.

I presume you've already tried all manner of reward charts, presents if she goes etc etc?
that's really all I can think of.

i was looking up the benefits of lemon water and i found this

Warm lemon water serves as the perfect good morning drink, as it aids the digestive system and makes the process of eliminating the waste products from the body easier. It prevents the problem of constipation and diarrhea from taking place, by ensuring smooth bowel functions.

so maybe ya could get her to drink homemade lemonade with just a tiny tiny bit of sugar and it might help :)

Thank you, Brenda!! Those articles are fantastic!! I've read the second one several times now and this is the approach I will take.


If this isn't the truth for me right now I don't know what is! 

So, our doc is starting the process over again with us. She's told me to put her back on the Lactulose - 1 tbs/day in the morning. She's also told me to use Senekot (senna) at night. So Avery will get both. The Lactulose is apparently a laxative and the Senekot is the stool softener. Both should work together to clean her out on a regular basis. She's referring her to a pedi - our doc is just a gp - and this pedi specializes in GI issues and my doc said she is good with the behavioral side of things, too. So I'm waiting on my appointment with this new doc. In the mean time, I've started the Lactulose and Senekot.

My doc told me I was doing a good job of managing this even though I am completely frustrated, which was nice to hear. She said to continue giving her an enema if she's still not going regularly to keep getting the poop out since holding the poop in for so long will do more damage than an enema will do. So, every other day I will do this if she's not going.

Since I spent over $40 on the Lactulose and Senekot (both are over-the-counter and not covered by our drug plan!) before reading that article Brenda posted, I will try that approach but with those two meds instead of the mineral oil and Metamucil. We'll see what happens.

Brenda - Do you know anything about Lactulose and Senekot? I have to mix both in something to get Avery to take them but my SIL (who's in pharma sales) says the Lactulose is so hard to dose b/c it's all sugar and any other sugar in Avery's diet might tip the scales and be counter productive. She says even something like a glass of juice could set it off. I have to put the Lactulose IN juice or Avery will not drink it. And the Senekot is a bitter, awful tasting (yes, I tasted it! I taste all the medicine before I give it to the kids so I know what it's like for them!  ) black liquid. I put this in a shot of chocolate milk with lots of chocolate to mask the taste. Am I making these meds less effective by doing this? Should I be very strict about Avery's sugar intake when she's on the Lactulose? Is there anything else that you know about these two meds that might help me out? TIA mad scientist!!

Can you mix it in food, like mashed potatoes or something like that?

Black mashed potatoes Chocolate pudding would work well Esp the sugar free kind so you don't have to worry about the sugar!

I'm glad your Dr took you seriously and is working on a plan with you! I hope the new Pedi can figure it out if this doesn't take off.

The lactulose is like a light yellowy syrup like corn syrup. The senokot is black - reminds me of oil.

Ewwwwwwww
I had this colic calm stuff for Audrey and it was black Not good if it was spit up 

It shouldn't "tip the scales" and prevent it from working.  It could throw the body too far off balance and give her stomach cramps.  All Lactulose is is a super concentrated milk sugar that draws water into her bowels (make sure she has plenty to drink or it won't work)  You could try making kool-aid with it in place of sugar as I've heard it is fairly sweet. 

Most things she eats or drinks will be in the osmotic (that's the # of particles dissolved in a liquid) range of the body, so it shouldn't matter.  If she was eating too much sugar she would be dehydrated and obese.

I've never seen Senokot in a suspension before only tab/capsules.  With it just make sure she has plenty of water with this also.  And don't be surprised if it discolors her urine.

 

Yes I was curious as to how the past couple days have been too. 

Will she eat fruit? fruit carries a lot of water in it.. fresh fruit.. 

 

Well, everyday is progress at least. Hopefully she'll start putting it in the potty soon

Apple juice has a diarrhea affect on Eli. I have to severely water it down to the point it doesn't taste good. But keep it on hand for if he starts to need a little softening. He hates water too though. She'd probably love the smoothies! mmmmm