FYI - palpating the abdomen is NOT an accurate indicator of how much stool is in the intestinal tract. My own dd has been mis-diagnosed many times as having a clear intestinal tract when she has in fact been backed up to her eyeballs. Many other people have shared the same experience with me. (I'm not trying to suggest that your child is full of stool -- he very well might have a problem with loose stools rather than constipation -- but I'm just trying to let you know that palpating the abdomen gives you absolutely no useful info. ONLY an x-ray can properly show whether and how much stool is in the bowel.)
If the smell of his stool is that strong, then there's definitely something off with his intestinal tract (as if the diarrhea wasn't enough to signal that already)! Fresh stool should not have that powerful of a smell. Can your regular pediatrician order an x-ray while you're waiting for an appt with your DAN doctor?
I have mentioned countless times to both his pediatrician as well as the pediatric gastroenterologist (who specializes is such affairs) ALL about the intricacies of my ds's bowel habits, including the frequency, consistency, horrific smell, etc. and they both act as though I am making a mountain out of a molehill. I sometimes feel like I am crazy for even mentioning it... until the next time I change his diaper, that is. So, since neither Dr. has mentioned an x-ray... I should just tell them that is what I want? How was your dd while getting an x-ray? Any "freak-outs"? Just curious what I could expect... thanks!
I had to actually look at who started this post to make sure it wasn't one I posted a while back. It was so similar. My DS will be 5 at the end of Feb. and is still not trained and it's driving me up the wall. He will usually pee if we take him and he can stay dry a lot of the time, but he NEVER tells us when he has to go or just goes on his own. He usually puts up a fight to go even when we tell him to. And he never poops in the potty. His preschool wants him in underwear so I send him to school in them, but I put him back in pull-ups at home. I'm embarassed to admit it, but it's just too hard to keep changing him otherwise and we can't go anywhere if he's in underwear. My almost 2yo looks like he'll be trained before the older one. He doesn't care if he's wet or dry. The only time he notices if he's wet is when he's in underwear and it leaks through to his clothes. For pooping, he knows when he has to go because he runs and hides someplace to do it. Ugh!
Yes, I'd definitely ask the docs for an x-ray. My GI docs didn't originally initiate any x-rays, and I didn't learn until after-the-fact that that's what we needed. Fortunately the urologist ordered x-rays, and that's how we discovered how badly backed up and stretched out dd bowels were. The GI had NEVER, in a few years of treatment, ordered one (and three diff docs -- 2 GI docs and her reg pediatrician) had never felt any stool when they repeatedly palpated dd belly.
Dd was born rarely having bowel movements, but it took many, many years before a single doctor would do anything to help us despite my repeatedly bringing it to their attention and despite the fact that dd would go weeks without a bowel movement and then only have one after gallons of daily prune juice, tons of whole grains and fruit, and multiple suppositories and/or enemas. Until she was 3-4yo she would beg me to take regular rectal temperatures on her because it brought her relief.
Our GI docs initially insisted that dd problems were a result of a (non-existent) negative toilet training experience and that she was withholding stool. They see sooo many kids whose problem is a result of stool withholding due to toileting fears that they just weren't listening to me when I was saying I couldn't get my kid OFF the toilet and that she wanted to poop but couldn't. I went round and round with the first GI doc who insisted he knew better than I why dd had her bowel problems and how to resolve them.
I have learned that docs don't listen very well and that unless you sound like you know what you're talking about (but how would we when we don't know what the problem is?!), you don't get the kind of help you need.
I've sometimes had to write fairly detailed letters to my pediatrician outlining all the reasons why she needs to write me a referral (thankfully no longer necessary with my current insurance) or why we want her to perform a certain test/action/etc. She "listens" better when it's in a letter than when I'm in her office trying to explain it to her while she's interrupting me. Ultimately, however, once the doc sees my reasons, she usually agrees with me and orders the treatment I request. It just takes me a few years each time to figure out what's wrong with my kids, so I can tell the doc what treatment we need (isn't that their job?)! I hope you can get your doc to order an x-ray for you. Hopefully if you're direct about asking, they'll be cooperative.
As far as the actual x-ray goes, it's completely non-invasive or scary. Both of my AS kids have had multiple x-rays (dd for bowels, ds for broken limbs), and they've never had any fear of them. In most instances the child just lies down on a table while the x-ray is taken (machine positioned near them but not touching them). A couple of times I wore the lead apron and stayed with my child while the x-ray was being done, but usually the kids haven't really cared whether I was there or not since it was so NOT upsetting. My ds has freaked out over other procedures, but not this!
Trish - Thanks for sitting in the same boat with me... it's nice to have some company! I don't know what situation I'd rather be in... constipation or diarrhea! I am nervous because my so far nt dd seems to have the same bowel habits as her brother! We had to find homes for 3 cats and our dog because there was just TOO much POOP in our house ;-)
hwife - Thank you for the suggestion of writing a letter, I think I will do that. I really like my ds's dr. and he is good at explaining things, but I get sidetracked and maybe even intimidated when we speak. Maybe
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Edited 2/19/2008 11:51 am ET by littleroses
Thank you ladies for your input!
