Question:
Male, 16, UPD:
My son has had issues with bowel movements and constipation his entire life. He spends long amounts of time in the bathroom and tells me that he feels like there was more that needed to come out, but he can’t get it out. A few times lately there has been blood on the stool. He has accidents sometimes when he passes gas and gets some tiny stool on his underwear. Should I take him to a doctor to be examined? What kind of doctor would I take him to and how do I help them to understand that this may be more serious than the usual answer to give him more Miralax. (Which seems to increase the frequency of the accidents). Thank you.
Nurse Lynn’s Response:
I have consulted with our GI expert to help answer your question. Sounds like he has long-standing constipation. Completion of a bowel cleanse followed by implementation of a daily bowel regiment with miralax and dulcolax may be helpful. Speaking with the psychologist/behavioralist regarding rectal picking/digging interventions may also be helpful. If there are other concerns present, consultation with a pediatric GI provider may be beneficial.
I have attached an article about constipation that you may find helpful.
Resource:
Colorectal Function in Adults with Prader-Willi syndrome
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Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.