These general results are admittedly impressionistic and based on 6 months follow-ups after initial purchase dates of the Clean Kid Manual and my consultations. Please continue on to the next section below and see actual parents' comments to the exclusive Clean Kid Manual forum which is offered on its purchase.

Here is what you can expect over the course of this program. One third can expect an almost miracle cure with children only requiring 3-7 applications of a suppository or enema before going to daily BM’s sometimes spontaneously, but most often in response to the standard sitting protocol described in the manual. It is almost as if they have been waiting for a bottom line and definitive program. Parents should expect that, even with a miracle cure, that their child will still require the “slow down” time and the carefully designed sitting schedule for a month or two at the very least. The next third will make satisfactory process and follow a more typical learning curve over the course of 1 or 2 months going first to the enema, thence to the glycerin suppository, and, finally, to ones own natural gastrocolic urges as sufficient. The last third may go longer and might possibly get “hung up” with the enema or the suppository being repeatedly required. Some may ultimately fail. I address the hang-ups and failures in the “Troubleshooting” section of this manual.

I cannot reliably estimate the number of relapses that may occur with this problem because of inadequate returns on follow up requests. I suspect a figure of around 50 percent. Relapses are disappointing, but THEY ARE NOT FAILURES! A relapse says first of all that our protocol succeeded and actually proves it will work again, probably even faster. Why relapses occur is complex, but easily understood. The “training” may have been terminated too early before the response was thoroughly conditioned or “over-learned” or the enlarged colon has not recovered sufficiently. Some children have very sensitive or wired GI tracts that respond to changes in routine—e.g., going camping with strange bathrooms or lots of excitement; getting out of school for the summer with lots of unstructured time; returning to school in the fall; adding extracurricular activities; divorce; family upset over some event, etc., etc. You may even observe difficulties in voiding regularly for yourself when you go on vacation or certain circumstances. Sympathize with your child and return to our treatment approach whenever it is needed.

* * * *

From: P.
To: soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008
Subject: A mothers discovery.

My son has been on this program for a year and a half now and with much success. But in the beginning we were right where most of you are now. I am known in my neighborhood as the poop mom (lovely, I know) but the other moms will ask me questions that they will not ask their doctors because of embarrassment. I am also a college student and had to do a research paper for a Psych class and picked Encopresis since I already did half the research. One key thing I picked up on is the control, or lack there of, of the sphincter muscle. Dr. C said once these kids have spent months, sometimes years, not letting anything come out so they are not willingly going to let anything go in. Once, with my son I had him on the potty and had him lean forward so I could see his rear end. I had my hands on his tummy so I could feel his muscles. I asked him to try to push out some poop. His little tummy tightened and I could feel him bearing down but his little butt cheeks were squeezed so tightly shut I could not believe it. It was at that moment that I realized he really didn't understand. He thought he was trying to go. He had NO idea that he was squeezing his bottom shut. Months later is when I found SS and because
the suppositories and enemas force him to let it go, he couldn't hold it. over time this program literally taught his little bottom how to let go of poop and not hold it. I do agree that with some kids it is mostly psychological but for the majority it is the sphincter/control thing.

Sorry to ramble but I thought I would share another prospective.
K

I brought this email to the top on purpose because of the mother's very salient, descriptive observation on the essential difficulty for most children when they sit on the toilet stool to have a BM. Some parents discover that they have to remain very vigilant for relapses even after suppositories and enemas are no longer required. This mom is an "oldbie" who with others helps the "newbies" starting out on the SS protocol.

* * * *

We just had our final pre- school conference and the teacher was on the verge of tears as she described our son's behavioral turnaround in the past months. There's obviously no coincidence here. Just want to keep encouraging everybody in the trenches.
-Steve

Here is another forum note that I had to bring toward the top! It is anecdotal, but it is not an uncommon observation by the parents and teachers of these children once they get a handle on the encopresis. The emotional/behavioral changes can be very significant and is the basis for my observation that, "You will discover your original child"! Much trauma simply disappears and is forgotten with success. This parent had a particularly difficult child who required some 50 enemas and some personal consults before the program succeeded. This parent has been very helpful for other parents on the list as a result of his observational skills and our consults. He remains very vigilant for any relapses. DrC.

* * * *

July 2, 2008
A remarkable test for the SS Protocol.

I just wanted to share my story and to offer encouragement to anyone out there who needs it.

