Ohmystinkinheck

…not for myself, but for Meredith.

Today marks Day 6 of manageable to severe abdominal cramping. It started Friday when she came home from school. On Friday there was no fever and no diarrhea, just projectile vomiting and abdominal cramps. I thought it was an overdose of all things sugary from the Christmas parties at school. We put her on a restricted diet until she got through the vomiting.

The next day she seemed to wake up feeling better and so, we drove to Tyler, TX to be with my dad’s side of the family. Meredith and I spent the majority of the time in the bathroom - again with the cramps and vomit, but still no fever. The road home was miserable for her. All she wanted was her bed and the heating pad.

Sunday we called our pediatrician and he listened to everything and said he thought it might be due to constipation (though she had gone to the bathroom the day before). He gave her some meds to relieve the stomach cramping and strongly suggested glycerin suppositories to help her along. I did one suppository and about 4 hours later it cleared out her system pretty thoroughly (or so we thought). She was feeling better, and we were glad, it was Christmas Day after all! It was a great day - about 6 hours free from cramping; Mer ran and played and jumped and we really thought we had this thing whipped.

About 11:30 or so last night we called Izzy and Poppa Ken to come stay with our other two and took Mer to the ER. Her pain had returned and she couldn’t even stay still for all the hurting.

When she was on the downside of a cramp we took photos with my iPhone. I was trying to keep her mind off her stomach, but of course, it didn’t last.

I was worried about appendicitis. When I pressed on her stomach at all she squealed. She explained to the doctor how she felt before he examined her.

Thankfully, it isn’t appendicitis, but rather, impacted bowels. Treatment? More of the same…along with veggies, fruits, fiber, fluids and glycerin suppositories.

We are truly exhausted over here. It was a rough go the last few days, but Meredith is exhausted and hurting, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Day 6 and counting.
I wish I could take it from her.

43 Responses to “What I wouldn’t give for a little diarrhea…”

1. The Simple Family

   Poor thing. I’m hoping she feels better– any idea what is causing it?

   She still looks beautiful, even in misery.

2. Pam

   So sorry to hear she is still hurting. And you too, as I know you are hurting watching her in pain. Hopefully she will ring in the New Year feeling much better than she spent Christmas!

3. hana

   Well, that post took me out of my clutter pity party! Here’s my prayers for Meredith’s recovery from her digestive problems!

4. Nancy

   When my daughter was young, she had this problem all the time.

   Mineral oil … I made “Mineral Oil Milkshakes” or just mixed in juice, works like a charm, not habit forming, ask your pediatrician. Oh, yeah, it doesn’t make the “run like crazy” to the bathroom BM’s either.

5. Loralee

   I am so freaking sorry. I had about two months last year of this very thing. I got VERY sick but it was mainly because it took me almost that long to admit that there was even a problem. Until I had to go to the ER in desperation.

   (I not only have excrement “Issues” but when they found out, my friends took delight in taking the book “Everybody poops” and and adding “WHY CAN’T YOU? along with personalized photos. I also got packs of toilet paper from blog readers. Any wonder I kept quiet so long? Sigh. )

   Hopefully, this will clear up and she will get better SOON. This is one painful diagnosis. She is a trooper.

6. Angella

   Poor Mer!

   Praying as I type this, and will continue to!

   Love!

7. seven

   Some people I housesit for at my church told me that their son gets impacted bowels from time to time (why, I don’t really remember…), and they said that when he starts having trouble pooping, he takes mineral oil every night until everything starts coming out smoothly. They said that it’ll come back after a few months, but that the mineral oil keeps it at bay. Hope she feels better soon!

8. sheree

   Poor sweet babe. :( I hope she is feeling better very soon.

9. ashpags

   Aww, poor thing! What a crummy way to spend Christmas break. I hope she feels better soon!!!

10. bethany actually

    Angella took the words from my keyboard. Poor Mer, poor Mom & Dad. I’ll keep praying.

11. chocolatechic

    Poor girl. Poor mamma.

    PS. Your phone takes some sweet pictures!

12. Jersey Girl

    So sorry to hear about it. I hope Meredith feels better very soon.

13. Shawna

    Poor girl. What a crappy Christmas present. Literally. Hope she feels better soon!

14. Aileen

    I hope she feels better soon. My thoughts are with all of your family right now. :(

15. TheAngelForever

    I hope Meredith feels better soon and that things begin to move along easier. Poor kiddo and mom too!

