Diagnosed with autism, and never been vaxed?

[BlossomMama]

I'm Blossom, mama to twin boys D and K. They will be 4 on June 25. I am a SAHM. I gave birth at home, almost unassisted except that my husband, H was there with me. The whole pregnancy was unassisted as well, except for one ultrasound for proof of pregnancy. We used cloth diapers and the boys sleep in our bed and we don't spank them and they are not circumcised. I am still breastfeeding them, the boys didn't have a speck of solids until they were 18 mnths and they still breastfeed 5 times a day (plus once or twice during the night) DH and I also do not allow them to eat junk food/sugar and we also don't really eat processed foods, and instead choose organic/natural foods. We also made the decision not to vax. DH and I never got a single vaccination, and neither did any of our parents. My biggest fear was that they would get autism from being vaccinated. Some people assumed DH and I were uneducated because I got pregnant just after high school, and DH and I did not go to college and are not "educated" but we both just wanted to do what we thought was best


Well, my boys have been diagnosed with autism DH and I have gotten a total of 4 doctors (the original plus 3 others) to see the boys, and all four came back with the same diagnosis without knowing the conclusion of the other doctors we saw, or the boys vaccination history. Except for these doctors my boys have NEVER seen a doctor before. We only took them to the first doctor because we thought it was allergies (stupid I know) They have never had meds of any kind as we believe in natural remedies. I am so devastated by this because I thought I was doing everything right to protect them. I just can't believe that with NO family history of diseases on the autism spectrum disorder, and being unvaxed with unvaxed parents and unvaxed grandparents, they can still have autism. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? I am so scared right now I don't know what to do

[ammiga]

I am so sorry. You are doing everything right and everything that is healthiest for your boys. Sometimes, there is nothing that can be done to explain what happens. I know it probably doesn't help much to think of this, but if you had vaxed, your boys might have much worse cases of autism, have other health problems that they don't have, or many other things. We are all doing the best we can to protect our children, and it sounds like you are doing an amazing job.

My best friend has twin boys, and one of them has been diagnosed with autism. I can tell you that with early help, I have watched him grow from a boy that didn't care about other people, hid when groups were around, and barely spoke to a thriving little boy. We went to lunch the other day, and he wanted everyone to watch him play which was huge! In the past, he would have hid and/or not cared at all if anyone was watching him. He spoke to me, included me in his activities, and has become very social. He is a darling little boy and I love being around him! Don't shy away from the speech therapists and the OT, if they offer you access to them. The earlier they are allowed to help you, the more success you will see. There are some great support groups that my friend has found tremendously helpful too.

Good luck to you and your family!

ETA: The boy I talked about was fully vaxed and eats junky foods (almost exclusively). I brought him up to talk about his success with OT and PT, and not because he an example of an unvaxed child with autism. Sorry if there was any confusion.

[Marnica]

to you mama...Im sorry this has happened.

I believe that there are two types of autism. The kind that a child has from birth and regressive autism that happens when a child has been developing normally and then something in the environment triggers the regression.

Do you eat alot of fish?
Do you have silver fillings?
Did you have to have a rohgam shot?

[sbgrace]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I believe that there are two types of autism. The kind that a child has from birth and regressive autism that happens when a child has been developing normally and then something in the environment triggers the regression.

There are actually more than two types of autism. And many causes of regression as well. And as you pointed out, Marnica, causes of autism that have nothing to do with heavy metals of any sort. She's right, OP, in that you may be looking for a cause that is simply not there.

Blossom, grieving is normal. You'll be ok and so will they. It takes time to adjust to the idea of it. If you do a search there are certainly other kids with autism who haven't been vaxed, yes. But it's normal to look for what you "did" especially if you previously thought that if you made all the right decisions your child couldn't have autism. There is a special needs board on mothering if you need support.

[BlossomMama]

Thank-you so much everyone for the quick replies I am still trying to process all this.

Originally Posted by Marnica

Do you eat alot of fish?
Do you have silver fillings?
Did you have to have a rohgam shot?

No one in mine or DH's family are big fish eaters. I have eaten fish a few times in my life, but not alot. I can't even remember the last time I ate it. I don't have any fillings, have never had a cavity, and neither has DH as far as I know. Also I don't know what the rohgam shot is for, but I never had it. I am 100% unvaxed, as are my boys, DH, and mine and DH's parents. That is what makes all of this so hard to understand :

[hollycat]

i am so sorry. i have three friends with autistic kids that are non vaxxed and all organic, completely thru pregnancy and after delivery. and NONE of my firends with vaxxed kids have autism. one of the tough things about the whole vax/autism group is the notion some people have that if you dont vax, youre in the clear.

all my thoughts and prayers are with you. im sure the autism board has much helpful info.