My daughter was born with anal stenosis - she didn't pass her meuconium after she was born, and had to be cleaned out when she was a couple of days old. As a newborn and infant, she was unable to have a bowel movement - I would bring her to the doctor every week so they could "poop" her, and stretch her anus. Eventually, they showed me how to do it so that I could take care of her at home.

She was put on solids at 2 months with the idea that the solid food would irritate the bowels and would cause her to go. It worked for a while, but when she was 2.5, things started going a bit wonky.....she wouldn't go for days, and then she would make 10 small poops a day in her diapers for several days. I was told she was fine. Finally, when she was 3.5, we went back to the specialist who told me she had anterior anus resulting in encopresis and megacolon - and that she would not potty train (though he felt there was a possibility she would "train socially" at 7 or 8 years old). They put her on stool softeners and laxitives so she wouldn't get backed up, cleaned her out, and sent us home.

I was devastated that my beautiful outgoing little girl would be tormented in the future at school because she poops her pants, and started doing some research on the internet......I found Soiling Solutions, and decided to give it a try.
unbelievably, it has WORKED!!!!!!

Now, several months later, she is not having 10-12 mini poops a day in her pull-up.....instead, she is in big-girl underwear!!!!!!! We still do the program every night, and most days, she requires a supository. BUT....she is accident free!!!!! She will probably require a suppository at night for the rest of her life, but this is completely manageable, and when she is older and spends time away from the house, can even be done by herself discreetly. I'm THRILLED!!!!!! And so is she!!!!!!! She is so excited to be able to start kindergarten this fall in underwear!!!!!! An added bonus is that I have taken her off all the medications.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

H.

* * * *

To: soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, December 9, 2007 8:41:49 AM
Subject: Re: New

I started the protocol 2 weeks ago and I too can sing it's praises. My son has the occasional little "accident" but for the last 4 days he has gone on his own before the treatment time came to the point that we haven't had to do anything special in 4 days. This is a child that had a chronic problem with encopresis that was compounded by cancer 6 months ago. I was hesistant to start this program when I first found it but I am so thankful I decided to proceed. Thank you also Dr. C.

V.

* * * *

To: soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 9:16 AM
Subject: Final Note from M:

Here is the final closing note from M:

Thank you for your program, Dr. C! It worked perfectly with our daughter, and she no longer has any problems or relapses. We weren't giving her high enough dosages of colace, but once we did, we weaned her off of it slowly, and that was it. reading the forums basically gave us that information, and it worked wonders. She has been problem--free since about June. Thanks for everything!

This note above is a typical response to a note from another parent which is shown below:

> Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:57:58 -0500
> From: S2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Just getting started
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I am new to the list and we have not started the program yet. I just
> received my manual and have underlined parts for my husband to read so
> that we can get started. Our daughter is 7 1/2 and we have been
> struggling with this for almost 5 years. She has been through just
> about every GI test imaginable, as well as Urology tests due to all the
> horrible bladder and kidney infections she has had over the years. She
> has been on Mirilax for over 3 years and prophylactic antibiotics off
> and on for several years.
>
> But now I have hope. I never knew there were so many families going
> through what we are going through. Honestly, if this forum was all we
> got for the money it is worth it! I have been reading through the
> archives and I have cried more today than I have in a long time. It is
> just such a relief to be understood, and to also find out that this
> ISN"T HER FAULT. There has been so much tension in our family because
> of this, but we are very united on implementing this program. Anyway,
> thank you to those of you who have posted and shared your struggles. It
> just feels amazing to have hope after all this time.
>
> S.

* * * *

To: <soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Just getting started
From: BL@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:29:38 -0500

Even though we've had a few regressions this program has been a Huge blessing. My husband and I were just talking about that. My husband B. said isn't it awsome J. isn't on the miralax anymore? I have said before that miralax is a bandaid for the problem but not a cure and this program "fixes" the problem. Yes, you have to stay on top of things and sometimes it's hard but don't give up! Stick to it and you will reap the rewards. If your child regresses just get back on the program and things will get back to normal. My son is a happy, much more energetic boy and has even grown a lot since starting this program.
Good luck and God bless,
C.

* * * *

To: <soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Just getting started
From: M@xxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:45:40 -0700

Welcome, S.! You have found the hope that you have been looking for! I
know exactly how you feel. We are not a completed success story, but if we
get no further in the treatment, meaning our son never goes on his own, we
have something that helps him manage this issue. We have tools that he can
learn to use himself if need be when he gets older. Most importantly, we are
managing this problem and have no more accidents! That is the best part. It
no longer rules our lives or causes any where the stress it used to. And
this program has really helped us get a better/deeper understanding of what
the problem really is. And hopefully someday, our son will be "cured".

