Monday, September 17, 2007

What kind of shake?!

Warning - this post is about bowel movements (no, not mine!). Keep reading at your own volition (Thanks for the great word, Sid!)

I was reading someone's blog this last weekend, (Thanks LM and Exvestigator!! ) and found a couple of posts about their DD not being able to go to the bathroom for a couple of days due to a camping trip (8/27 and 9/09 were the posting dates). After having been home for a time it became apparent that the child needed to go to the ER to help her out. Everything came out all right in the end, (sorry, I just had to do it) but it reminded me of the 6 months or so that we struggled with our oldest child.

He had a bowel movement (BM) that was large enough to make him tear and bleed a bit. I figured he'd heal up and be fine, but over the course of the next couple of weeks it kept tearing a little and bleeding. And, of course, hurting. Eventually he started to get scared to go and he went 4 days without going. I called the dr. and they said to go get children's suppositories. By the time I got back from the store he had gone, but he had been rolling on the bed and screaming because his abdomen had started to hurt from holding it in. This started a horrible cycle that took months to get out of. (knock on wood, I hope we are out of that cycle!) We'd spend 2-4 hours trying to get him to go. This became a daily battle because if he waited even one day it might hurt the next day because it was too large or hard. Or he'd be so scared that it would hurt that he'd hold it in. I won't go in to details here, but it was hell.

I was talking with a friend about this and she told me what she does (her DD is still having problems and it has been going on for years. They finally have an appointment to go see a specialist). Anyway, what she does is give her homemade strawberry lemonade and a shake. I don't remember the exact recipe I used for the lemonade, but I do remember there was a lot less sugar and only real lemons could be used (for the diuretic affect), but I still use the shake. I'll post the recipe I use for anyone who may need to use it to help keep things flowing for their little ones.

"Caca" Shake - makes about 12 ounces of shake (I think, I've never really measured. I just know it's about the right recipe for my two boys)

1/4 -1/3 of a can of canned pear juice (make sure you buy the canned pears that are canned in pear juice not syrup)
1-2 tsp wheat germ
1-2 pear halves
1-2 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt (the less sugar the better, of course)
2 frozen peach slices
1-2 frozen strawberries
4-6 frozen blueberries
1-3 frozen raspberries
1/6 of a banana to tone down the tartness of the berries. Don't use a lot of banana because it can help stop things up, if you know what I mean. To make thing easier I usually cut the ripe bananas into 6-8 pieces and then pop them in the freezer to use as needed.

At first I gave this to him every day. Then, after he started having BMs regularly without any physical pain or emotional struggle, I would give it to him every other day. Now I do it 1-2 times a week. Sometimes less than that.

I know most of you out there will say "duh" to this, but I'll say it anyway. Remember to increase water intake along with increased fiber intake and, if possible, take the child to the doctor if things continue to go badly. The psychological problems can take months, or longer, to get over if things aren't taken care of quickly.

13 comments:

Cele said...

There is a time I would have blessed you for this recipe...unfortunatley that time would have been 30 years ago. I'm sure there are parents out there who will bless you now.

Lemon Blossom said...

Thanks, Cele. I had never thought to share this with anyone until this weekend, but I know the shake has saved us A LOT of grief. I wish I could have shared it with you 30 years ago!

Sister Mary Lisa said...

OK, I finally discovered what helped my kid to finally be OK with dropping deuce: The Poopy Song. Don't laugh. We totally tried treats, bribery, force, guilt. Nothing worked until I made up a little song...

One, two, three, poopies in the potty. The poopies in the potty are one, two, three.

One, two, three, poopies in the potty. The poopies in the potty go ploosh, sploosh, sploosh. Sploosh, sploosh, sploosh, poopies in the potty!


You may thank me later. It really works...if your kids are cheesy like I am.

Sideon said...

**LAUGHING REALLY HARD AT THE POST AND THE COMMENTS**

Oh my, it's the kids that keep us humble and real. I love it.

:)

Bishop Rick said...

Wow it's too bad your kid got such a bum deal...sorry, I couldn't come up with anything better.

JulieAnn said...

LB thanks for the recipe, although we don't have any problems here, you never know when things might take a dive, so to speak.

The psychological problems is one of the biggies, and I love SML's song (OMG LMAO) but I would also try getting the book "Everybody Poops" and have it only for him to read while on the potty. Takes his mind off of what he's doing on a conscious level.

When my kids have had trouble, I make them 'hot lemonade': warm water, honey, fresh lemon juice. They love it and it gets things going.
Well, that's all I gotta say, by cracky!

Freckle Face Girl said...

Haven't had that problem yet, but thanks for the great tip!

Liseysmom said...

Glad to know we're not the only ones. Feel free to link directly to the no-poop camping trip post!!

Lemon Blossom said...

Thanks, LM! I was planning on asking you soon, but I just hadn't gotten my lazy butt in gear yet. :)

Bishop Rick said...

Lemon,

It's your son, not you, with the lazy butt.

Sister Mary Lisa said...

LMAO with the funny comments here!

Already Gone said...

Isn't it nice we can talk about ANYTHING!!! My son was the same way...beware, the hold it so long when they get bigger and finally go it will stop up a toilet!! Invest in a "snake"!! LOL!!

Unknown said...

Lots of apple juice will also do the trick, Lemon Blossom. I hope that everything will turn out well!