Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Fiber supplements and children

She has been seen by a pediatric gastroenterologist. She was 5 years old when we first saw the gastro. He did not re-run tests because she had the full range (top to bottom)done when she was an infant. Her gastro said the films showed no irregularities. (She had the g.i. series done because I had noticed blood in her diaper when she was only 6 weeks old. She was constipated, in my opinion, even then, but her pediatrician at that time (different health plan, different state) said that she wasn't C. His reason was that some babies only poo once a week!

). It took several years of her belly aches before I got a pediatrician to acknowledge that she had a problem, and finally at that point was given a referral to the ped gastro. Of course by then her bad bowel habits were very well established, and her little brain was conditioned that going to the bathroom was a bad experience.

Since then the referral ran out. Pity taking care of our little ones has to be such a trying experience.

Her actual diagnoses is "encopresis", which is a constipation related problem. In a nutshell, babies and toddlers will refuse to poop because it hurts, due to constipation. This in turn causes more constipation, and the bowel doesn't recognize that it is full because it becomes stretched out routinely, and therefore the braindoes not send the "go" signal. Sorry for the details.

Even if she does not have IBS, I think a similar diet can only help her. I would really like to help her become regular. I will see if she'll take the Benefiber. If not, I will try Equilactin or the tablets. She does take pills well.

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

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