16 year old just diagnosed

[deb8997]

HI. After months of being in pain we finally found out my daughter does have crohn's.for a week now been on prednisone, just started the pentasa. The GI Dr is very good and really cares for her patients, she said my daughter has one of the worst stomachs she has seen. Not sure if we are seeing any changes, the first few days after the colonoscopy were pretty good, she was eating her required diet, but now is getting very bored of it. well its been about 4 days since she had a bm and is now feeling it, her stomach hurts, the dr said I could go ahead and give Miralax but very little then go with some prune or plum juice here and there. I know sometimes fruit juices are a no no for crohns. the constipation is nothing new she's been like that for a little while now, we did notice a while back that she was going to the bathroom almost every time she ate,didn't think much of it, there was never any other symptoms to go along with it, now its the opposite. does anyone have any other tips for maybe a natural laxative?

 

[Sascot]

Hi and welcome. I don't really have any advice on natural laxatives, our GI usually goes with Movicol or Lactulose on prescription. Hope it settles down for your daughter.

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

Welcome to the forum! My son suffers from constipation too. Our GI has recommended Restoralax, which is perhaps the same as your Miralax, I'm not sure. The medicinal ingredient is 100% Polyethylene Glycol 3350. I don't know about any natural laxatives, except that I used to work with a gal who bought a green powder laxative from the health food store. She mixed it up with water, and it looked awful, but apparently it worked very well! I hope treatment starts working wonders in your daughter soon. Take care!

 

[SupportiveMom]

You might want to try the actual fruit instead of the juice if you can. My teen has a hard time with the juice. I think it is the additional sugars they add.

 

[Jenn]

Prunes!
About the only thing I can think. Lots and lots of water too. Ask her doc what he suggests too. Miralax is pretty gentle, softener vs laxative. Good luck!

 

[Amy2]

My son was diagnosed in March, at age 16. Sorry, to welcome you to such an awful club.

My son achieved remission with a 3 day course of steriods in the hospital, then did 6 weeks of EEN (zero food) and then began the SCD. His only med is Pentasa and aside from the fact he can't put on much weight, he has been feeling pretty good, physically.

He says drinking a lot of water helps him not become constipated.

 

[my little penguin]

We use miralax for DS
But you can use fruit that starts with p
Pears
Plums
Prunes etc..
Prune juice caused my child a lot of cramping
So we still with miralax since it's not a laxative just an osmotic ( draws water into the stool) to keep it moving .
Good luck
You will know in four weeks if pentasa will be enough ( typically only works in 20% or less or crohn's cases but it is mild so most docs like to try it anyways

 

[greypup]

1-2 teaspoons of aloe vera juice is a natural remedy. Also there are specialty teas called Smooth Move by Traditional Medicinals.

 

[deb8997]

Well she finally went yay!! And it was normal.. But we found a trigger food after eating soup chicken and potatoes for the last week she wanted to try sausage small pieces well that's no good she got sick right after eating it. Guess its back to chicken.

 

[my little penguin]

Aloe Vera is not recommended for kids with Ibd at all
Check the wiki link

 

[greypup]

Thanks MLP. I just read through some of the old threads. I appreciate you bringing it to my attention and sorry to introduce something controversial. We aren't using it now as we have found that water is helping best.

 

[Makena's Mom]

My daughter suffers from constipation also. Her GI has her taking miralax, everyday, until her fistula heals. I also give her dried apricots, prunes, pears (although we have to peel them, the skin can be hard on the intestines and get caught up in the inflamed areas). Other than that, lots and lots of water. Makena would go sometimes 3 or 4 days between BMs and they would just tear her up. Its awful. The miralax has helped immensely!!

 

[SupportiveMom]

Didnt know about the Aloe Vera. My kid tried it right after diagnosis after home from the hospital. It did nothing so we stopped it. I'll read the wiki link about it.

 

[my little penguin]

http://www.crohnsforum.com/wiki/Aloe-Vera

The wiki link for you

 

[SupportiveMom]

Thanks penguin!

 

[kimmidwife]

Thanks for letting us know about this MLP!

 

[poppets mum]

Miralax is pretty much your best option as prunes and other fibres will help to go, but can also create gas which can hurt the tum even more.