Hey guys,

Just want your input on using mineral oil as laxative??? DOES IT WORK? that is my question. (Leigh I know you're the expert here, i need positive feedback hopefully!) Ped suggested I give zac one teaspoon twice a day until his GI appt. She the mucous doesn't concern her as much as the fact that he cant shake this hard stool "crap". He shouldn't be constipated only on a liquid diet w/baby foods. <sigh> I gave it to him tonight, nothing yet. I'm hoping and praying that he doesn't get a tummy upset from this as this is the LAST thing I need. We've had a horrible ffew days with him so out of his routine. He's not in his own bed and he knows it, trust me! He is SUCH a light sleeper that he's having a hard time staying asleep being that we are not the only ones around and know to be quiet. He's been so out of his routine it's terrrrrrrible. Anyhow I hope this doesn't give him tummy upsets! That's my concern. and that it works!
Thanks

Hi there Sara!! Nice to see you back. I really hope all is okay with you after the hurricane...??
Can't really help with the mineral oil thing as I never used it myself. I'm sure Leigh will be along shortly to help though.....!!!!

I'll preface this by telling you that I am NOT a doctor (just a mommy with a constipated kid!); however, our GI told us that the stuff given by mouth (Mira Lax, Malt Supex, etc.) usually works on the stuff coming down the pike, not on anything that's already compacted and blocking the exit.

I wonder if an infant suppository would work? Ask your ped if s/he recommends an enema or suppository (don't do this unless they give the okay!)

well,

He was still compacted and wasn't getting anything out for two days although he was trying real "hard". He FINALLY got the "plug" out yesterday w/NO suppository ( I was very close to giving it). He got out the hard stuff and everything that followed the rest of the day (and it was A LOT) was greasy and oily...from the mineral oil obviously. Now every poop leaves his litte butt cheeks greasy which is perfectly fine with me as long as he's getting it out!!!! He had 4 huge poops yesterday so i'm really relieved...for now.
He's had to take 3 glycerine suppositories in about 3 weeks. SO happy i didn't have to do it again yesterday.
We still have no poiwer but we MUS T get back home so he can see the GI about this issue. It's a 5-6 hour drive so we will be stuck there! THere are more people w/power now (besides US) so we'll find somewhere to stay I'm sure. :?

Oh Sara..
We are missing you around here!!! Glad to hear that the mineral oil is working for Zac.. it is a little less invasive than suppositries. Poor Zac!!
How much longer without power do they know?? Hoping that you can get home really quickly!!

Well...according to the "Florida Power and Light" company...our area should be restored by...are you ready???

NOVEMBER 15th!!?????!?!?! !$#%*!%$# :doh:

I really don't know what we're going to do. APparently they are saying it SHOULD be restored before then but just to safe their behinds they say the 15th. We are driving back down south home tomorrow...dont know why. ANyhow I think we may just stay w/someone local as most are getting their power back on by now and it is becomming more civilized once again (gas stations, supermarkets, stores open, etc).

Anyhow will keep you guys posted. Have no time to come on here to "really" spend any amount of time. I'm just peeking in at this thread as it is pretty important for my situation right now. Wonder why leigh hasn't seen it yet! hmmm :? hehe...i'm sure she'd have a mouth full to say! :D
Anyhow gotta run! Take care! No poops today but he got out so much yesterday that I"m not "too concerned".

Sooo glad the mineral oil worked for you! We have to give enemas and suppositories on a very regular basis and they are NO FUN.

I'm so sorry to hear about your lack of power--Geez, I can't imagine waiting THAT LONG for it to be restored! We'll be thinking of you...

