What type of doctor for constipation?

[rugger]

Pediatric, that is. We think R's bedwetting and random daytime mini-accidents may be related to constipation, and S wants to take her in to get checked out.

We're at the point where the pediatrician prob won't be much help, so thinking specialist. Luckily, we don't need a referral. Would that be a GI doctor?

[brandiewine11]

Yes, GI

[rugger]

Apr 10, 2017 7:31:37 GMT -5 brandiewine11 said:

Yes, GI

Thanks. Now to find a reputable one. Seems the ones in my area might not be amazing.

[Crisco Salad]

Apr 10, 2017 7:48:23 GMT -5 rugger said:

Apr 10, 2017 7:31:37 GMT -5 brandiewine11 said:

Yes, GI

Thanks. Now to find a reputable one. Seems the ones in my area might not be amazing.

Have you called your pediatrician for a recommendation?

[rugger]

Apr 10, 2017 7:51:47 GMT -5 Crisco Salad said:

Apr 10, 2017 7:48:23 GMT -5 rugger said:

Thanks. Now to find a reputable one. Seems the ones in my area might not be amazing.

Have you called your pediatrician for a recommendation?

No, I guess I could do that.

[TJ]

Our allergist recommended 1/4 teaspoon of chia seeds daily for constipation. It has worked absolute wonders around here. I just put it in their morning yogurt or afternoon applesauce.

[rugger]

Apr 10, 2017 8:13:08 GMT -5 TJ said:

Our allergist recommended 1/4 teaspoon of chia seeds daily for constipation. It has worked absolute wonders around here. I just put it in their morning yogurt or afternoon applesauce.

Thanks, we can try that. We've been doing flax in oatmeal every day, but I think we have chia as well. S is convinced she needs an enema based on some articles he's read. I'm not convinced, but I know he's not an over-reactor with medical stuff, either. So I'd rather take her in so everyone has pace of mind

[Crisco Salad]

Aldi sells chia seeds cheap if you don't have some rugger

[rugger]

Apr 10, 2017 8:30:55 GMT -5 Crisco Salad said:

Aldi sells chia seeds cheap if you don't have some rugger

I think that's where ours came from

[Stringy]

I think constipation can be diagnosed with an X-ray rugger. Or will your pedi not do it?

[rugger]

Apr 10, 2017 12:37:00 GMT -5 Stringy said:

I think constipation can be diagnosed with an X-ray rugger. Or will your pedi not do it?

really?? I dunno, I haven't asked. I just keep hearing people say their pedi just tells them to give their kid Miralax... and while I generally like our pedi practice, they haven't seemed super well-informed on "alternative" things like non-dairy products or the fact that cloth diapers do not, in fact, cause rashes on babies.  So I guess I don't have much confidence in them regarding potential GI issues and how to appropriately fix them. 

[DGM]

Apr 10, 2017 7:48:23 GMT -5 rugger said:

Apr 10, 2017 7:31:37 GMT -5 brandiewine11 said:

Yes, GI

Thanks. Now to find a reputable one. Seems the ones in my area might not be amazing.

Hugs to you. I always felt bad for parents of kids with GI problems and the docs because sometimes it was hard to pinpoint the exact issue. The docs would get snippy as the parents' frustration level would rise, and they'd get snippy. A vicious cycle. So the reviews may be very biased.

Just curious. The articles YH read never mentioned a glycerin suppository before an enema?! Like hours/days apart, not together.

ETA clarity

[Stringy]

Apr 10, 2017 13:12:05 GMT -5 rugger said:

Apr 10, 2017 12:37:00 GMT -5 Stringy said:

I think constipation can be diagnosed with an X-ray rugger. Or will your pedi not do it?

really?? I dunno, I haven't asked. I just keep hearing people say their pedi just tells them to give their kid Miralax... and while I generally like our pedi practice, they haven't seemed super well-informed on "alternative" things like non-dairy products or the fact that cloth diapers do not, in fact, cause rashes on babies.  So I guess I don't have much confidence in them regarding potential GI issues and how to appropriately fix them. 

I've seen it mentioned a few times on potty training threads elsewhere when kids are having lots of accidents - people say "have them get an xray to see if they are constipated". So that's my expert medical knowledge of it.

[briarrose]

Apr 10, 2017 14:55:45 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Apr 10, 2017 13:12:05 GMT -5 rugger said:

really?? I dunno, I haven't asked. I just keep hearing people say their pedi just tells them to give their kid Miralax... and while I generally like our pedi practice, they haven't seemed super well-informed on "alternative" things like non-dairy products or the fact that cloth diapers do not, in fact, cause rashes on babies.  So I guess I don't have much confidence in them regarding potential GI issues and how to appropriately fix them. 

I've seen it mentioned a few times on potty training threads elsewhere when kids are having lots of accidents - people say "have them get an xray to see if they are constipated". So that's my expert medical knowledge of it.

This. I have heard of some serious constipation issues being diagnosed via xray.

[MapleMe]

Yeah, I feel like I read about X-rays for constipation in Oh Crap. And I know a woman on my BMB did one for her son.

[rugger]

Apparently hubs knew xrays can be used as well. I assume the specialist will have one. He was also in agreement that we'd rather see a specialist over the GP pediatricians.

I did get a few recs from locals on a good GI doc. Unfortunately, they didn't have an appt for almost 2 months, but I got on a waitlist for any cancellations

[pipsqueak]

Ironically, this was posted in a different group today.

www.babble.com/toddler/dangers-potty-training-early/

[Crisco Salad]

Apr 11, 2017 9:18:01 GMT -5 pipsqueak said:

Ironically, this was posted in a different group today.

www.babble.com/toddler/dangers-potty-training-early/

This article has me all messed up in the head. I read it a few weeks ago. J holds his pee all night, like 12+ hours. I'm terrified he is going to end up with a UTI. 

[rugger]

Apr 11, 2017 9:18:01 GMT -5 pipsqueak said:

Ironically, this was posted in a different group today.

www.babble.com/toddler/dangers-potty-training-early/

Yeah, R was maybe 2.5 ish when she seemed to be fully trained, except at night which we assumed was just a body-not-ready thing.

And A, at nearly 3 has lots of accidents, but when I offered for her to go back to diapers if she wanted, she told me in an offended tone "no diapers!" So I tried to let her go at her own pace or even go back to diapers, no pressure, no judgement, but she refused

[pipsqueak]

Personally, I take the article with a grain of salt. Dd potty trained at 18 months, day and night, had less than 10 accidents, including wetting the bed between 18 & 24 months and none after her second birthday. I don't recall her ever having a UTI. She just hated wet diapers so much that she wanted an alternative place to go.

My boys on the other hand - they needed the diaper a lot longer.

[briarrose]

I read that article a month or so ago and it made me nervous too. DS trained right at 2 but is still in diapers at night. He still gets a fair amount of breastmilk though, so I think that has prevented any constipation issues for him, but I certainly pay lots of attention to his bowel movements now.