Dear Dr. SerVaas: When my stepson was six or seven years old, he suffered lactose intolerance when he had head colds. As did many children at that age, he would often sniff the mucus into his throat rather than blow his nose. Also, I am sure he swallowed mucus while sleeping.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am plagued with cold sores in and on my mouth. I read something on this at the doctor's office in the "Medical Mailbox." If you have any information, I would appreciate it.

Indiana was again in the forefront of lysine research with Dr. Ed Mertz at Purdue University when his team developed a new strain of corn that was high in lysine. We wrote extensively about its potential to prevent malnutrition and improve livestock production around the world.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: My 13-year-old grandson has been diagnosed with bipolar. Here was a boy who was an A/B student--loved school. Now it has all gone down the tubes. I am 76 years old, and my life is also going down the tubes. I love this child more than life itself.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am writing to see if you or any of your readers know of anything that will help interstitial cystitis. I have a very dear relative who has this affliction and has suffered excruciating pain for many years.

In the Mar./Apr. "Medical Mailbox," reader Byron King of Sonoma, California, requested information on using IV chelation for nondiabetic peripheral neuropathy (PN), adding that nearly every source of information he could locate is related to diabetics with the condition.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: Not having access to a Web site (my computer is too old), this old dragon does her own research. Many skiing injuries, falling off the third-floor fire escape in boarding school, etc., have finally caught up with me in the form of prickling, some numbness in toes and pad of both feet.

Dear Dr. SerVaas: Several months ago your column gave the source of a deodorant to be taken internally to eliminate embarrassing bowel odors. I regret that I cannot find that column at this time. I have had a gastric resection due to cancer, and I believe this product could be most helpful.