CF girls and potty training

[lflatford]

Hi,
My daughter started potty training pretty early, at about twenty months. Now she is twenty-four months and still going at it. She loves using the potty and is willing to do so most of the time without a fight. Sometimes she even tells me when she needs to go most of the time. The problem though is that she has quite a few accidents. She will come running saying "Uh Oh, Mommmy potty"!!!!! Does anyone know if CF children have a hard time holding their urine or a problem having to potty more often that children w/o CF? She is my first child therefore my first potty training experience, so please any info would help.
Thanks

 

[JazzysMom]

I dont think we have a problem in general, but here is a thought. A friend of mine has a daughter (non CF) who was fully potty trained, but starting having major accidents. Not just the few that are expected. After going to doctor after doctor telling them something is not right (they figured she was a paranoid parent) it turns out that she had constipation which in turn pushed on her bladder. The constipation wasnt bad enough to cause a problem like pain, vomiting etc, but it created a problem with urinating. i cant remember the exact name of it, but I have to say since that happened with my friends daughter I have paid attention to myself & I definitely see the connection. its almost like a spasm of the bladder because it cant expand fully. Granted most professionals will probably say that your little one is still too young to be worry & that they often regress, but I thought I would through this out there should it continue too long!

 

[lflatford]

Thank you Melissa I will keep that in mind!

 

[rose4cale]

Lynsey, my daughter doesn't have CF, but the only time she has/had accidents is in the beginning of a bladder infection, before the pain starts. The bladder spasms and frequent urination is common along with the sudden urge. I give her cranberry juice when that happens and sometimes we can help it before the pain starts.

My CF boy on the other hand, I'm not even going to start for a couple of months. His stools aren't something I'm ready to deal with...without something there to catch them...i.e. a diaper!! He still has 4-6 Bm's a day even on enzymes. We've introduced the potty and he still doesn't seem to care too much!

 

[1princess]

My daughter doesn't have CF, but thought I would throw my two cents worth in since I am fairly new with the whole potty training bit too. My daughter was 2.5 when we finally got the potty training thing down - she has only had about 3 accidents in 8 months and they were because she was too tired and actually made it to the bathroom, but peed on the floor! That of course woke her up and she freaked, but no problems other than that! Let me add that this whole process started pretty early - around 18 months so it took a long time to really FOCUS and get serious about potty training. We did have several constipation episodes that were not fun, but once we finally convinced her that she was a "big girl" she did great - I think she just started too early (by watching the older kids at daycare!). I think it is very important to wait until they are ready otherwise it will just drag on forever!!!!!!

Good luck with your daughter.

 

[julie]

I was just going to write what shelly wrote. Since kids are new at wiping themselves, it is very easy and very common-especially in little girls to wipe from the back to the front, therefore spreading all sorts of bacteria to very sensitive female parts. This is usually the one thing doctors will check first when a parent discusses frequent accidents.

I have also heard about what melissa is talking about and there is a clinical name/diagnosis for it but I am drawing a blank. That could be a very likely possibility, especially if she has some digestive issues, even minor ones.

Let us know what they find,

 

[HollyCatheryn]

I have a 3.5-year-old. She doesn't have CF, but I thought this might help. She usually does really well knowing when to go and getting there in a timely fashion (she's been using the potty for a little over a year). But, she consistently messes if she has any yeast going on. Urinary tract infections will also do this and are common in newly-potty-trained children. Both of these can cause #1 and #2 accidents.Make sure you are wiping her clean. Make sure that she's not having too many sugary drinks (like juice) because these can encourage yeast to grow. If you think it is yeast, let her play in Tea Tree Oil or vinegar baths frequently, but not bubble baths. Give acidophilus and 1/4 tsp HSO in applesauce a day. If you think it is a UTI open cranberry capsules and mix them in applesauce with Echinacea and crushed fresh garlic.

 

[NoDayButToday]

I was potty trained at about 3. It worked well for me, and I adjusted fine. I don't think I had too many accidents, at least no more than a typical newcomer to toilets. But I was reading your post and thinking, and I remembered something I always discuss with my mom when I am in the hospital.

For some reason, when I am on IV antibiotics, my 'urges' to pee come on much more suddenly, it seems-- and it isn't really MORE urine, its just more sudden needs to urinate. I don't know Avery takes any antibiotics or anything like that, but maybe its something to look into. Also, I think diabetes can cause more frequent urination, but that usually isn't seen in CFers so young.

 

[JazzysMom]

I know meds quite often had something to do with it like dear old Prednisone. Its not that I would pee more, but when the urge came I had to go right then. In the hospital when I was getting the IV form I literally peed my pants because I didnt even get close to the bathroom when the urge hit. There are times that I can hold my pee until my bladder literally feels like it will burst. My daughter has laughed at me about how long I pee sometimes & other times I have to go often, but just a bit at a time & those times are when my coughing affects it. Other times I could cough up a lung, but my underwear would be dry. Sorry for the graphics, but its reality!

 

[anonymous]

Lynsey
I have three children (younger 2 have CF) The two with CF (a boy and a girl) I had a much harder time with potty training them. However, not as much with urine as much as the BM. After talking to the GI Dr he thought because of the problems with bowels they just never really 'emptied' their bowel it was somewhat always full. It just seemed to sneak out sometimes.
Whatever it's worth.

Terri

 

[anonymous]

Kait was not so hard to potty train but she has had MANY accidents,like nightly for a LONG time. She is now 9 years old and i think she finally quit wetting the bed when she was 7. and since then she has had a few more accidents. She would kill me if she knew i was telling this.LOL

Kaitsmom<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[Emily65Roses]

You know, for reference... I still have accidents sometimes. Not like bed-wetting. But if I cough or laugh too hard. And then there's always the "I have to fart" that turns out messy and embarassing. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">

 

[lflatford]

Emily you made me laugh this early in the moring wich is really hard to do!!! To everyone else thanks for all you ideas and support. You gave me some things to consider. I appreciate it!