:lol: :lol: about the comment about Leigh!!! Yeah, she should be around here somewhere... I'll just point it out to her I think!!!
Oh my... no power for another couple of weeks! :shock:
You take care driving back home won't you. ((HUGS))

Sorry! I guess that I was sleeping on this one! A little New Zealand birdie told me to get my tookus over here.... :wink:

Great to hear from you, Sara! I am sorry that the power situation still sucks. That is a long time to be without power and they are probably just trying to cover their tookus by saying such a date. I think I told you about our ice storm and how some people were without power for the month they anticipated, but it was mainly people in the country.

Mineral oil does work. It acts as a lubricant and keeps things "slippery" all the way down and through the intestines. It helps to stop things from being stuck in the pockets and makes them slither out. The GI here wants us to give 4 days of enemas to Curran (yeah, I said 4!) and then mineral oil each day afterwards for at least 6 months. Yep, it takes that long for the intestines to shrink back and for the kiddo to realize that having a poop does not hurt, sometimes it is longer. The problem with long term use is that they do become dependant on it, so this must be done with the aid of a doctor or GI. Also, there are aspiration and absorption issues that we do not need to go into now as it is just the begining for Zac and he may not need it long term like Curran does.

The trick is to get the majority of the crap out with a suppository, enema, or lots of mineral oil in the begining and then work on the amount of mineral oil that will cause at least a poop a day without a huge lot of leakage. It takes a lot of tweaking to get to that. If you have not had a poop out of Zac today, then the amount is not enough. He must have a poop every day right now. If you find that there is a poop a day and there is lots of leakage of mineral oil, then you bring down the amount of mineral oil, likely by a half teaspoon. If it happens again, then reduce it again until you get the poop a day, nice and soft, with only a bit of mineral oil and no leakage. Make sense? Conversely, if you do not get that poop a day, increase the mineral oil by a half teaspoon for a few days until you do (wait at least 3 or 4 days in between the increase, though as it can take a few days to clear things out in the begining).

Yes, it does cause cramps. :cry: Then again, so does being constipated. It can not be helped, but once you get the right amount regulated, it will no longer be as uncomfortable for the wee fella. We are busy playing with Curran's amounts again as he needs more some weeks and less in others. For Curran, it is dependant on his diet. I can tell you all the foods to avoid, if you like, but you will not like it. The juice is a big no-no. It would be different for Zac I imagine as he is so young, but the list of foods is incredible. Over time we have found our way with the foods as it is impossible to avoid everything.

The GI will likely do something similar or tweak what your doctor is getting you to do, if he is in the same boat Curran is. We have an unsympathetic GI who does not care that Curran will writhe around in pain with this. If we do not have success in another 6 months or so I guess he will start testing. For what, I do not know. I see him again on November 3, I think, so I can let you know what our status is then.

Hang in there. GERD is definately worse when constipated, by the way. This is why the GI broke down and gave us a script for Curran for Zantac. When they are all bunged up, food does not have a clear path and the reflux gets churning really good.

Have you tried the espsom salts in the bath? They really do relax the critters. Also, do not forget the butt creme. Smear it right up to the butt hole and make sure it is something like desitin to help heal the tears.

Whew! **panting** :lol:

Let me know if I missed anything....

No wonder you're panting Leigh... that was a real marathon memo there!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I deliver in quantity, not quality.
:P
:lol:

Thanks leigh! I think we're on the right amount, as he is having good poops every day now and no "leakage" of oil. He has about two a day. I'm wondering what they will do today at the GI as this is his first visit. DH is making me batty sayign "NO xrays"...nevermind the fact that the ped recommended one at 2 months of age and he refused!@!! We're arguing about this as we speak as I think if he needs one he needs one.<<sigh>> That's another issue..anyhow he gets one teaspooon a day now and seems to be getting out nice soft poops. Still mucous though.

Sara have you started any new food since the mucous started?

AMy,

Not that I'm aware of, he seems to always have the mucous there. Sometimes more than others.

Hmmmm. I see where Amy is aiming. You may want to start some food eliminations to see if that helps.

Could just be the chronic constipation as well and the irritation from it, but usually it is not that mucousy.