Loose Stools:(

If it were me, I'd pursue this further with a pediatric gastroenterologist. Children's Hospital is a wonderful place when you have anything weird going on. I'm sure there's an answer. There also could be an emotional element but I'd rule out other things first.

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I would get a second opinion. Is there any blood at all? This sounds like when I was having a flare up with my ulcerative collitus. You don't want to ignore something like this so definitely get another opinion. Good luck!

N.;i would try to see if she goes the same time every day and be prepared to help her get to bathroom sooner?which i know you may of tried, i would also offer her some cheese could holp in binding, and sometimes an alergy can affect stools, like a food alergy? i would also offer plenty of water, alot of kids her age are drinking energy drinks, dont knwo how those can affect children there is a warning label on them for children not use them, so just a few things to check into, things to think about , i hope things work out well for you and have a good day, D. s

Well metamucil can work both ways all fiber stuff can. If you take it and you don't drink enough water it can bine you up. But if you dink alot of water with it it than it makes you very loose. You said that at one time it stpped and now its worse. My ? Is what did she eat when it stopped she must have eaten something or maybe not ate something. Like maybe she drinks too much juice. Or eating too much apples. You can give her bananas bine people up too. Thata all I can think is its something shes eating or not eating. good luck.

Hi N. - I think you should ask your doctor to refer you to a pediatric gastroenterologist - your pediatrician's suggestions is obviously not working - you need an expert who sees this more often - good luck - Alison

Hi N.,

My daughter has problems with #2 and I started giving her Culturelle probiotics (you can purchase online) in December...she hasn't had a problem since. She has to take them everyday, but I open one and pour it into her milk or juice and she doesn't mind. I take one every day, as does my littlest one. Another benefit is that, not only does it help with regulating digestion, it helps with the entire immune system. I tried Activia, but my kids won't eat it everyday and this is just easier for me than forcing something on them. Good luck!

N.,

A year is a long time for this kind of issue. A friend of mine had a similar issue with her son and he has since been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Sorry to mention that, but there are numerous possibilities with that symptom, so you should really go beyond the pediatrician.

Good luck - L.

N., Don't wait any longer, go to your Doctor and stomp your FEET! No child should have to go thru this for so long!!
Ask about allergies, Dairy and fruit allergies can can cause
loose stools, it can be so many things! Start a food diary, everything she eats, you can cut out say all milk products for a week, see what happens, the next week cut out all fruits, then slowly add a fruit see what bothers her. continue to remove foods to see where the trouble is! Good luck, K.

I would definitely switch doctors.

look for a pediatrician. You could also look into alternative treatments, because they usually get to the root of the problem, not just treat the symptoms.

I'd start by tracking what she eats. My daughter didn't handle dairy for almost 6 months after some random cold. Keep a log and slowly remove the common food allergens, milk, wheat.
She's 9, maybe you should go to the allergist, and read the gluten connection by Sheri Liberman and see if any of that fits. It's amazing how wide the reaction to gluten is. After reading the forward I know this book would help at least 12 people I knew. And I suggest it often, if it doesn't help your daughter it might be one of your friends or family members you help.
Good luck, A. H

Just a suggestion but should see a specialist. Maybe at Children's Hospital. They have a website and they have excellent doctors. They should really be able to help.
www.childrensdmc.org

YOu may want to think about a wheat/gluten/dairy sensitivity. My 2 1/2 year old had loose stools for a the first 2 years of her life. We took wheat/gluten and dairy out of her diet and they are now solid. Just something to think about. There were other symptoms that went along with it but I saw a difference within 2 weeks. Just something to think about. I'd be happy to talk to you about it.

N.

