Experience- pediatric GI dysmotility

[Anonymous]

My 7 year old has had constipation for years and we finally got a diagnosis of dysmotility. I am awaiting a follow up appointment with the GI so apologies if I have the terminalogy incorrect. Does anyone have experience with this? What can I expect? The doctor mentioned to me that they might do something with electrodes to sort of pulse his colon to strengthen it?

I also am not sure if we will ever find an underlying cause. My child is very active, plays sports, drinks a lot of water, and eats very well (in fact loves vegetables) so it’s likely to be something internal. Does that even matter at this point?

Sorry if I sound ignorant, it’s just been a long road thus far and I know my doctor will answer some of my questions in a few weeks but I’m also just looking for any stories/advice from parents who have BTDT.

[Anonymous]

Go see Samuel Nurko, MD, at Boston Children’s. Trust me.

[Anonymous]

Bump- anyone have experience to share?

[Anonymous]

Has she been tested for autoimmune antibodies? Dismotility can be a symptom
if several different autoimmune conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has she been tested for autoimmune antibodies? Dismotility can be a symptom
if several different autoimmune conditions.

No but I will ask, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Someone I know recently found out that a lot of their digestive issues since childhood were due to gallbladder issues. No stones, but the gallbladder was covered in scar tissue from years and years of attacks, beginning in childhood and likely causing some chronic constipation. Ask the doctor for an ultrasound for your child’s gallbladder and liver. It’s not something docs think of when it comes to children and they tend to focus on the colon when there are digestive issues, but it’s possible the root cause is further up in the digestive tract. It’s just that the most noticeable symptoms are in the colon.

An ultrasound of the gallbladder is noninvasive. I would also ask them for a HIDA scan to measure how wel your child’s gallbladder functions. If the number is low, that would cause constipation because bile flow is necessary for the digestive tract to function and move food along.

Be persistent. My friend’s GI doc Pooh-poohed her and insisted it wasn’t her gallbladder. It was, and the surgeon said there were layers and layers of adhesions and her gallbladder was very inflamed.

[Anonymous]

So dysmotility is part of it but if you want more info I think you are looking more for Dyssynergenic Defecation

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23138-anismus-dyssynergic-defecation

and I think the therapy being prescribed is called Biofeedback therapy

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/treating-constipation-with-biofeedback-for-the-pelvic-floor-2019051616638

The reasons for this can really be all over the place but I would say that at 7 its probaly just how his muscles are and the biofeedback would work great.

I have that but I am 50 and I have a host of problems and my Anismus is a just fallout from all of my other stomach issues.