Hi, i posted this a few days ago on the child/teen board but wanted to post here too for as much help as we can get. I have been reading posts but need to ask for some help trying to understand a little better. We are just at a loss for what we can do to help. Our 7 year old daughter Jenna woke up over a week ago with tummy pains and she tossed every hour in pain. The next day she was just rolling on the bed and the floor in horrible pain, i was worried about possible apendicitis, took her to the dr. and he said no but to keep an eye on her. Well we have been to the hospital twice and our family dr.'s once and had three x-rays done, thank GOD the dr. we got at the hospital is the head of the GI department and knew right away that it is Severe IBS-C and he really is great but we are just so frustrated, which i am sure every-one is. Her x-rays show she is blocked all on her left side from the top wrapping around her belly button and right down and her right side is full of gas. She is in screaming pain and has not slept more than an hour at a time in a week,most of the time 20 min. is all she can sleep and then she just wakes up screaming and just rolls around in pain, the pain even gets worse at times where she is screeching, i know it's severe IBS-C but this is crazy. She has anti spasmic meds and prescibed laxative meds and we are doing everything we can to help her and to help her get things moving but nothing happens unless i give her a suppositori(sp?) and it still isn't cleaning her out and she is still is so much pain. Anyway thanks for letting me get that out, my ? is does any-one know how to get things moving faster to help get her cleaned out? What can help with the horrible pain since the spasmatic meds do nothing and passing out from the pain is just getting too scary? After everything is out of her bowels will she still be in pain? We are trying to figure out what triggers the pain but i just think everything does right now, should i be waiting to do her diet until she is cleared? She is so hungry all the time, is it okay to keep letting her snack and eat even on healthy food? She has already missed her first two days of grade two how will she be able to go if the pain is always there? Thank-you in advance i have alot more questions but she just passed out on the couch with her head between her legs and arms dangling and her dad would prefer if i move her since i have been doing it for a week.Tammy and Jenna and the rest of the family who just wants to help our J feel better.
Help 7 Year old w/IBS-C- Excrutiating pain and ?'s
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Hi Tammy - My heart goes out to you and Jenna!! God bless you both! I may not have the answer you're looking for, however, there are a lot of well and self educated people on board. I just want to add that all of us in one way or another, thru our own experiences, have added knowledge and support to others.First, If it were me - I would return to the ER as fast as I could get there. In no way, shape, or form should anyone, especially a child, be in so much pain that it causes her to pass out!! It sounds as though she is severely impacted. The ER has ways, one specific, manually removing the impaction!! I don't mean to scare or alarm you, but what if her bowel perferates? I would demand that something be done, wheter a host of tests be ran or as I stated above, manually removing the impaction. Your story has truly toched my heart Tammy. I will pray for Jenna and your family. I'm really at a loss for words - Have faith my dear that when you return to the ER they will quickly and safely eliminate your daughters pain and discomfort and know that the Lord will comfort and give you strength!!
HI Robin, thanks for your reply, we are taking her back the the E.R. today, she seems okay right now but we had another rough night of tossing, flopping and crying in so much pain, she did not sleep until 5:30 this morning. It just seems like she's goes from not too bad in the morning, besides just not being able to go #2 even when she pushs so hard, to being in crippling pain. It is so frustrating to see her in this much pain and not being able to do something, i am going to ask them about cleaning her out.I have a question, does the pain stay after bowels are cleaned out????I am trying to read everything i can find but can't find too much on this.thanks again.Tammy
You may not believe what I'm about to say, but it can't hurt to try every avenue.My daughter had similar problems and became impacted. She would go to sleep and then wake up and cry in pain that her stomach hurt. After 3 years of taking her to doctors, I discovered that she had pinworms. It took me a whole year to get up the nerve to look for them because I KNEW my daughter could not have worms. But she did. It is so common that every drug store carries the medicine for it.Just consider it.Also pinworms are only active at night and that's why they torment the child so much that they cannot sleep. Susie
Hello again Tammy, I'm so relieved that you plan on taking her back to the ER!! I can only imagine the pain and frustration you're going thru watching your little girl go thru all this pain and discomfort!!I'm sure you are trying to find as much info as you possibly can. There is so much info out there that it's impossible to find answers to some of your questions at times. Hopefully upon you return from the ER with possible answers, then and maybe then, you will find a wealth of information here somewhere.As far as the pain staying....I don't know the answer. I'm sure her tummy will be very touchy and sensitive after being in so much pain.Tammy, please keep me posted on how little Jenna is doing and if they were able to help you in the ER this visit. Maybe she needs admitted and a host of test ran on her. I sure hope she's over the hump now and on her way to recovery.
Hi, Tammy,My heavens, I am so sorry that your child has suffered this long and Robin is right tell them to get the impactments out. It is ridiculous to let her suffer like that.You know it seems that I know a few families that has a child (ages 3 to 15, 2 boys 3 girls) that has suffered with impactments and were also taken to the hospital, doctors offices and testing. At least two of the children were hospitalized. The suppository and medication did the trick for them and once they got the impactments out two had a flare up but afterwards no problems at all with diet or pain. Now as a Chronic C suffer, I stress diet restrictions (anything that would cause one to be consiptated, i.e. breads, cheese, etc. ) and give a lot of fluids. God Bless
Hello Tammy, I also have a 7 year old girl and I will be praying for you and Jenna. I hope that by the time you read this, Jenna is feeling better. I agree with Robin, "In no way, shape, or form should anyone, especially a child, be in so much pain that it causes her to pass out". Do what ever you need to do, but don't leave the ER until they do something to empty her bowels. After she's feeling better and things are moving, find her a GI doc to manage her C. I my self suffer for many years of C. Eating flax seeds with my cereal with every am and drinking lots of water helps me a lot. Also, taking magnesium supplements, eating a high IF foods like brown rice and beans, and exercising for an hour everyday helps. I sometimes take Milk of magnesium to help empty my bowels when the pain is getting too much. I think that's safe for kids, but you should ask her doctor first.My God give you the wisdom, understanding and knowledge to do what's best for your daughter. Please keep us posted. God bless you and your family.Abigail
Hi Tammy, I'm hoping this post finds little Jenna (and you) doing much better by now. Mariaet and Abigail, thank you so much for your support and input over this situation. I'm looking forward to hearing that Jenna is doing fine and on the road to recovery.I also agree with Abigail, please find Jenna a good GI to manage her constipation. I myself have suffered with chronic constipation since I was 15 months old - now I'm 43 years old. I've been thru a host of tests and I'm now under the care of a colorectal specialist/surgeon. I have two remaining tests left that I'll finish up within the next two weeks. Surgery may be my only alternative at this point in the game. So I do know the discomforts of Jenna's problem.Again, please keep up posted OK?
Oh Susie, No - I don't think that at all!! I'm so sorry if I made you feel that way - I'M SORRY from the bottom of my heart!! I guess I over looked your post!! You have a great point and I'm sure that Tammy is thankful for your input too.Again, I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart!!
Hello Robin, I also want to thank you for your support and your great words, you are very thoughtful. You said that surgery may be your only alternative at this point...what kind of surgery are you talking about here? My colon surgeon found I have an enterocele and a rectocele and wants to do surgery. I believe the cause of this is due to years of chronic C and straining. I need more info about the surgery before making a decision.I hope we hear from Tammy soon, keep praying for Jenna.Blessings,Abi
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