the greatest anxiety for my toddler

tonight, as with most nights i have, i feel helpless with what my toddler is going through. she was sitting on that toilet bowl for an hour but nothing came. last night, she was crying a lot because her tummy felt upset and when i let her sit on the bowl, she was on tears telling me that her anus hurts.

sofia has functional constipation ever since she was less than 3 months old. she does not have a regular bowel movement, four- five days. and whenever she does, it is always those hard, stone-y ones. i remember going to the pedia every 4 days just so she can poo with the help of her doctor, otherwise, there is so much discomfort for her. during the first checkup, she was given VCO just to act as lubricant for her intestines. it worked for a few days, then it was back to her normal frequency. then there were laxatives. same story, it worked but not for long. also, i didn't want to have those laxatives on her because it might hurt her colon all the more.

i had her stomach on x-ray but the doctor found nothing on her. i also brought her to a pediatric gastroenterologist already when she was under 5 months old but the specialist found her stomach and colon okay, although no test were done to her. it was not advisable at her age to do further exposure to radiation. the doctor said that you would actually know there's something wrong inside with just the feel or form of the stomach. she advised that maybe this will all change when she starts on her solids, and we can incorporate liquids and fiber-rich foods on her diet. or so we thought...

now, she is 3, and it is still the problem i face with sofia. i actually get so anxious about this whole situation, especially during the times when she cries because it hurts already. i have tried all home remedies i know of -- papaya everyday, fiber-rich foods, prune and apple juice, and drinking lots of water. i have also eliminated those fruits that can contribute to constipation, even changed her formula milk for a number of times already thinking it might be the culprit. but sigh, nothing is working.

what more do you think i missed? how do i help improve my daughter's bowel movement? share your tips please.. my sanity is slowly escaping me with this one. i know this is not something i can just brush off and allow to persist.