GI issues
Once again, I agree with Carmell. I'm sure that scoli affects the GI tract, although you will be hard pressed to find a GI doc who will admit or confirm that. Spencer's GI issues have calmed down a lot since his fusion. I'm sure that his curve was pushing all his insides into places they were not supposed to be and that was a large part of his GI problems. He is still on motility drugs but we haven't had a bad upper GI day for about four weeks (knock on wood), which is the longest we have gone since his nissen surgery.
That said, I will also say that you need to make sure there are not any other underlying causes to the constipation. Does your daughter have any other diseases or syndromes besides scoli? Have you ever had any genetic screening done? Metabolic disorders can cause constipation and you need to rule them out before you start changing diet too much. Eliminating some foods or increasing others can make things worse if the underlying cause of the constipation is metabolic. Fortunately metabolic problems are usually very treatable. However, if the underlying cause is nuerological then there might be treatment options or there might not be too much you can do except motility drug therapy (stool softeners, laxatives, stimulants, etc).
You also need to be prepared for a very unsatisfying visit with your GI doc. GI medicine is tricky stuff and the docs usually have a difficult time deciding on a diagnosis. Mostly, the answers we get from them are "I don't know" and "well, all we can do is give it a try". Granted Spencer is a pretty complicated kid, so maybe you will have a better experience then we have had.
Carmell is also right in that once you get things cleaned out your daughter should be much happier. The big problem then is keeping things cleaned out, and thats why you need to determine if there is a cause for the constipation if you can. Otherwise in a short time you will be right back where you started, or on continuous drug treatment. So go see your GI doc as soon as you can and remember to ask questions about possible nuerologic and metabolic causes for constipation.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Spencer's Dad
11 year old boy with PMD Luekodystrophy
Nonambulatory, nonverbal, nonweight bearing
VRO and Pemberton hip reconstruction at age 5
Nissen fundo at at age 7
Subdermal spinal drug pump at age 9
Complete Spinal Fusion Jan. 9, 2007 at age 10.
118 degree curve before surgery - less than 25 after!!