I am worried about my daughter's bowels?

Question

Serious question, real answers only please. My 11 year old daughter got upset after going to the toilet because she had done the biggest stool I have ever seen and it wouldn't flush so I had to break it up to make it go.(I know this sounds amusing but the embarasment my daughter has had to overcome to tell me has leveled it ). The thing is she doesn't want me to take her to the doctors and tells me that she usually only goes about once every 3 days and this is normal for her. I have always given her privacy since she started to develop but am worried . I am amazed that something that big could come out of her. What should I do.? No buy a nose clip/rubber gloves type answers please I can think of all those myself thanks '

Answer 1

Your daughter has constipation. I am completely serious.
The digestive system is designed to eliminate after each meal, not every 3 days.
Stools that stay in the body that long not only harden and come out like the one you describe, but while in the body launch an attack of toxins in the blood stream. This is not healthy.
There are several ways to encourage healthier bowel movements:
1. Drink more water
2. Eat bulkier, fiber-rich foods (vegetables) yes, I know: yuchh, huh? Remember: potatoes count as vegetables.
3. Get enough physical exercise. I'm not talking about joining a gym - an 11-year-old gets enough exercise running around playing outside with friends, playing ball, etc. If she sits in front of the TV too much, try restricting TV. It will benefit her mind as well as her body.
4. Privacy is good, but she really needs to be educated about the importance of bowel movements. This is NOT a gross subject, just NORMAL human anatomy. Tell her that not having good bowel movements can also impact her skin and cause pimples. This is actually true, so you're not lying.
5. Let her know that continued constipation can really damage her health, and that it is important that her bowels become regular.
I'll be glad to share my 18-year experience in nutritional and alternative health studies if you feel that hearing it from another source would help her. Just email me.

Answer 2

If she's not in pain or discomfort then it shouldn't be a problem, you can keep an eye on her diet and especially her fluid intake and maybe watch she's getting exercise etc If she's generally healthy and happy then it shouldn't be an issue - everyone is different and everyone's metabolism is different. If it is a problem then constipation is something you can treat from home firstly and only resort to the doctors if you need to - start with food like prunes/apricots/plums/figs - there is so much you can try to keep her bowels moving more regularly. I would recommend that you don't go overboard on the fibre, contrary to popular belief it can have the opposite to the desired effect if eaten to excess because it needs an awful lot of fluid to pass through, eg if your daughter is eating Weetabix every morning without fail, then try breaking the routine you can really have too much of a good thing - trust me, my son was constipated for 18 months and we saw specialist after specialist and to this day if he eats too much weetabix he's gets bunged up and yet its the very first thing they tell you to do, because they assume that your diet must be crap if you get constipated in the first place. If you see a doctor with constipation they will give you a laxative or a suppository and a lecture on healthy eating, only if it becomes a serious problem will they refer you for further tests etc and I don't think this sounds like its a serious problem or you would have rushed her to the doctors already - Good Luck.

Answer 3

My daughter has occasional large stools. She laughs about it and calls them floating mines.
It probably just means that she's not eating enough fibres, drinking enough fluids and doing enough exercise. If you want her to do all that, you need to show by example.
People's bowel movements are different! However three days between each movement is a little much. Keep an eye on things (but give her her privacy), I wouldn't rush to the doctor's yet (he's going to tell you the same things the lovely nutritionist above has said), educate her about the way the human body works and show her there is nothing to be ashamed of.
If things change or you're still not happy you could call NHS Direct for advice first, so that you don't embarrass your daughter by taking her to the doctor's. I've just embarrassed my daughter by giving you this answer!

Answer 4

I think you're just going to have to make that doctors' appointment and drag her along if you have to. Explain to her that the doctor hears these things all the time and s/he won't laugh or make fun of her (try to get a female doctor if that would make her feel better).

You could always try going over her diet, writing everything she eats down, and see if there is something that causes such large stools, perhaps she's not eating enough fibre or there's something that just won't agree with her. But I really think the doctor is the first port of call for you both. She might not like it but it will make her feel better if the root of this problem is sorted out.

Answer 5

Hi - if she wont go to the doctors - phone NHS direct for info
otherwise I would agree with most of the comments here
1. more water is a must - i cannot remember where but there is a formula based on body weight to work out how much water is needed per person
2. fibre in her diet, fruit and veggies, bran and wheatgerm ontop of cereals or in homemade biccies and definately less meat if she is eating lots, move onto wholewheat bread and pasta etc instead of white bread - if she complains make up pizza dough and ask her to get it from one end of a stocking to another by pushing with her hands - not pleasant but makes the point about fibre in our diet ;)
3. exercise will help move bowels - get her to walk for 10 minutes morning and evening
4. encourage her to go when she feels the urge (at school this is almost impossible child bowel incontinence is on the rise in schools :(
5. also a possibility is hormones - is she ready to start her periods i began my periods at 11 and the first sign was IBS

also i think as long as the stool is smooth ie comes out in one and not bits and pieces, is the right colour and smell ie smells like poop but not overly offensive, i am not sure there is much of a medical problems hospitals with the have you been today have convinced us we will die unless we go toilet daily - when my son was constipated the doctor told me different people do it differently due to diet so for now follow above guidelines also research yoga for her it helped my mum who has IBS

hope this helps

Good luck - to her and you !!

Answer 6

Stools can vary from person to person, so if this is normal for her, it doens't cause her any discomfort (other than a bit of embarrassment for stopping the plumbing) and there is no blood in her stools, there is most likely nothing to worry about. You should work with her on the embarrassment, however. There is no reason your daughter should feel ashamed or embarrassed over her body and the functions it has. If she's this upset over bowel movements, how will she feel once she's gotten her period?

Answer 7

Every ones bowel size is different. If she does not suffer from constipation and goes to the toilet regularly then there is nothing to worry about. You must also remember that what is regular for one person is not regular for others. Not everyone goes every day. Sometimes lots of junk food will cause a stool to float so lots of veg and fruit.

Answer 8

ok, the truth is everyone no matter age should go at least once a day but other's go more or way less. You need to tell her that if she doesn't start taking more Fiber each day along with plenty of water and clear juices, mainly water, that you will have to take her to the doctor. People can die from backed up intestional problems.

Answer 9

I would make sure she has lots of fibre in her diet, every three days seems like a long time to go between poos. Maybe she is holding them in because she thinks they are going to hurt and as a consequence, they do. My niece did this, so my sister made sure she had lots of fibre and fruit, prunes were sometimes a necessity but it cured the problem and now she goes everyday. You could also try giving her senekot if you can give it to children.

Answer 10

My son has the same issue and he is 12 and yes I was blow away the first time I had seen that and yes had to break up after the toilet overflowed so its nothing to worry about if it starts causing irritation or pain then I would call the doctor but if it does not bother her other then size she will be fine good luck