At Children’s Wisconsin, we care for kids with the most complex constipation and motility problems. We take a team approach to care. In addition to world-class care, we have many resources for kids and families. We want your journey to be as smooth as possible.
Our team gives you and your family the best and safest care possible. We provide a comfortable and welcoming environment during every step of your journey. We’re here for you, from initial diagnosis to long-term management.
Our experts work closely together to grasp your child’s needs, create a care plan and help your child feel better.
Your First Visit
The care team includes:
- Pediatric gastroenterologists
- Nurse practitioners
- GI-specialized nurses
- Registered dietitians
- Pediatric psychologists
- Pediatric surgeons
We can diagnose chronic constipation and create a tailored care plan. Some of the issues we can help with include:
- Difficult, painful or infrequent stooling
- Potty-training difficulties
- Abdominal pain with constipation
- Encopresis (when constipation causes soiling)
Diagnosing and treating constipation
At your first visit, we’ll learn about your child’s symptoms and medical history. Our team will do a full physical exam. They may order tests to help figure out what’s causing the constipation.
Tests could include:
- Blood tests to check for common bowel or digestive disorders
- An abdominal X-ray to see how much stool is in the large intestine
- A lower GI series to look for any structural problems in the colon
- Manometry tests to measure how well the muscles in the bowel are working
- A rectal biopsy to examine the cells in the rectum
- A Sitzmark colon transit test to track how stool moves through the colon
Our team will explain each step and answer all your questions. We’ll also talk about your goals and how to build a care plan that works for your child.
During Treatment
Every child is different. Constipation treatment can be as simple as feeding your child more fiber, offering more water and helping them get more active.
If the problem is long-standing or involves behavioral issues, some kids benefit from talking with a psychologist. The severe cases and chronic intractable constipation may need other treatments.
Our team has deep experience treating the toughest constipation cases. We’ll support your family every step of the way.
After Care
Many kids do very well after treatment. Some may need ongoing care for a while and others may return to their primary doctor once symptoms improve.
We’ll keep following your child for as long as needed. We stay in touch through follow-up visits, phone calls and our patient portal.
When treated early and accurately, most children improve and go on to live healthy, active lives. Sticking with the treatment plan can make a big difference. We’ll help your family make changes that support long-term success.
