My interest in toilet training issues began many years ago. One of my children refused to toilet train. My child was withholding and soiling (encopresis). The problem felt like a curse upon my house. Few colleagues or friends understood our predicament; fewer spoke about it and there was no one to provide guidance.
Thus began my journey to treat children with this condition and the development of my treatment protocol for successful bowel management. Many families come to us in crisis with a child who cannot enter school, go to camp or experience the many other joys of childhood. Most have tried and failed various treatments and have lived with frustration and disappointment for months to years.
The treatment of soiling (encopresis) requires more than following friendly advice from other parents, reading a book on toilet training or using laxatives without adequate follow-up. Effective management and resolution of encopresis requires that an expert be available to customize laxative therapy and regularly adjust behavioral strategies for each child. Our approach relies on daily feedback and dialogue with parents. We continue working together until we ‘get it right’.
Three years ago, my wife Michelle, a pediatric nutritionist, and I launched doctordaum.com, a remote consultation program for families throughout the US and abroad. Through telecommunication, our treatment program is available for any family frustrated by withholding and encopresis.
The doctordaum.com journey has become my long hoped for road trip across America and around the world. We have come to know so many wonderful families in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Watching children re-capture their childhood and families heal has become the fulfillment of my professional vision. I am grateful to all the families who have put their trust in our approach and thank them for letting us into their lives.
Fred Daum, MD
Director, www.doctordaum.com
