Encopresis Experts

Dr. Lee Ritterband, one of the creators of the UCanPoopToo program, answers questions from parents and caregivers regarding the origins of encopresis and other current issues related to handling a child’s encopresis.

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1. My child has encopresis and I am worried that his siblings will have encopresis, as well.  Should I be concerned?
2. My child has had success with laxatives however is still having accidents.  Is this behavioral in nature or is it an issue of overlow?
3. I think my daughter ...

Hear Nurse Shelly Dean provide expert responses to questions from parents and nurses regarding how to effectively work together and with the school to help children with encopresis.

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1. As a school nurse, how can I most effectively help a child who has encopresis and is experiencing pain and other issues?
2. What are some general tips for talking with school nurses?
3. As a parent, how can I best explain to teachers that encopresis is not my child’s fault?
4. How do I get my child to ...

Hear Dr. Thorndike exchange information with UCanPoopToo parents and caregivers about how to talk and listen to kids with encopresis.

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1. How can I get my child to talk about encopresis?
2. What do other parents say to their children about encopresis?
3. How do I get my child to sit down and do UCanPoopToo with me?
4. My child is convinced that he is the only one with a problem. What do I say?
5. My child ...

Encopresis Expert Nurse Shelly Dean talked with parents about using laxatives as part of the UCanPoopToo program for encopresis.  Listen to these audio excerpts of some of the questions that were asked.

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1. Why is MiraLAX used most frequently?
2. Can I use Milk of Magnesia or X-LAX for cleanouts?
3. Are there any long term effects of using laxatives?
4. My child was prescribed MiraLAX and Senna. Is that too much laxative?

Encopresis Expert and one of the developers of the UCanPoopToo program, Dr. Frances Thorndike, talked with parents about how to help their kids take ownership over their behaviors (like sitting on the toilet, taking medicine), so there is less of a struggle between parents and kids. Listen to these audio excerpts of some of the questions that were asked.

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1. Rewarding your child for good bathroom behaviors / Finding the right reward.
2. How to get your child ...

In this month’s chat, Encopresis Expert and pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Stephen Borowitz, talked with parents about the role of medication in managing encopresis. These chats are exclusively available to all UCanPoopToo subscribers. Listen to these audio excerpts of some of the questions that were asked.

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1. Are Laxatives addictive?
2. When should I give my child laxatives so he doesn’t have an accident at school?
3. After the accidents stop, how long should a parent wait before cutting back on medication?

Encopresis: A Medical and Family Approach, an article recently written by Dr. Coehlo and published in Pediatric Nursing, has some excellent information for families struggling with encopresis.  According to the article, encopresis treatment works best when a “team” approach is used. The team should include the child, parents, teachers, and health professionals working together to develop a plan that is both feasible (able to be implemented) and supported by research.  The article also points out that even with the most ...

Many parents (and even some physicians) worry about giving children laxatives.  But most of these concerns are based on myths – not facts.  Nearly all laxatives work by keeping water in the stool, allowing these medicines to be used for a very long time without significant risk.  In the UcanPoopToo program, medications are discussed in detail, and there is no convincing evidence that any of the laxatives discussed in the program are harmful and will result in dependency.  Further, there ...

Click this post and listen to an excerpt from our monthly Encopresis Expert online chat available to UCanPoopToo customers. Dr. Thorndike talks to parents about some of the difficulties that can arise while on vacation, and some things you can try to help.

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Difficulties that can arise while on vacation and tips to help them.

If you have been dealing with encopresis for a long time and are feeling fed up, don’t give up yet! Encopresis can be difficult to treat. Even pediatricians and family care physicians think so. In fact, in a recent survey by Dr. Philichi and Dr. Yuwono (Click here for more information), primary care physicians reported feeling confident that they could help their patients with constipation (73% of the doctors estimated a 75%-100% success rate when managing constipation). But, when ...