All the best to you and your family on this journey.

Good luck!

M.

* * * *

To: soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: New parent questions
From: R@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 10:48:06 -0500

J.- Follow the protocol! It works My son was on miralax (he is 6 now) for almost two years with no success - i tried soiling solutions and in 2 months of vigilant following he is now cured since this past August and so proud of himself. I would tell him the enema is to help him to help him stay clean and fresh and no smelly underwears and he resisted but it is amazing I cant say enough good things about this program. It took my son and myself from utter depression to a normal life for him. Please try it and follow it exactly. Good Luck

I've been dealing with my son on my own for so long (he was on regular enemas at 3 1/2; and he's 8 now). At this point in my life I also take care of my father, however he doesn't want to get involved in this. It's hard when it's just you doing it...I know. But I found that I had to have a long talk with my son, and prepare him for every part of it. I told him that I really needed his cooperation for it. The first enema I did, he fought and fought hard (he's 8, and for a young boy, I found he's pretty strong); and it upset me that I had to try to hold him down while not hurting him to do it. But he wasn't getting poop out any other way. Last night was the second night of having to do the enema with this program...he still fought, but not as hard. I've found that I spend a lot of time each night trying to talk him through it so he won't fight as hard. It won't be easy, but from what I've heard from other parent's here, it does get easier. The hardest part is beginning it, and keeping the consistency. I wish you luck with it.
T.

This illustrates how difficult my protocol truly is, in the beginning! It also illustrates the true heroism of the parents using my protocol. These children do not want anything to come out, and they don't want anything to go in! As they progress, their anxiety lessens with "desensitization" as occurs in "exposure therapy" for panic attack and phobic disorders. They learn that they do not die from pooping and then become more aware of their urges and how to "let go" to poop. This is a very rational protocol, but parents have to be very determined to carry out the protocol. If you are at all ambivalent the children are very, very smart and "tuned in" to the parent such that they could win by intimidating the parent causing them to abandon their efforts. Of course, all really lose and this chronic condition will continue unabated. So do not order the manual, unless you are fully determined to follow through! The other parents on the CKM forum are wonderfully supportive and of course I am always available if need be for a consult from wherever I am in the world. DrC.

* * * *

To: soilingsolutions@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008
Subject: A truly heroic single mom speaks out encouraging a reluctant mom to go all the way to the suppository/enema stages as they may be required.

W.:
It has to feel great that she's been more in control.
Our experience was a little like yours, at first - First 10 days went with no accidents.
Then we back slid for a week - went very aggressive, got her all cleaned out - and have been able to go without the supp or enema.

I think you have to watch your daughter and judge what you're seeing.
It really concerns me that you think she's constipated - but you're not making her go through the whole program.
I know she's been through a lot, but if she's backing up you may have to just be firm and over look the crying, screaming, kicking or whatever and go to the supp or enema.

We have had horrible battles here about the 3rd & 4th stages with my 7 year old.
I thought I was traumatizing her, going to end up hurting her because I had to hold her down, etc.
(and all by myself because I'm a single mom - there's no one to help tag team if need be!)
She would sob cry scream through it all and tell me "I don't like this program we're stopping it NOW!" -
BUT-
It was all forgotten when she would come home from school finally in clean panties and so proud - and telling me she's glad we're doing the program.
No matter how much it feels like it, we're not traumatizing them in those few minutes - even if there is some degree of distress in giving the supp or enema
we're preparing them to handle the rest of their lives. Remember, the CKM manual says be firm.
And some times the being firm is heart-breaking for us, but we can't be wimps if we want to save our kids

KD

* * * *

S from France on 12/15/2007

I also want to echo what has been written here. I was at my wit's end when I found SS and it changed our lives.A., who is now 9, hasn't had more than 2 or 3 accidents since we started the program in April and all of those right at the beginning. I consider him totally cured and it is ALL thanks to the SS program.
I am staying on the list in order to give out helpful advice when I can... if any questions coincide with our experiences.
Thank you Dr Collins! You are our hero!

Orders for the manual are now coming in from around the world. This mother like many stay around for a while to help the newbies. The internet has been a fantastic communications tool and makes my program more attainable for all and relatively inexpensive even without insurance. DrC.