My 7 year old had similar issue (not quite as frequently, but a few times a week). Come to find out she was HIGHLY sensitive to wheat, dairy and eggs. I always thought the dairy may have been an issue, but i was shocked by the wheat and eggs results.
I saw Dr. Park Davis in West Bloomfield, MI because she was having tummy aches, some eczema and a hard time concentrating. She ran a blood test through an outside lab in Florida, and 3 weeks later we were on a wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free diet...sounds terrifying doesn't it. We did it for 8 weeks and are now able to reintroduce the foods one week at a time to see if she can now tolerate (My daughter did not test positive for celiac disease, otherwise it would have been permamnently restricted). Anyhow, she can tolerate a bit of egg, but dairy gives her tummy aches so we only let her splurge on special occasions. Haven't tried the wheat yet...holding my breath!!
I highly recommend the blood test. My daughter's color is so much better (finally absorbing nutrients!), she no longer has tummy aches, headaches and we have not had one pair of underwear thrown away!
Should you end up doing the blood test and have to do a restricted diet, feel free to contact me @ ____@____.com. I have figured out which stuff actually tastes good :)

Go back to your pediatrician. Sounds to me like you only saw the doc once in the year that has been going on. Go back, and before you go in, try to journal for a few days to a week of her bowel habits, food intake, water, etc. Metamucil, if used as your doctor recommended, can help form your daughter's stools.

It sounds like she has irritable bowel. My dad and grandmother suffer from that. Diet seems to be the best thing to help this. Sometimes gluten or dairy allergy can cause bowel problems, especially not being able to make it in time and cramping. You can pay to have her tested for these allergies, but the easiest thing is to try a gluten free or dairy free diet. Thankfully these days there are great substitutes at the health food store for both non dairy cheeses, milks, sour cream etc... that actually taste fairly close to the real thing. They also carry pastas and breads that are gluten free. Gluten free is a lot harder since gluten derivatives are used in many processed foods, so cooking fresh foods is the easiest way, but learning to read labels and finding out what grains have gluten in them is helpful. I know that corn and oats usually are ok, but do some research online.

As far as adding fiber, that does seem a bit strange, but if one is badly constipated sometimes all that can get through the bowel is watery stuff so it is possible to have diarrhea and constipation at the same time. I think in my dad's case his irritable bowel is caused by all the red meat and lack of fiber in his diet. He's constantly on fiber to help him out, but I don't think its a good permanent solution, but as he's a doctor you can't tell him anything, he refuses to give up eating junk. Red meat can stay in your bowel for YEARS!

Best wishes, I know this is probably devastating to your daughter, so try to get to the bottom of it with some professional help.

I N.,
I am so sorry your daughter is going through this. I have 5 children all teens and after all this experience i would recommend a couple of things. First, ACTIVIA yogurt with good bacteria for her digestive system, and also the fiber as the doctors said. I work with a company who has great high fiber products but there are many on the market today. I would take a look at her diet most of all and see if you can find things that will help tighten up her stools. Banana's, Rice, Applesauce, Wholegrain toast, Blueberries, yogurt(without high fruuctose corn syrup) mashed potato's...avoid citrus juices, milk proudcts, sugarfree products, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower.

I hope some of this helps for you.

I would also suggest extra water and electrolites, Diarreah can be very dehydrating.

Here is an article i have on Fiber -


Focus on Fiber

If you’re like most Americans, you know that fiber is important, but you probably don’t know exactly why, or even exactly what it is. Luckily, it’s as easy to add to your diet as it is to explain.

Simply put, fiber is a carbohydrate that your body can’t digest. There are two kinds of fiber—soluble and insoluble—and there are health benefits to both kinds.

Fiber Facts
Insoluble fiber is probably the most notable type, and is the type most associated with fiber. Insoluble fiber is fiber that doesn’t dissolve in water, and its primary benefit is to add bulk to stool, helping prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis.

Soluble fiber is not as widely understood, but it’s health benefits are quickly pulling in the spotlight. Soluble fiber absorbs water and forms a gel in the stomach which can slow carbohydrate absorption and improve blood sugar level for people with diabetes. Soluble fibers can help improve blood cholesterol levels thereby lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke as well supporting a strong immune system and helping to prevent colon cancer.

In addition, fiber’s unique ability to fill you up quickly and leave you feeling satisfied longer makes it an extremely popular nutrient among those concerned with weight management.

