Lloyd had not pooped for days...key word-had! That worry is over. I had sat him on the toilet for days and encouraged him to poop to no avail. He was sitting on the couch last night when I was overcome by the smell of s***. No change in facial expression or anything. Just sat there with the blank look and a week's worth of poop lodged between his butt cheeks! I got him upstairs with no trouble at all. Once in the bathroom the battle ensued. I was armed with my Walmart bags and a fresh Depends, but he was just not willing to let me have the poop. I would try to pull the Depends down and he would try to pull the Depends up. Stuck his hand in it which I immediately caught with a baby wipe. Had to get it off and EVERYTHING in the Walmart bag because it would have definitely clogged the toilet. Used lots of baby wipes and then the fight to get him in the shower. Finally got him in the tub and washed from head to toe with him swinging the entire time. Got him out, dried off, into the bedroom, and he spent the next half hour stepping backwards and stumbling. Never saw this before...one step forward and three steps back. I had sweat just rolling off me, but I was in no way tired. I was FIRED UP! This all started at 10:30 and I was unable to get him to stay in bed until 12:30AM...even with Keppra and Neurontin...and I thought to myself "Ahhh, this is my life!" Without my sense of humor and stubborness, I would just be some suicidal bitch hanging by my neck from the end of a rope somewhere!!!
Sad, but true - this is the place where many of us can relate to your story. It really does help that you can look at it with humor and stubborness. Never in a million years did any of us think this is what we would be doing in our retirement years. At least you know you are not alone in PP duty.
it does help to share what each of us goes thru Linda Mc. unfortunately some of it is hard to discuss but if its a good thing we can talk about it openly. i join you in trying always to find a positive and humourus side to everything about the poop patrol. so many after us will be looking for support here. its usually inevitable in this journey at some point. divvi
My oldest daughter suggested to me that I treat him like a small child - rewarding him with a piece of his favorite candy when he does poop. I do believe we have come full circle now riding on this carousel of life. Where did that come from????? I feel like I'm going to cough up a hairball!
My son had a pooping problem. Enlarged intestine and a painful poop. Stupid parents were at fault. He was scared to poop because it hurt. Specialist said to make sure he poops at least once a day. Had baby suppositories (if nothing else worked) but the key was training and reward.
Had a huge bottle filled with Hot Wheels cars. He got to pick one every time he pooped in the potty. It many months (years?) but he eventually became master of his domain.
Also discovered that if he was relaxed he would poop in his diaper if he was relaxed. Realized that this happened every time we played miniature golf.
I am hoping someone can make use of the above. I know our LOs are not that good on learning new things when they reach this point, but Linda's suggestion of a reward for pooping in the potty is a good one. Motivation seems to be very important, finding that motivation can be hard.
Too funny Linda...had a similar night recently! Waving his favorite candy bar in one hand trying to divert his attention and cleaning a weeks worth of poop with the other. Don't think I confused the hands ...not sure. Was not suicidal..probably more homicidal...but then calmed down and poured a very big glass of "whine". Learned to routinely add fiber med and stool softener to his meds as his diet stinks. Not sure about you but I swear I am getting more muscular...no fitness trainer for me.
scs, ooh, you are brave. I don't know that I would ever confess to feeling homicidal, but that kinda goes without saying! I had contemplated giving him something like Phillips milk of magnesia, but thought better of it. I would much rather scrape poop out of his butt crack than have it running down his legs. T.M.I.! I could really go for a glass of wine, but the grocery is closed and that is where my favorite wine is. Maybe they are still open. Well, gotta run!
I had my first trial by fire a couple of weeks ago when my husband had viral gastroenteritis. There was poop everywhere. He ended up in the hospital with dehydration. Had to be on IV for 48 hours. If I can do that, I think I will be able to handle this poop patrol. I just kept telling myself, "it's just poop".
scs, ran, got my wine, but also got a chicken soft taco...so I will save the wine. Got to make a trip to Walmart for laundry detergent, potty candy for Lloyd and a container to put it in that he cannot open. God, I love breaking out!!! Lloyd was asleep and my daughter Maria was home and the grandson Alex and the grandson Sebastian's best friend Stacee. Stacee graduated with Sebastian and does home health care and works in a nursing home. Been working there since he was a senior. I have never been able to figure out how a teenage boy does what we do for a living. Just grateful to have him. He spends a lot of time here.
Just an update! Got my "impossible for Lloyd to open" see-through container and filled it with mini Reese's cups and put it on the shelf by the toilet. First trip to the bathroom this morning and he pooped and got his candy. He played right into it. I was then able to tell him that every time he poops, he will get another piece of candy. Booyah!!!
Booyah is right!! haha. mine got a candy bar to eat while he was sitting in the shower on the shower chair"_:) he made a mess with the chocolate just in time to get his face washed. we use techniques that work, no matter what anyone else thinks. divvi