* * * *

Received on 12/15/2007

We had our first big milestone yesterday! My 7 yo daughter is on the program. We've been doing it now for almost 2 weeks. She hasn't had an accident in 9 days, but up until yesterday she has needed at least the suppository to go and usually we went all the way to the enema. Yesterday she went during the 2nd sit, all on her own!!! Woohoo!!! I was definitely doing the happy dance! And I am so proud of her in how she has handled all of this. She tends to be very fearful of anything even remotely invasive, and yet she hasn't fought me on this even once. Sometimes she needs a minute or two to "get ready", but she has been compliant from the beginning. Today we are going out to buy some new pretty panties, and this weekend we are going to go do something to celebrate...just the two of us (with 6 kids, that is a real treat!).

Thanks, Dr. C!! And thanks to all of you who stay even when you are "cured" to help those of us just getting started. It helps so much!

This exclusive CKM parents forum can be quite active. If only pediatricians would look at these spontaneous exchanges at the archives! They could not help but be persuaded about the power of the SS program. If your pediatrician or gastro doc is interested I can give them access to the archives--they probably cannot afford the time to be on the actual forum because the traffic can get to be quite heavy between the parents. DrC.

* * * *

Received on 12/21/2007.
Subject: Your manual is terrific!
Hello Dr. Collins!

I'm not sure if you remember me but I called you over a month ago to order your manual for an 8 year old client I am seeing with encopresis. I'm a LCSW in xxxxx and had been seeing my client for almost 2 months before calling you. I just wanted you to know that I think your manual is great! My client made more progress in one week with your manual than the 2 months with the behavioral interventions I recommended. The family and the little boy are so happy and appreciative that they asked me to tell you that you have changed their lives. I have told my colleagues about your website and manual and have strongly recommended that they purchase a copy for their own practice. My client's pediatrician asked for your website and contact information.

I have ended treatment with the client and I can't thank you enough.

Happy Holidays!!

JC, LCSW

Parents have been the major conduit for spreading my protocol. Talks at conferences or my writing have not had much impact. Now word is getting out to the professionals who actually employ my protocol and I hope that they will also have an impact. DrC.

* * * *

T&J Sent: Dec 29, 2007 2:11 PM
Subject: Success story

Our son is 9 years old and had never achieved "bowel control". We took him to our family doctor, to a pediatric gastroenterologist about an hour away, and finally to a specialist in a big city hospital 4 hours from here. All they could do was run a bunch of tests, tell us that he was chronically constipated, and put him on Miralax for long periods of time. Of course, the Miralax kept him going, but it didn't help his ability to stay clean, it just made matters worse. One of the specialists finally said that the only solution for him was to do surgery which would involve putting a stent into his colon so that we could give him direct medication and could clean out his system every night. There was no way we were going to do that to an active 9-year-old boy! So we just kept on praying that God would show us some other solution to this problem.

A few months ago, after we received the final word from the doctors, a friend found your website. We were amazed to learn that our child was not alone! We were also intrigued by the idea that his problem wasn't lack of control, but too much of a good thing. We got your materials, read up, bought the supplies, and attempted to start with our son. He refused to have anything to do with it. He didn't want to talk to us or have us do anything to help him. He thought that his problem could not be solved and he was too discouraged to try anything new. WE told him that other kids his age had the same poblem and they had been able to overcome it, but he didn't really believe us. We followed your advice and didn't try to force him, although I doubted that he would ever come to us and say he was ready. But we kept on praying and waiting.

After a few weeks he had an embarrassing incident at school and came to me in tears saying he wanted to do something about "his problem". So we started "Clean Kid". The very first time he sat on the toilet he was able to go. It has been 2 weeks and he hasn't soiled himself a single time! We've never had to go past the first sit with him. Because of that, he has been able to do this almost entirely by himself. All we do is tell him that it's time to sit quietly, then send him to the bathroom. He's proud of being able to do this by himself. We can hardly believe the change! What an incredible Christmas present for all of us! You have my permission to put this testimonial on your website if you would like to. Just let me know so I can look it up. Sincerely, J H.

This report is important because it illustrates how extreme a medical intervention can become for what is basically a functional disorder when the dominant "top down" or oral approachs do not work after repeated trials. This case illustrates how effective a manual-guided, "cookbook approach" can be where all the proper treatment elements are carefully explained, read and reread, and other parents are available in an email forum for support and advice. Most parents will not need a paid consult with me. This outcome was of the "miracle" variety, but only because it was in the context of the total protocol which the parents (and, in this case, the child as well) were fully committed to carrying it out while knowing what was required with the "bottoms up" approach. Again, the SS protocol does not depend on a punishment or "threat" paradigm (that would not work), rather it conditions the urge signals and proper release mechanisms for successful voiding on the child's own newly developed competence for daily BMs. Suppositories and enemas when properly used and timed establishes the appropriate times and conditions for successful BM's. Soiling also stops much earlier when the SS protocol is used. The parents will have to remain very alert for any signs of relapse and be prepared to go "all the way" if that should become necessary. But, now the parents recognize the possibility of that necessity and are prepared and encouraged to do just that. DrC.

