Constipated 8 Year Old

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old has been constipated for almost a week. We started about 3/4ths of a capful of Miralax Tuesday night and have been upping his amounts of water each day. We did another capful of Miralax on Wednesday night. So far, he's not yet pooped. I'd always known Miralax to work in about 24-48 hours. Is it possible that we need to try something else, like a suppository? I'm going to call the pediatrician in the morning, but wanted to hear of others' experiences.

[Anonymous]

If I were you and he’s not opposed, I would do a liquid glycerin suppository. It’s unpleasant, but it works very quickly (minutes).

Miralax is great but it’s kind of a top down solution so if you already have a problem at the end of the line, it won’t work quickly.

[Anonymous]

miralax in my understanding is stool softener and works best with good water intake. I would try a laxative next. there is one adult one its lax something=looks like a piece of chocolate. For my 6 year old I gave a half piece of one little square and it worked wonders. its marketed to adults but pediatritian said my kid could have it. I would call his dr for advice-week is a long time.

[Anonymous]

Milk of magnesia and lots of water

[Anonymous]

Dulcolax chews works fastest for our DD but we've never tried suppositories

[Anonymous]

I tried Miralax for a week and went to the ER when it wasn’t working. They did an X-ray and said I needed to try taking multiple drugs. I took colace 2x a day, Miralax once a day and Senna before bed. I think I pooped the day after I took the Senna.

[Anonymous]

Prune juice twice a day.

[Anonymous]

Just took my 8 year old to the dr for this today. You may be worse off though. She just has had belly pain and less frequent BMs. She is doing 1-2 caps of miralax twice a day for two weeks titrating to two to three stools per day. Then tapering off. She is to eat pears, plums, peaches. Avoid rice, dairy, apples.

[Anonymous]

Miralax can have horrible side effects.

Senna, everyday works.

[Anonymous]

gycerin suppository

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:miralax in my understanding is stool softener and works best with good water intake. I would try a laxative next. there is one adult one its lax something=looks like a piece of chocolate. For my 6 year old I gave a half piece of one little square and it worked wonders. its marketed to adults but pediatritian said my kid could have it. I would call his dr for advice-week is a long time.

It seems so basic, but increase water by at least 2 cups. I was diagnosed with "chronic constipation" a few weeks ago and the doctor merely increased my water intake from 4-6 cups to 8 cups and now I'm regularly going every 1-2 days. It's kind of crazy how simple it was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 year old has been constipated for almost a week. We started about 3/4ths of a capful of Miralax Tuesday night and have been upping his amounts of water each day. We did another capful of Miralax on Wednesday night. So far, he's not yet pooped. I'd always known Miralax to work in about 24-48 hours. Is it possible that we need to try something else, like a suppository? I'm going to call the pediatrician in the morning, but wanted to hear of others' experiences.

I would also be curious how much has he eaten? He may not be constipated. I would not start on the suppository route until you have confirmed with the doctor.

[Anonymous]

suppository is fine, safe, effective etc. you don't need a medical recommendation for that!

[Anonymous]

I would be surprized if he didn't drink 16 oz of water and a BM didn't happen within a hour or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Miralax can have horrible side effects.

Senna, everyday works.

What horrible side effects do you think an osmotic stool softener like Miralax has?