16. jenn

    ohhh bless her heart!!!!! I hope she feels better soon, amazing kids get that?? I was thinking at first she may have what hit our house, my youngest son got the norovirus, then it just spread, we all ended up with it at some point, it was horrible, not to mention the germs, and laundry associated with that. bless your heart too! I know how that situation is! Ill be praying for you all!

17. Angela Giles Klocke

    Poor baby… I went with this a lot with my eldest child.

18. witchypoo

    I’m sending good pooping prayers. This is so not fun. Does Meredith enjoy stewed rhubarb? It isn’t harsh like some food remedies can be. Prunes, I’m thinking about you.

19. Kini

    Awwww, the poor girl! I hope she feels better soon. And, on Christmas no less…

20. zoe

    ugg. poor baby. i have had this issue with one of my kids. i have them dring baby pear juice EVERY day and no more constipation :)

21. Liz C

    Poor kid!

    DH swears by my oatmeal muffins… just a good old Betty Crocker Ancient Cookbook muffin recipe (Favorite Sweet Muffins in the Bread section) with a good handful or two of old-fashioned oats mixed in, and various types of frozen fruit, applesauce, dried fruit, etc added for fun. If he eats two or three, three times a week, All Is Well. His intestines, apparently, are the most Scottish part of him, and require oats.

22. ComfyDenim

    My 3 year old had the same problem — we now keep benefiber on hand - because it dissolves and he rarely knows when we’re feeding it to him.

    May her stomach return to normal very quickly!!

23. Marcie

    Poor little dove. Thinking about you.

24. amcati

    Oh my - that really stinks. I had the same thing a couple of years ago - It is not fun. I never knew one could become impacted before then. Mine had to be diagnosed via X-ray. I will be praying for Meredith’s speedy recovery.

25. same

    I had no luck with fiber, mineral oil, etc. If you want relief fast - go with MOM (Milk of Magnesia). You must follow with lots of liquids - preferably hot liquids.

    Consult your doctor before doing this.

26. Mrs. Wilson

    Poor little girl! I hope she feels better really soon!

27. Megan

    My dd gets this when she eats bananas. nak

28. nyjlm

    Poor sweetness! I hope she’s feeling better soon. I once had unexplained stomach cramping in jr high and missed two weeks of school. Not a fun experience. So sorry that Meridith is going through this on her vacation :(
    Hope you get some rest too, Mama, you’ve had one sick baby to nurse after another!

29. Caron

    Christmas break from school is supposed to be fun. Good thoughts your way. A trip to the chiropractor may help.

30. andrea

    Poor thing! She is an adorable little girl despite her stomach ailments.

31. Emily

    Sending tummy-easing thoughts to Mer.

32. OMSH

    Thanks for all the sweetness. She had some … um… movement and a bit of relief. Here’s to more of the same.

33. Kristen

    Nick had this all the time when he was little. We did the mineral oil shakes for quite a while.

    Poor girl!

34. Leigh

    Poor thing! It hurts to much to see them hurting… My prayers are with you guys!

35. Lanna

    Ick. I hope she feels better soon. I totally dread when the kiddos get sick, it’s so hard to watch because you can’t just wave a magic spatula and make it better. :(

36. Jeanne

    Hope she’s better soon. My daughter and a friend’s child both had constipation improved when they switched from milk to soy milk. Just a thought!

37. Jess

    We’ve had that issue here too. Mineral Oil does work, and prune juice mixed into some OJ works well too. I hope she feels better soon.

38. jamie

    Oh the poor little thing. I am so sorry to hear that, and will be keeping you guys in my prayers.

39. Colleen

    Oh so sorry. I really hope that Meredith is doing better very soon.

    Christmas night Zoe started throwing up too (at about 1:30 in the morning). It seems to be just a stomach bug for her, but she’s still not eating much of anything.

    Nothing like being sick to make a holiday stink.

40. Val

    I’m so sorry you’re going through this. My granddaughter had the same problem when she was 2; we spent all night Christmas Eve at the hospital. They admitted her until she passed something. She had IV’s and the whole works. It was terrible seeing her like that, but she’s ok now and we’ve avoided a reoccurrence by giving her prunes or prune juice every day. Thankfully, she loves them. Saying a little prayer for you all.

41. Michele

    Oh poor little sweetie. I hope she’s feeling better.

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