Toiletting issues

Hello, my son is nearly 4 and having assessments for ASD. He was fully toilet trained by 22 months, and had no signs of ASD at this point. His ASD symptoms began at around 2.5 years, and have been gradually getting more and more profound. About a year ago, we started having problems with toiletting. He just will not (or cannot?) tell anyone when he needs to go anymore. He will just hold on and hold on for hours and hours until he eventually has an accident. I don't usually let it get to this point at home, as I can tell when he needs a wee, so I take him to the loo, but at school he just constantly wets himself, and refuses to go when told. He has also become TERRIFED of going for a poo. He will hold on for days, and eventually ends up in such pain and discomfort, that I take him to sit on the loo. He then cries and screams until he manages to go. At school he has had some soiling accidents and he refuses to go with anyone except myself. He is not constipated by the way, simply holding on to it! This is becoming a major issue as it is taking over our life, and school are constantly moaning at me about it, as they just don't know how to deal with it. Has anyone else had similar issues with their children, and any advice would be really helpful.

Parents
  • Hi Stardust,

    Sorry my last message was hurried, had to collect my son from school.

    The Dulcolax is not a laxative but a stimulant making your son less able to withold and hence stretch the bowel which can cause more problems than giving the stimulant, so i am told by my sons doctor at hospital.  The diorroeah (i have a complet mental blockae on the correct spelling now, sorry)! your son experiences may be where he has witheld for so long the gut or bowel litterally leaks diorreah like poo around the blockage.  My son tried all the laxatives, Senna, Movicol and others but the Dulcolax is the only thing that really worked.  i also found a referral to the child Ped outpatiants helped as you spoke to an expert in that field ratherthan a caring GP who so often just suggested drink more OJ!!  If you get referredquickly your son may not need the Dulcolax and the laxatives may be enough, which would be great.  UNFORTUNATLY BY SON HAD THE PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE HE was referred and by then he had afear of going to the loo because of the discomfort, so get it dealt with as soon as you can.

    Hope this helps.

Reply
  • Hi Stardust,

    Sorry my last message was hurried, had to collect my son from school.

    The Dulcolax is not a laxative but a stimulant making your son less able to withold and hence stretch the bowel which can cause more problems than giving the stimulant, so i am told by my sons doctor at hospital.  The diorroeah (i have a complet mental blockae on the correct spelling now, sorry)! your son experiences may be where he has witheld for so long the gut or bowel litterally leaks diorreah like poo around the blockage.  My son tried all the laxatives, Senna, Movicol and others but the Dulcolax is the only thing that really worked.  i also found a referral to the child Ped outpatiants helped as you spoke to an expert in that field ratherthan a caring GP who so often just suggested drink more OJ!!  If you get referredquickly your son may not need the Dulcolax and the laxatives may be enough, which would be great.  UNFORTUNATLY BY SON HAD THE PROBLEM FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE HE was referred and by then he had afear of going to the loo because of the discomfort, so get it dealt with as soon as you can.

    Hope this helps.

Children
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