Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi,
My four year old suffers with chronic constipation- 1 unbelievable sized poop about every four days (diet is amazing, lots of veg ect and take probiotics). Happy boy, wore clothes, went to nursery. He was started on high dose laxido 6+1 for everyday he didn't poop. The laxido turned the poop liquid but it still was not coming out and required urgent acute admissions for enemas (now doing these at home). My son was in extreme pain daily, I mean like a wild animal and biting his arm black and blue- relieved instantly by enema. We have stopped laxido and are now on lactulose and senna. Again nothing for four days and then pain and he requires an enema. The Drs diagnosis is autism- is is autism that's causing the slow motility and a sensory over reaction to the sensation as an explanation for the pain. I feel like I have been to war the last few months and am desperate for help and all I'm getting is autism and no investigations or tests?!?!? I feel that if any child had 21 sachets of laxido in there gut festering for three/four days they would also be in agonizing pain but would get investigations done. Anybody experienced anything similar?
I don't have any first hand knowledge of this issue but a little browsing shows it is indeed related to autism:
https://www.thinkingautism.org.uk/taking-action/resources-and-publications/constipation-in-autism/
There are quite a lot of potential contributing factors but nothing I think a non-specialist would be able to offer sensible advice on.
My recommendation is to insist on your GP getting a referral to a specialist as it is now a long running issue. Refuse to leave without a referral as this is not an issue to be left untreated.
In the meantime I would also recommend keeping a detailed food and drink (and medicine) diary to present to the specialist so they can see when and how much is ingested in case it is down to allergies or intolerances.
Also think back to when this first presented and work out if there were any changes about this time which could contribute. In the event it is him conciously holding it in for some reason (sometimes the fear of the pain may be enough) then it may be a change in diet is advised to increase fiber intake - but speak to the specialist rather than consider the advice of a random person on the internet.
Good luck.