* * * *

Received on 01/22/2008
Note from a child!

Hello everyone.

I dont use this e-mail very often,but i decided to share my support! I'm the only kid who uses this service because i suffered through this complication for 12 long years, yes i went through the Miralax, which i thought was helping but only made it worse in the end! My parents turned to Dr. Collins book which turned into a sucess for me! Now,i'm not completley"cleaned out" but im pretty close,I'm now in 7th grade,and even in 6th grade i had these problems,this year has been amazingly new and easier for me,I no longer must make frequent stops at the bathroom nor walk around with that horrible smell !I'm also a runner,i ran a marathon last year before i began the steps,it was hard to run 13 miles with grose underwear and an awful smell!This year i am training for it again at the moment and i have found it amazingly easier!Please always turn to me for any support i can help you with!
Thank-you,
K.

Immediately following is a later response to a parent who responded to K's email. Note that these exchanges are very spontaneous and quick over the exclusive CKM Forum and more will surely follow, but I will truncate it all here. DrC.

Thank-you J! I'm happy to encourage anyone,i struggled and hated this program at first, but now im so happy i used it! K.

I believe that it is significant that NR is a pediatric nurse and had to face so much frustration from within her own field. However, I have recently received an order from another nurse at a University Medical Center who's Pediatric Section is encouraging her to use the SS Protocol. Nurses jokingly refer to encopresis as the "Nurses Curse" because they so frequently find other nurses with the same issue! DrC.

* * * *

Received: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 7:13:02 PM
Subject: Another success with additional benefits.

Dr. Collins,

I recently read the testimonial of NR and thought I would share our results. I came upon your website through a friend of a friend that had ordered and successfully used your manual. I read your website and testimonials and felt hope for the first time. I even contacted you with some questions before I ordered the manual and you (not a secretary or receptionist) answered all of my questions! I ordered the Clean Kid Manual and read through it before I started. Our son had been suffereing with encopresis undiagnosed since he was 8 months old. I had him tested and to the doctors more times than I can remember. Once I found out about your program I did inform my pediatrician and she was very supportive and also offered me behavioral psychologist's # for additional help.

We started in October 2007 and now we are to the point where our sons tells us when he needs to go and enjoys privacy while going and calls us when he is done! If you would have told me a year ago that this would have happened I would not have believed you. It took us about a month with supppositories and luckily never had to use the enema. Our son did show a lot of resistance and proved to us that it was a control issue. We did begin using a fiber supplement(Benefiber worked best for us) and increased fluids (orange juice). This combination helped keep him regular even though he is still a picky eater. I do have to say that of the foods he does eat he eats way more than he ever did and is willing to try new foods.

The friend that called me to tell me about her friend that had gone through this and used your manual can not believe the difference in our son. Even her husband has commented on the change in demeanor in our son. He is sooooo much more outgoing, playful, and social.

For all of these comments our family will be gratefull to you forever. NR was right when she said God puts every person here for a reason and we are so blessed to have found you! Thank You.....Thank You......Thank You! For anyone that is considering starting the Clean Kid Manual I would say that if you follow CKM you will be amazed!

Thank You & God Bless You!

CF & Family

The child here was 3 years old at the beginning of treatment and I am now more comfortable with intervention at this early age as other parents have reported similar success at this age. This mother also commented on my availability which generally remains true to this day since I have left an office-based practice to devote full time to this website and extending the CKM protocol. The positive changes in behavior that CF noted in her son following treatment is fairly typical and continues to lay to rest earlier, silly, psychoanalytic based charges that my interventions were shallow and not treating a true deep underlying psychological cause. Note that the pediatrician here was open to the CKM protocol. I seek to work with physicians as much as possible and offer free consultations to them. DrC.

* * * *

Received: 02/06/2008
Subject: Oldbie to Newbie!