I have read about constipation and impaction leading to diarrhea. His abdomen has been palpitated finding not much in
FYI - palpating the abdomen is NOT an accurate indicator of how much stool is in the intestinal tract. My own dd has been mis-diagnosed many times as having a clear intestinal tract when she has in fact been backed up to her eyeballs. Many other people have shared the same experience with me. (I'm not trying to suggest that your child is full of stool -- he very well might have a problem with loose stools rather than constipation -- but I'm just trying to let you know that palpating the abdomen gives you absolutely no useful info. ONLY an x-ray can properly show whether and how much stool is in the bowel.)
If the smell of his stool is that strong, then there's definitely something off with his intestinal tract (as if the diarrhea wasn't enough to signal that already)! Fresh stool should not have that powerful of a smell. Can your regular pediatrician order an x-ray while you're waiting for an appt with your DAN doctor?
Oh Jeez!
I have mentioned countless times to both his pediatrician as well as the pediatric gastroenterologist (who specializes is such affairs) ALL about the intricacies of my ds's bowel habits, including the frequency, consistency, horrific smell, etc. and they both act as though I am making a mountain out of a molehill. I sometimes feel like I am crazy for even mentioning it... until the next time I change his diaper, that is. So, since neither Dr. has mentioned an x-ray... I should just tell them that is what I want? How was your dd while getting an x-ray? Any "freak-outs"? Just curious what I could expect... thanks!
Jennifer
Jennifer -
I had to actually look at who started this post to make sure it wasn't one I posted a while back. It was so similar. My DS will be 5 at the end of Feb. and is still not trained and it's driving me up the wall. He will usually pee if we take him and he can stay dry a lot of the time, but he NEVER tells us when he has to go or just goes on his own. He usually puts up a fight to go even when we tell him to. And he never poops in the potty. His preschool wants him in underwear so I send him to school in them, but I put him back in pull-ups at home. I'm embarassed to admit it, but it's just too hard to keep changing him otherwise and we can't go anywhere if he's in underwear. My almost 2yo looks like he'll be trained before the older one. He doesn't care if he's wet or dry. The only time he notices if he's wet is when he's in underwear and it leaks through to his clothes. For pooping, he knows when he has to go because he runs and hides someplace to do it. Ugh!
Yes, I'd definitely ask the docs for an x-ray. My GI docs didn't originally initiate any x-rays, and I didn't learn until after-the-fact that that's what we needed. Fortunately the urologist ordered x-rays, and that's how we discovered how badly backed up and stretched out dd bowels were. The GI had NEVER, in a few years of treatment, ordered one (and three diff docs -- 2 GI docs and her reg pediatrician) had never felt any stool when they repeatedly palpated dd belly.
Dd was born rarely having bowel movements, but it took many, many years before a single doctor would do anything to help us despite my repeatedly bringing it to their attention and despite the fact that dd would go weeks without a bowel movement and then only have one after gallons of daily prune juice, tons of whole grains and fruit, and multiple suppositories and/or enemas. Until she was 3-4yo she would beg me to take regular rectal temperatures on her because it brought her relief.
Our GI docs initially insisted that dd problems were a result of a (non-existent) negative toilet training experience and that she was withholding stool. They see sooo many kids whose problem is a result of stool withholding due to toileting fears that they just weren't listening to me when I was saying I couldn't get my kid OFF the toilet and that she wanted to poop but couldn't. I went round and round with the first GI doc who insisted he knew better than I why dd had her bowel problems and how to resolve them.
I have learned that docs don't listen very well and that unless you sound like you know what you're talking about (but how would we when we don't know what the problem is?!), you don't get the kind of help you need.
I've sometimes had to write fairly detailed letters to my pediatrician outlining all the reasons why she needs to write me a referral (thankfully no longer necessary with my current insurance) or why we want her to perform a certain test/action/etc. She "listens" better when it's in a letter than when I'm in her office trying to explain it to her while she's interrupting me. Ultimately, however, once the doc sees my reasons, she usually agrees with me and orders the treatment I request. It just takes me a few years each time to figure out what's wrong with my kids, so I can tell the doc what treatment we need (isn't that their job?)! I hope you can get your doc to order an x-ray for you. Hopefully if you're direct about asking, they'll be cooperative.
As far as the actual x-ray goes, it's completely non-invasive or scary. Both of my AS kids have had multiple x-rays (dd for bowels, ds for broken limbs), and they've never had any fear of them. In most instances the child just lies down on a table while the x-ray is taken (machine positioned near them but not touching them). A couple of times I wore the lead apron and stayed with my child while the x-ray was being done, but usually the kids haven't really cared whether I was there or not since it was so NOT upsetting. My ds has freaked out over other procedures, but not this!
Good luck!
Trish - Thanks for sitting in the same boat with me... it's nice to have some company! I don't know what situation I'd rather be in... constipation or diarrhea! I am nervous because my so far nt dd seems to have the same bowel habits as her brother! We had to find homes for 3 cats and our dog because there was just TOO much POOP in our house ;-)
hwife - Thank you for the suggestion of writing a letter, I think I will do that. I really like my ds's dr. and he is good at explaining things, but I get sidetracked and maybe even intimidated when we speak. Maybe
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