I have a 3 year old son who had a hernia repair about this time last year. (he was born with it) for the last few months he has had bouts of severe constipation and then the excretion of adult sized BMs (along with extreme pain and screaming) after several days of not going. At first we thought it might have been his diet (he eats most meals at daycare) and we began pumping him with high fiber meals. The problem did not ease up and finally I made him an appointment with his pediatrician. He told me about a problem children his age face called "chronic constipation" and gave me a recipe of things to do to first flush his system and then get him re-trained on how to normally have bowl movements again (he had started holding them in which of course makes things worse). It started with 2 adult enemas (which I thought was strange, but he told me to get the adult ones) One on Monday night and the other Tuesday morning. We did this and it was a horrible experience for my son. The ped. Also said to get concentrated Milk of magnesia and give him a teaspoon in the morning and at dinner everyday followed by 6 oz. of liquid to help soften his stools. He told me that he wanted my son to have BM everyday by 8:00 pm, and if he hadn't by then to give him a dulcolax suppository. I have been doing this and he is still suffering. Last night he was up screaming from 1:30 am to 5:00 am off and on. He is exausted and in pain, and I was very close to just taking him to the ER. Something about this just doesn't seem right, but my Ped. Assures me it happens to many children. He has been straining and straining and all that comes out is liquid. Has anyone else had similar experiences. I am just nervous that he has been misdiagnosed, and maybe I should seek a second opinion. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I can't stand seeing my 3 year old in so much pain, and not being able to do anything for him.

Your pediatrician is probably right. A fair amount of children suffer with constipation to the degree you are describing. Only about 5% of constipation in children is due to an organic cause (something physically wrong).

You should take him back and tell him the bowel regimen is not working. The next step would be a daily laxative like Miralax.

The sounds right. It hurts so bad that the kids are holding it and the doctor is suggestion the extreme so he won't get bound up. But adding the M.O.M in his drink helps. Right now he is just to sore. I would start weaning him off all that laxatives now. Sounds like too much now. We went through the same with a 1 year old, it took 45 minuets for him to get out a BM and he was in pain. But the suppository and M.O.M helped great. SORRY for the little guy!

It was a rough week, but now he is back to normal, and the MOM has made his BM's a lot softer. He is very excited to have "happy poops" again. LOL. The doctor wants me to keep giving it to him for 3 months to retrain him how to poop again, and then we will wean him off the laxatives... thanks for your help, I tend to be a paranoid mother when it comes to health problems:rolleyes:...