My son does not like to use public restrooms, including the one at school. As a result, he becomes constipated during the school year. Any suggestions? — Christie P. Ask your son what he fears: the automatic toilets that flush on their own, the loud flushing noise, the lack of privacy, bathroom bullying or maybe [...]

Lori Muller knew that her son Eric wasn’t making up his stomachaches, even though every doctor and specialist who saw the 12-year-old couldn’t find anything wrong. He grew anxious and withdrawn, lost more than 20 pounds,and became “skeletal thin,” she says. His constant pain even prompted Lori to start home-schooling him. The concerned Mom finally [...]

Andrew Pearson knows what it’s like to be a teen with a “weird disease.” When he was 14, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic disease that can cause abdominal cramping, nausea, bloody diarrhea, fatigue and aching joints. He had to have his colon removed to help alleviate the symptoms. Andrew recovered well [...]