Hi T.--Trust me when I say that you are no longer lost. Trust this process and follow it to the letter for at least a few months. Once you have made it past the initial hump of starting the program, you will find that you have more progress than you ever thought possible. Our family is definitely not a miracle cure, but since we started with this program our major problems have all been over. Hardly any accidents in the past four years and none occurring in embarrassing situations and any that have occurred have been fairly minor. No accidents in the past six months. Our journey is far too long to go into in detail and boring unless it specifically applies to your case, so I will spare you. Bottom line is give this program a try, you will not be sorry. I don’t think a slow transit colon is a reason not to try this program. If really in doubt, I would verify with Dr. Collins. We suspect that our son has slow transit colon. He has not been officially diagnosed, but my mother in law says that she has it so it would make sense if he inherited it from her and we have other indications that make us suspect it may be so. We, too have been to three pediatricians, a Ped GI and a urologist, but none have led us in the right direction. We found no real progress until we found the SS program. Also, it was the only program that made sense to me when I was doing the research.

If you are not comfortable bringing this program to your doctor, then I would encourage you to go ahead with it any way. We did not bring it to our doctor’s until later and none of them were interested in the details anyway. Talk about nobody taking ownership of this. It has been all us all the way. I diagnosed my son with encopresis even. Thank goodness for the internet! So many of us on this forum have had the same experience as you. We have all gone to doctors looking for advice and most of us have found no real help that is how we ended up with Dr. C’s program. And so many of us have found success.

As far as school, if you still think you can salvage your daughter’s experience at school, then there is still hope for you if you start this program right away. If you have to, I would encourage you to take her out of school for a week just to get a head start on it. Or even take her out for a long weekend to get started and trust that she will be OK when she goes back to school. Things were so bad for our son before we found this program that we pulled him out of Kindergarten. He had gone for six weeks and unbeknownst to us he was having accidents at school with poop falling out of his pants and on to the carpet (at half day preschool he had no problem making it through class without trouble). The teacher wasn’t even able to figure out which child it was and announced it at back to school night. I was devastated for our child. We tried to work with her and I was coming to school two times a day to take him to the restroom with a two year old in tow! Needless to say it ruled our day and our two year old had no life. We could do nothing all day as there was hardly enough time to run to the market, let alone squeeze in a nap. At a pediatrician appt, our doctor told me just to pull him out and give him some time. He said it was silly for me to have to go to school so often and it wasn’t good for our little one either. I was so relieved. He was right on with that advice, but still had no solution for the accidents. While I had my son at home I did lots of research and found Dr. C’s program. We were able to start the program during that year off of school. We started him the following year in Kindergarten again and it was smooth sailing. He had a great year. I have never regretted it for a day!

Just wanted to share a bit of our story with you. I don’t want you to feel alone. My best advice is to follow the program to the letter and be patient. I would also encourage you to read through the archives of this list (link should be at the bottom of all of the emails) - there is a tremendous amount of valuable information there. Good luck and know that you and your child will be OK! Good luck and feel free to ask for help when you need it. This list is great for that!

M.

This is a typical response by the more experienced parents reaching out to those just starting the program. Also, note that this parent had a much more difficult course for her child than many, but in spite of that she experienced early benefits from the very beginning of treatment. I don't want to give false impressions that the process is easy. This mother's experience makes that very clear. I sometimes think that parents have to reach a point of frustration where acceptance of the SS program becomes possible. But do they have to go through these kinds of trials and tribulations before even learning of the SS protocol? DrC.

* * * *

Received 02/06/2008
Subject: Later the same day, another Oldbie to the Newbie above, what a group! DrC..

T,
You are definitely in the right place! Like the others said, trust the program, follow it to a "T." You will definitely see results, and, yes, maybe even a miracle. My son is a 2-year veteran of the program, and I am so thankful that we found it when he was almost 5. After a year on the program, I no longer required supps. unless he goes more than 3 days without a BM. That usually only happens when we travel. Everyone is different, but my son stopped needing the supps/enemas about 8 months into the program. My son stopped soiling/having accidents the week we started the program, so I know it works. He started full-day kindergarten the following September and has had no issues, although I did tell his Kindergarten teacher his history in case he got excited and told everyone about having a really good BM! So two years after starting the program, I still remind my son to do the sit after dinner, but usually he does the "karate chop poop" as Dr. C. likes to call it, on the first sit.

I would say that most of the children here had/or have a slow transit time on their colon due to the holding issue. After a time of ignoring the signals from the brain, the connection gets lost. The brain/bowel connection has to be reestablished. That's what this program is all about, because just making the stool mushy with medicines doesn't help the child, it only makes it worse. We gave up the Miralax cold turkey the day we started the program. I told his pediatrician we were using the program about 3 months into it, and he was very supportive of the protocol, didn't have any problems with it. I also gave him Dr. C.'s card so he could get a manual himself. I only hope it has helped him treat his other patients differently.

