Weasy
Male / 9 years & 11 months
Weasy’s Journey
Share the first part of Weasy's story for readers on Sleuth! When and why did you start to feel concerned?
My eight year old has been pooping in his pants and has been wearing pull ups 24/7. This has been happening for over a year now. We've been to a primary care doc, a GI doc, psychiatrist & therapist as this issue both mental and physical. As of now he has been taking daily laxatives to keep his system clean. We had an x-ray that showed his colon was backed up and impacted. The GI says when the colon is so full for so long the nerves loose the sensation to go. A functioning system when full will send signals that it's time to go, When it's empty the sensation goes away. My son says he can't feel when he has to go so we have a routine that he needs to go sit on the pot at regular intervals to prevent him going in his pants. As for the mental side, he does have and IEP at school for developmental delays. He also is adopted and lost his biological sister almost 2 years ago. On top of which we've been dealing with COVID for a year now.
What was your experience, if any, seeking a diagnosis or treatment?
There have been several incidents where other kids have smelled when he's soiled his pants, which can be devastating for an 8 year old. We have a support team at school of concerned teachers and staff. We are on a 4 month training cycle with the daily laxatives to get his bowel to start feeling when it has to go. IE: this is what empty feels like, this is what full feels like. We're also seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist. The psyc suspects some potential highfunctioning spectrum disorder in tandem with ADHD, but has not recommended any medications. The therapist talks to him about his body but I'm unclear on how or if that is helping. When I ask my son if he wants to keep talking to her, he says yes so we'll continue for now.
Do you have any other thoughts or advice you would like to share from this experience?
Not until the issue is resolved. Some weeks are better than others and I keep looking toward a day when he doesn't have to be embarrassed about wearing pull ups.
Timeline
Below is a timeline of Weasy’s observed symptoms, diagnosed conditions, and treatments and therapies.
Weasy’s Notes
Signs & Symptoms
2021
pooping pants
Sign or SymptomAt 7 yearsSevere
Ongoing Symptom
Observed at 7 years
Observed: Twice a Week
Severe
Comments
The peeing in the house on purpose happened twice. It could be related to the emotional strain he's experiencing with the other bathroom issues.
Related To
peed in the house
Sign or SymptomAt 8 yearsVery Severe
Symptom
Observed at 8 years
Observed: Twice ever
Very Severe
Comments
All the poop talk with doctors and family may have triggered this behavior. We are still working with the therapist to understand why it happened and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
Related To
Diagnoses & Conditions
2021
Encopresis
Condition or DiagnosisAt 8 yearsVery Confident
Condition
Diagnosed at 8 years
Very Confident
Treatments
2021
laxatives
Treatment or TherapyAt 8 years & 6 monthsNeutral
Ongoing Treatment
Began at 8 years & 6 months
Neutral
Comments
We're on this treatment program for 4 months. After 2 months of scheduled "sitting on the pot". It's getting better. But he is still having accidents.
Related To
enema
Treatment or TherapyAt 8 years & 6 monthsVery Helpful
Treatment
Began at 8 years & 6 months
Very Helpful
Comments
The enema cleaned him out so that his colon can function better. He handled it VERY well and it wasn't as difficult or scary as I thought it would be.
Related To
therapy
Treatment or TherapyAt 8 years & 6 monthsNeutral
Ongoing Treatment
Began at 8 years & 6 months
Neutral
Comments
As long as my son wants to do therapy I support him. I question how helpful they are.
Related To
Doctors
2021
psychiatrist
SpecialistParent isn't sure
Specialist
gastroenterologist
SpecialistParent isn't sure
Specialist
LMSW
SpecialistParent isn't sure
Specialist