This thread is not related to Disney travel, however, perhaps there's other parents out there with a child with a similar problem who can offer some advice.
My 7 year old son suffers from encopresis. He's had this condition since he was about 4, treated successfully, then recurrs. His problem now is school. Basically, encopresis is chronic constipation. Eventually, if the urge to defecate is ignored enough the body will "give up" sending signals. Hence, the constipation worsens. Oftentimes, soiling accidents occur because the rectum loses its elasticity, the "urge" to go is no longer signaling correctly,hence, accidents. My ds says "the poo just comes out'". Also, wetting accidents occur with this condition because the full rectum presses on the bladder, causing a feeling of fullness and decreasing bladder capacity. Well, ds's teacher is aware of these problems (at least I've told her, whether she listens I don't know). She complains that he asks to go to the bathroom "too much" and takes too long in there. Last week, she decided he was making a game out of going to the bathroom. He asked repeatedly to go, but she wouldn't let him (she admits this). He then wet himself. He raised his hand and said he'd wet himself and needed to go to the nurses office. It was the teacher's opinion that he wet himself on purpose to get attention and control the class. She allows other children to use the bathroom on request, but has stopped letting my ds because he "takes too long". I've explained to her his medical conditions and how it could require more time for him than other kids. The class as a whole does have 5 bathroom breaks a day and she feels this is sufficient time for him to go. However, she allows other children times other than the scheduled breaks. I've explained to her his bladder is compressed so he doesn't have much capacity. Also, he's reluctant to use the bathroom during the regular scheduled breaks because the other boys know of his problems and make it difficult for him--he prefers to use the stall and they occupy it until the last possible moment then he has not enough time to have a difficult bowel movement. Since his "wetting" accident last week he all but refuses to drink during the day. He hardly drinks anything for breakfast, and the water bottles I send in his lunch come home unopened. This will only make the constipation worse. Also, he asked me to wear pull ups to school for fear of another wetting accident. I hardly think he would dehydrate himself and wear pullups if he wanted to wet himself in class for attention. Seems he's trying everything possible not to.
I'm not having much luck with the school. We have a meeting next week to discuss this issue. Basically, they need to understand that he has a medical condition which makes elimination difficult. What I need to know is, does this qualify as a disability? Could he get an IEP spelling out how the school will handle his problem, rather than just say its all his fault?
I realize I'm rambling here, but if there's a parent out there with a child with a similar problem I'd appreciate knowing how you dealt with it through the school. I'm just sick with anxiety thinking what my poor little boy must be going through!
My 7 year old son suffers from encopresis. He's had this condition since he was about 4, treated successfully, then recurrs. His problem now is school. Basically, encopresis is chronic constipation. Eventually, if the urge to defecate is ignored enough the body will "give up" sending signals. Hence, the constipation worsens. Oftentimes, soiling accidents occur because the rectum loses its elasticity, the "urge" to go is no longer signaling correctly,hence, accidents. My ds says "the poo just comes out'". Also, wetting accidents occur with this condition because the full rectum presses on the bladder, causing a feeling of fullness and decreasing bladder capacity. Well, ds's teacher is aware of these problems (at least I've told her, whether she listens I don't know). She complains that he asks to go to the bathroom "too much" and takes too long in there. Last week, she decided he was making a game out of going to the bathroom. He asked repeatedly to go, but she wouldn't let him (she admits this). He then wet himself. He raised his hand and said he'd wet himself and needed to go to the nurses office. It was the teacher's opinion that he wet himself on purpose to get attention and control the class. She allows other children to use the bathroom on request, but has stopped letting my ds because he "takes too long". I've explained to her his medical conditions and how it could require more time for him than other kids. The class as a whole does have 5 bathroom breaks a day and she feels this is sufficient time for him to go. However, she allows other children times other than the scheduled breaks. I've explained to her his bladder is compressed so he doesn't have much capacity. Also, he's reluctant to use the bathroom during the regular scheduled breaks because the other boys know of his problems and make it difficult for him--he prefers to use the stall and they occupy it until the last possible moment then he has not enough time to have a difficult bowel movement. Since his "wetting" accident last week he all but refuses to drink during the day. He hardly drinks anything for breakfast, and the water bottles I send in his lunch come home unopened. This will only make the constipation worse. Also, he asked me to wear pull ups to school for fear of another wetting accident. I hardly think he would dehydrate himself and wear pullups if he wanted to wet himself in class for attention. Seems he's trying everything possible not to.
I'm not having much luck with the school. We have a meeting next week to discuss this issue. Basically, they need to understand that he has a medical condition which makes elimination difficult. What I need to know is, does this qualify as a disability? Could he get an IEP spelling out how the school will handle his problem, rather than just say its all his fault?
I realize I'm rambling here, but if there's a parent out there with a child with a similar problem I'd appreciate knowing how you dealt with it through the school. I'm just sick with anxiety thinking what my poor little boy must be going through!