Best wishes to you and your daughter. There are a lot of wonderful people here on the forum if you have questions.

A.

Note that this is another mother who had to do a more extended application of the protocol, but she is so happy and has a wonderful sense of humor. DrC.

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Received: 02/06/2008 (yes, a busy day on the forum, and there were many more!)
Subject: Allergies and getting husband on board!

S.
My daughter had terrible fits the first few days of the program. She would scream, yell, hit, kick and spit when we got to the enema. After she was done, all was fine and she'd apologize and be very affectionate. She did complain after school for a while, but that only happens occasionally now.

Don't make the mistake of altering the protocol, you will regret it. I think with the enlarged colon, the most important thing is not letting stool sit any extra time for a larger success later. It needs to regain it's elasticity, and being full is counter-productive to that goal. Pooping every day is essential to re-train his colon.

My husband wasn't convinced when I started this program. His theory was that we should stop everything, leave our daughter alone, and eventually she would have to go. After three days in the hospital for a clean out, he reluctantly sat quietly while I started the program. He had to hold her for the enema the first day, and then washed his hands of the program. Since starting SS, she hasn't soiled (I don't even carry extra clothes anymore), her bad behavior is 95% gone, and she is so much happier. When I had to leave town for three days, my husband didn't follow the program. I came home to a huge set back, including an urgent care visit, because after five days back on the program she hadn't produced much poop. Once she was cleaned out, it was like starting all over. Now my husband is on board. He even gave her a suppository last week, and she reported back that he did a great job.

We had our daughter tested for food allergies last month. I decided to wait a few months after she had a rectal bx for all the same reasons you have. She is allergic to wheat. I think going wheat free is making a difference. We have done SS since August, and even when she had a normal size poop it usually looked like a bunch of small clumps molded together. Now they mostly look normal, her stomach is soft, hasn't been hard and distended, and she says it is easier to poop. I feel horrible that she has had these problems since she was 2yrs old and no one ever suggested checking for a food allergy. After she was tested and negative for celiac, the idea of this being related to diet was ruled out. Getting tested can be difficult, but it is quick and once it's over so is the discomfort. If there are a lot of reactions, he might be itchy for a while, but not in pain. I think the skin prick is more accurate f or allergies than a blood test. If I had known a wheat allergy could cause intestinal problems, I would have had her tested before ever going to a GI.

We still need SS, but hope to have quicker success now that she is wheat-free.

Good luck,
J.

Again, this demonstrates that the SS protocol may not be easy up front, but so many rewards follow from very early on that the parents follow through to success. Also, the SS protocol helps to reveal complications which may just be hidden in all of the confusion of the standard "top down" approaches. I continue to be amazed at the strength of mothers in conducting the protocol, it is so valuable if the husband is on board even if they don't want to get their hands dirty! DrC.

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Received: 03/03/2008
Subject: Newbie thanking the Oldbies and observations about pre-SS experiences.

Hello All - Just wanted to say thanks for all the wonderful posts in response to our little set back - had a good day today - praying for another good day tomorrow.

As far as the doc thing goes - we are on our 3rd GI doc - with no progress with him - hence the turn to SS - more progress in the past month on SS, despite out small set back this past week, than 3 years with under reactive, parent blaming GI docs and we go the "number 1 Children's Hospital in the world" or so they think they are. We haven't gone back to GI since finding SS. I haven't yet shared this protocol with our pediatrician yet either - starting to feel braver though.

The amount of advice and support here is incredible. I don't often respond as I don't feel I have things under control enough here yet to offer advice but I am reading everything! Thank goodness those of you with more experience on the program have stayed active on the list. Please continue to do so. Your insights and advice are so needed.

T

Note also the reluctance to share the SS intervention with their physicians because of the fear of a negative reaction. They want and need their physicians. And I prefer that their physicians be available to them. I hope to ease this situation somewhat with education and a "Letter to the Doctor" inserted in the manual and contained on the home page of my SS website. DrC.

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From: tsh
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 5:14 AM
To: soilingsolutions@XXXXXXXX.XXX
Subject: Re: Growth Spurts?

