encropesis pooping in pants

[Zick]

The reason your reward system isn't working regardless of how fantastic the toy or privilege you promise is because your child (who most likely has encropesis) CANNOT PHYSICALLY CONTROL HIS POOP.  He cannot TELL when he has to go.  Until he's been on a course of Miralax that is THE RIGHT DOSE FOR HIM OR HER  for however long it might take for his little A hole to regain its sensitivity and control.(THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM A MONTH TO SIX MONTHS,) he just isn't going to be able to do it.  I DON'T CARE IF YOU PROMISE HIM THE MOON.  Until he has regained control and sensitivity, it's a waste of time to even force him to sit on the potty...in my opinion.   It's like someone saying to an adult, "If you can fly to the top of that building using only your arms, I'll give you sixty million dollars.  Of course you want the money, you just can't fly no matter what.  It's the same for children.  Of course, they want the prize, they just can't do the trick.  


This discussion is related to 4 year old Potty issues - refuses to do anything to help!!!.

[JulesBo]

This thread saved us! OMG, my poor little 4-year-old guy, I have threatened, I have rewarded, I have even spanked because I KNOW he can poop on the potty and I thought he was just refusing due to some psychological control issue. After reading this, I did a lot more research and realized this must be the problem--he just was so awfully backed up. So, today I sat him down and apologized for getting mad at him for all the recent pooping (mostly "skid marks") in his Pull-ups and underpants. I told him he's actually sick, and that he wasn't just making bad choices. Oh, the smile and giggle that lit up his face! He was so glad! I told him the doctor said he had a lot of poop stuck in him, and we needed to get it out. I pushed a pipe cleaner through a clear plastic straw, and showed him how the poop was all stuck, and needed to come out. He loved that. And he says, "Let's do it!"

With a little convincing, I got him to accept about 2/3 of a Walgreen's mineral oil enema. About 15 minutes later he had a good BM--very hard looking. Then an hour later--wow, the dam broke! After insisting he "didn't need to," he passed another hard one followed by a huge pile of soft stuff. My only regret is that I didn't weigh him before the enema!

Now I'll start him on a little (1/2 t.) Miralax daily for up to a week, see how that goes, and reduce the dairy in his diet. I can already see I'll have to keep an eagle eye on him, make sure he's not withholding--since he's become so used to it. But, I believe we finally have a solution to this issue, and that next fall we can confidently send our bright boy to kindergarten.

[cuzsis]

Sounds about right...

My son (4.5yrs) is pretty off and on in the pooping department too. Things got really bad and I even had to give him timeouts in the bathtub (bathtubs are great for this, they are very boring for the kiddo and easy to clean for you if they have another accident. Gives you a chance to clean up the accident and still keep an eye on the kiddo.)  He pees great! And up until I stopped being more strict about bedtimes and potty he was dry during the night too. I work full time and run pretty much the entire house, so I don't have a whole lot of extra energy to put into nighttime potty training while we're still working on daytime. Plus if he hasn't mastered daytime yet, what's the point of trying to train him while he's unconscious?

Now, on one board I heard that lots of kids seem to get constipated. I looked up the symptoms and he had just about every single one of 'em! Now he even has a family history (I'm talking generations here) of constipation too.

So I got some metamucil and looked up the dosage online. (still a few days out from my paycheck, so I can't make a doctors appointment. gr..) I told him this was his "poopy medicine" and mixed it in his drink. I said it would make the poopies come out so he wouldn't be sitting on the toilet with them not being able to come out. I also explained that if he felt like he had to go he had to get to the potty right away, because he wouldn't be able to hold it. If he tried to hold it, he would poo his pants. The placebo effect is a wonderful tool. ;) So after a couple of Q and A's (What do you do if you feel like you have to go poopy? Run upstairs and go on the potty!) I turned him loose.

I also had him run around naked. He seems to click better when he's naked (he's totally potty trained in the bathtub...has been for months!) Well, about 30 minutes later he said "I have to go poo!" and I told him to get on the potty and he made a great poo for me! He's so excited! He gets to play the Wii again (he pooed his pants this morning so no Wii or computer) and come with me to the gym to work out (they have a play room there.)

I'm going to stick on the metamucil for a while so he gets used to success. Then we may try going with less and less. Also going to continue with taking away the Wii and Computer until the next time he poos in the potty if he has an accident.

I'll let you know how it goes!

[Cirsty]

I have a 5 yr old son who, at times, will use the toilet for a week straight. That's about as far and long as it has gone. I've been "potty-training" him since he was 3 and he still goes in his pants approximatley 6 times a day! I know this is not normal and his pediatrician says that nothing is wrong. My mom says that I don't punish him enough or consistently enough for him to care, but I've heard that punishment for the issue at this age could only put us back. He's supposed to start kdg next week and the school wants me to come in every time he soils himself. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Cirsty

[jofish]

Thank you so much i feel like a huge wieght has been lifted. Ive had this issue with my son for the last 3 months and i have an appt with a gastrologist next week and im debating on trying some enemas and the miralax again or wait till i hear from the doctors. WOW i am jumping for joy im so excited to know that its not just my child being stubborn. I think this will help me be more patient with him and sympathetic with him. I hope the doctor will confirm all this and we can move on and help him get better. I also hope this helps other parents who are dealing with this same situation and helps their child to get better as well. khart123, I hope you will keep us all posted on your efforts!
Steph