Filling Up on Fiber
If you’ve been tracking your meals on VitalityForLife.com you’ve probably discovered you aren’t getting as much fiber in your diet as you should. In fact, adults in the U.S. tend to get 12 to 18 grams of fiber per day. As you begin to add more fiber to your diet, the best piece of advice is: take it slowly. Adding too much fiber too quickly (the recommended level is 25-35 grams) can result in bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea. It’s a good idea to drink plenty of water throughout the day to minimize any issues.

Where do you find fiber?
Fiber is present in all plants that are eaten for food, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. However, whole grains and psyllium husk are among the most recommended sources.

Want to add fiber?
The easiest way to add fiber is to look for products that are made with whole grains. Choosing nuts and fruits for snacks is another great way. And don’t forget about FiberWiseTM.

Just one serving of FiberWise contains 5 grams of fiber, so simply adding one drink and one bar to your routine can add 10 grams a day! Not to mention that the main source of fiber in the FiberWise drink is the #1 doctor-recommended psyllium husk.

FiberWise isn’t the only way to increase fiber in your diet. Simply FitTM Bars and ProFlexTM Shakes are both great sources of fiber. Simply Fit Bars contain 5 grams of fiber per bar which is just one reason why Simply Fit is the ideal snack bar. ProFlex Shakes contain 8 grams of fiber per serving making it not only the ideal protein source after a workout and throughout the day but also a healthier option than most other protein shakes.

No matter what your age or health, fiber is an important part of a healthy diet, and you should get a least the minimum recommended amount of 25-35 grams of dietary fiber per day to see the real benefits.

N., i hope this information helps. I also can help you shop from a company that carries the best high fiber products and hydrating drinks with 4 electrolites and would be glad to show you how you can shop for these products yourself as well, right online from a great company. If your interested simply email me at ____@____.com mybest to you, Dani

Hi N., So sorry your daughter is going through this.
Loose stool can be caused by many things including parasites, yeast overgrowth, leaky gut, food allergies, celiacs (gluten intolerance) etc... It is most important to investigate the root cause. Our immune system is connected to our intestine/digestive system. If something is not working properly, it could put stress on the other systems resulting in frequent illness, increased allergies and food intolerances and more. If you can find a good gastro doc who is willing to investigate these things it is definately worth it. There is also a doc in Ann Arbor, Sue Mc Creadie who is holistic and will do a thorough investigation. Two of my children are seeing her and the evaluation process has been a great step towards identifying the core problem. RIght away the most important thing you can do is put her (and all the kids really) on Probiotics. This is good bacteria and will help her system fight off the bad stuff causing the loose stool. Sometimes this alone makes a big difference. There are some great books out there to read as well. Gut and Psychology syndrome and the new Jenny McCarthy book (how to heal and prevent autism). I know the book is focused on autism but does do a really great job of explaining leaky gut and the digestive system. If you need any more information please feel free to contact me. Take care

I would take her back to the doc for further testing. My daughter's friend was going through this and they found out she was lactose intolerant.

Good luck.

Ask your dr. for a simple blood test for ciliac...and demand your dr. do something-make him/her realize it is a problem!
Too much wheat? Dairy? Lactose? any of these will cause this... Even allergies.

N.,

This sounds like exactly what was happening to me about a year ago. I was getting to the point of being afraid to leave my house for fear of an accident. I missed several of my childerns field trips. Long story short it turned out that I had a systemic yeast infection called Candida.

If you research it online there are a lot of different symptoms, the most helpful website I found was www.stopyeast.com The treatment consists of probiotics, which restores balance into the intestinal tract. I have been taking 2 different probiotics for almost a year now and the results have seemed miraculous to me. The most effective probiotic (I think) is called ThreeLac and within a week of starting them my diarrhea stopped.

If you are interested I can tell you my entire story, otherwise just research it a little, there is a lot of info out there on it once you start looking for it. Good luck, I know its a stressful thing, especially for your daughter, she must be very worried anytime she has to go away from a bathroom. God Bless.