I have a suggestion for your second question. My son was 7 and small (barely 40 lbs) when we started SS. I used the adult size suppositories and the adult size enema (although we only used half...personal choice) and he produced the required 1/2 cup, sometimes more, every time. No adverse side effects. But I did notice one very significant change. After 6 months on the program my son suddenly gained 10 pounds and grew 3 1/2 inches. My personal thought is that his encopresis somehow stunted his growth and he has been growing like a weed ever since! I have no clinical proof that his lack of growth was caused by, or a side effect of Encopresis but to me it is just too big of a coincidence to ignore. tsh.

A Response from a parent: Ditto - I too have no clinical proof, but my son is filling out and has grown significantly after doing well on the program for 4 months. Thank you Dr. C. for us parents and the kids!! K.

Hm-m-m-m, a good research hypothesis here? DrC.

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A record from 04/27/2007 to 05/12/2008 on one family who just desired to personally update me on a couple of occasions. DrC.

04/27/2007--Our pre-school son has had stool issues since before the age of one. He hides, withholds, cries, you name it. We have tried everything we can think of, including contacting a local childrens mental health agency for support and ideas. We thought that would be the last step but unfortunately they are giving us the same Sit him on the toilet with a toy and then give him a sticker type advice weve already tried for in excess of a year, to no avail. This is a different idea and it sounds like it could actually help sooner rather than later. His soiling is straining our family, upsetting him, and limiting the activities he can get involved in, including potentially keeping him out of kindergarten, which would devastate him. We just want to get this dealt with because it becomes more ingrained with the passage of time. Hope you can help us.

04/29/2007--Has 3.5 y/o and cautioned him regarding my prefering age 4 and over, but noted the CKM forum and others have succeeded well with younger children. RWC.

05/22/2007--Dr. Collins -
We just wanted to say thank you; our 3.5 year old son has been on the protocol for two weeks and two days, and he was one of those "miracle cure" kids you talked about in the book. We had to go through all the steps on the first day, but then we saw steady progress each day and on the fourth day, he was able to have a bowel movement on the toilet on his own. By the end of the first week, he was generally successful on the very first sit, and yesterday he actually pooped during a routine pee break in the morning. He's been happily sporting underwear for two weeks now and is thrilled. We don''t have to time his sits anymore. We haven't tried giving him grace days as he's still quite little and he's incorporated his post-dinner poop into his daily routine and actually asks for it. It only takes about five minutes, and we're thinking we'll just let it sink in for him.

As I'm sure you've heard from many other parents, the years we struggled with this issue were hellish. Our families gave us a lot of useless advice, our friends were uncomfortable to see him screaming and crying whenever he had to poop, the daycare questioned what we were actually doing to our son, and we were starting to wonder what we did to him as well. He was starting to miss out on things he wanted to do, and our compassion and patience had worn down to a growing resentment for every holiday or party or vacation that was essentially spoiled. In my view, the protocol was difficult but not nearly as difficult as living with the problem. Our son is just so proud to have mastered this skill.

Thanks for having the courage and the willingness to put something like this together - I can't imagine it's a popular view. When I was about nine, I went through a similar issue. I remember how it felt, and I know that the solution doesn't lie in rationalization or a simple desire to change. While our son is a bit below the recommended age, I believe we caught it at the right time, and I'm looking forward to getting past this part of our lives.

Thanks again. We'll report again later.
S. H.

05/22/2007--Thanks for your thoughtful note, it is one of my favorite rewards for sticking with this. I am quite willing to take on the entire pediatric profession as being too passive and dismissive of this problem, but noone is willing to give me the opportunity! DrC.

05/11/2008--Dr. Collins,
We just wanted to let you know that it's now been a full year since we used your program with our son. He made amazing progress, and by the end of July he had mastered the art of going to the bathroom without prompting, whenever and wherever. He seems to have little memory of things being any other way than they are now.
We haven't had a single accident, regression or problem. He's finishing his first year of school, and it would have been a shame if he had been forced to miss out. The results are wonderful - thanks very much.
S & A H.

05/12/2008--Congratulations and thanks for the update. DrC.

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The general tenor of the above anecdotes from parents are quite representative of the exchanges I see everyday on our exclusive, free email forum for purchasers of the Clean Kid Manual. This exclusive email forum for parents has proved to be incredibly valuable in their sharing insights and support for one another. It also serves as a kind of natural "clinical lab" for me in observing the difficulties and breakthroughs that parents encounter with my protocol and their physicians. These observations will figure into a future edition of my manual.

I will likely truncate this page at this point as there is a good representation of exchanges over the CKM represented above. DrC-May, 2008