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 again,

    Your son may be unable to let you know when he needs the loo due to the stretched bowel. Over time all the witholding and the build up stretches everything and then whe the bowel is eventually emptied imagine it then stays loose where it has been stretched (like a deflated balloon) so your son will not feel the sensation telling him he needs to go!  This takes weeks or months to repair.  If my son has a few days of not going to the toilet i am aware that the sooner he goes the better or we go back to square one!  Daily toileting over a period of a few weeks or months will allow everything to recover and the normal sensations to return.  You will have set backs, but you will suceed eventually.

    Our boys have the extra challenge as well of the sensitivities on the spectrum and possibly not being as aware as others would be of these sensations, esp at times of anxiety, and school may be one of those times.

    It will get better, it will just take time.  Sometimes by the way Movicol is given with the dulcolax to make the poo softer and easier to pass esp if it has been a couple of days.  The movicol works well in conjuntion but they have to drink more in order for it to work well and not to get dehydrated.

    The summer holidays will be the perfect time for you and your son to get used to the meds and hopefully all being well all will be improved before school starts again.

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

    Puffin

Reply
  • Hi again,

    Your son may be unable to let you know when he needs the loo due to the stretched bowel. Over time all the witholding and the build up stretches everything and then whe the bowel is eventually emptied imagine it then stays loose where it has been stretched (like a deflated balloon) so your son will not feel the sensation telling him he needs to go!  This takes weeks or months to repair.  If my son has a few days of not going to the toilet i am aware that the sooner he goes the better or we go back to square one!  Daily toileting over a period of a few weeks or months will allow everything to recover and the normal sensations to return.  You will have set backs, but you will suceed eventually.

    Our boys have the extra challenge as well of the sensitivities on the spectrum and possibly not being as aware as others would be of these sensations, esp at times of anxiety, and school may be one of those times.

    It will get better, it will just take time.  Sometimes by the way Movicol is given with the dulcolax to make the poo softer and easier to pass esp if it has been a couple of days.  The movicol works well in conjuntion but they have to drink more in order for it to work well and not to get dehydrated.

    The summer holidays will be the perfect time for you and your son to get used to the meds and hopefully all being well all will be improved before school starts again.

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

    Puffin

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