Replies to '07/11 What’s Up, Doc?'

Yuck!  We always assumed those really stinky kids (in high school special education classes) - fewer than one every five years - were just dirty or had poor hygiene.  We never guessed this could be the cause.  If those kids don't have a documented physical problem and past help, those parents are among the most abusive I've ever heard of.

I don't think its a matter of not potty training them but rather maybe they simply cannot feel it coming.  I know after I gave birth to me 1st daughter I couldn't tell my bladder was full so it would just gush out all at once so how do you know they don't have some type of medical problem?

Until recently I could not understand why my youngest grandchild kept having "accidents" at age 7. His parents are firm but loving disciplinarians. This child was not a problem child. The Family practice Doctor had tried various methods with parents and child to solve this problem. It was not until a pediatric urologist saw him that the problem was recognized to be simular to your guest's. As a RN I did not know that chronic constipation from a very young age can result in distention of the rectal area and failure to sense fullness. I small child does not  know what "normal "feels like. Imagine the stress the child goes through trying to perform a function he or she can no longer control. I am so happy I followed my children's lead and was not harsh with my grandchild, (even though I often thought they were not doing it right). We have to be careful not to so judgemental when we do not have all the information. This can be a life-long physical problem that does not have a quick solution. Be careful when you make hasty judgements. Grandma B 

Maybe if you took the time to listen to the show you wouldn't be so judgemental! These kids have a medical issue!!! Do you think any child that is aware of what they can be teased for would do this voluntarily?!!  It is a very embarrasing and misunderstood condition my son who is 13 going on 14 suffers from this and we have tried everything and  now just learn to live with it. They have lost the sensation to go to the bathroom and also just get used to the smell like we get used to our perfumes. Can you smell yourself? This was explained on the show so what I DONT UNDERSTAND IS WHY YOU POSTED THIS MESSAGE!

You should be ashamed of yourself!  Read the posts here from parents (including myself) with a child that suffers with this.  Unless you walk in our shoes, butt out!  You are VERY CRUEL!

UNTIL YOU HAVE A KID WHO HAS THE PROBLEM DON'T TALK. THESE KIDS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR BOWELS IT CAN GET ROUGH BUT ITS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO STAY ON. IT SOMETHING THESE KIDS AND MINE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFES.GO TO THE INTERNET AND READ UP ON THE PROBLEM AND MAYBE YOU WILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION FOR THESE KIDS INSTEAD OF CUTTING THEM DOWN

I have an eight year old that has the same problem and I took him to the doctor to find out what was going on and even to a counsellor to see if was psychoological.  I found that it is very commom in boys because they get caught up in what they are doing and hold it for so long until it forms like a rock in their colons and when new and softer poop is formed it just seeps out around the hard stuff that is already there and they dont feel it.  It is kinda like plugging your sink but not going it properly and then trying to fill it and you tuen the faucet off and come back to realize there is no water left it has seeped out.  You dont know it happened until you go and check.  My son has told me several times that he didn't know it happened and after a while he just did not smell it when he had accidents anymore.  I give him fiber now and coffee enemas and prunes and raisins and aloe vera juice to keep him going so it wont happen.  It is ver nerve racking but you have to do it unless you want to keep buying new underwears and having them being embarrassed and not be able to take them anywhere. 

Thank you for your candidness.  I have been dealing with this problem with my son for his entire life.  He has never controlled his bowels.  I have successfully potty trained 5 other children, one of which was a boy.  The show today gave me encouragement for myself and my son.  He does not like what is going on with his bowels but is trying to correct this with our help of course.  It is very difficult to understand what it is like to help a child that has this condition unless you have dealt with it yourself.  We are definitely not abusive or neglectful toward our son.  I have not treated him any differently than my others when he was going through the potty training years.  I am anxious about trying what the doctor shared on the show today.  Yes my son does get teased at school because other children do not understand what is the real issue behind this condition.  However, his true friends support him and overlook "the smell".  We try to give him as much responsibility for his clean up as possible but strongly encourage him to releave himself in the appropriate manner.  It is a work in progress.  Would that all would have the same concern and reaction to my son's condition as his true friends.