[angie7]

I'm so sorry.

Sometimes in life we have no answers. I follow a blog of a woman that lost one of her twins to cancer that also was non-vaxing, extended bfing, organic diet, etc. . It is hard to understand how something like this can happen to someone that trys everything possible to keep out the poisons.

Have you thought about reading Jenny McCarthy's many books about autism? Perhaps her alternative methods will help with your boys.

[Gigi33]

Originally Posted by BlossomMama

I'm Blossom, mama to twin boys D and K. They will be 4 on June 25. I am a SAHM. I gave birth at home, almost unassisted except that my husband, H was there with me. The whole pregnancy was unassisted as well, except for one ultrasound for proof of pregnancy. We used cloth diapers and the boys sleep in our bed and we don't spank them and they are not circumcised. I am still breastfeeding them, the boys didn't have a speck of solids until they were 18 mnths and they still breastfeed 5 times a day (plus once or twice during the night) DH and I also do not allow them to eat junk food/sugar and we also don't really eat processed foods, and instead choose organic/natural foods. We also made the decision not to vax. DH and I never got a single vaccination, and neither did any of our parents. My biggest fear was that they would get autism from being vaccinated. Some people assumed DH and I were uneducated because I got pregnant just after high school, and DH and I did not go to college and are not "educated" but we both just wanted to do what we thought was best


Well, my boys have been diagnosed with autism DH and I have gotten a total of 4 doctors (the original plus 3 others) to see the boys, and all four came back with the same diagnosis without knowing the conclusion of the other doctors we saw, or the boys vaccination history. Except for these doctors my boys have NEVER seen a doctor before. We only took them to the first doctor because we thought it was allergies (stupid I know) They have never had meds of any kind as we believe in natural remedies. I am so devastated by this because I thought I was doing everything right to protect them. I just can't believe that with NO family history of diseases on the autism spectrum disorder, and being unvaxed with unvaxed parents and unvaxed grandparents, they can still have autism. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? I am so scared right now I don't know what to do

I'd suggest you get them as much intervention with speech and occupation therapy as you can. Although we delay vaccines, I don't believe that vax cause autism. Autism isn't your fault. Even if you fully vaxed, it wouldn't be your fault. Get your kids plugged into your local early childhood intervention system, the more early help they get, the better the outcome will be.

Best wishes to your family!

[medusaatemydog]

i would consider that maybe it's something in your enviorment other than your food or vaxes. Autism doesn't just appear out of thin air, maybe polluted air?? Do you live near a coal plant? What about the enviorment inside your house? And for the record... i am reading all these posts here that are saying that all the kids they know haven't been vaxed and still have autism... maybe they work for a pedi... all the autistic kids i know of are vaxed to the hilt and eat conventional food.... all the unvaxed children i know are the most healthiest kids i have ever met... all the vaxed children i know battle with autoimmune disorders....but there are other things that can cause autism besides vaxes... i would look into my water sources and close proximity to potential pollutants, coal plants , sewage, and pesticides can severly influence neurological development.......
I live near one of the most dense populations of autistic kids in this country... and none of them i know of are unvaxed.

besides i don't understand where all the blind faith in vaxes come from... they are and never were 100% safe and effective... but they are very profitable and when a parent is in that small little room w/a doctor that has been groomed to psycologically manipulate the situation and have the maximum influence over that parents decisions... well ... sorry i don't buy it... all of a sudden vaccines are so desperately needed by the human race??? or what??? it's a weak arguement if you have really done your homework... vaccines are all about profit and control w/little real benifit to human health overall. Most of these diseases we vax for are of little consequence and our bodies have evolved to deal with the natural enviorment, not a synthetic one... the vaccine paradiagm will backfire when there are few people left in the population with a functioning immune system

[medusaatemydog]

I am curious, did you take your children to a Pediatrician? or a Family doctor? or a Naturopathic physician? Because I wouldn't put it past the aap/american academy of pediatrics to put out a bulletins to pedis to diagnose unvaxxed children w/autism, when they aren't autistic, just to put a curve into the public perception of autism... and who knows how broad of a diagnosis criteria they will start to put on these diagnosis... if you are diagnosed you become profitable... even if you really don't have a 'real' disease...

[JoJo4780]

I'm so sorry! I'm no expert on autism but I just read one of Jenny McCarthy's books about how her son recovered and how other people's kids have recovered using alternative methods of treatment. One of the biggest things is the diet; no dairy, no gluten. She got help through a group of doctors called DAN (defeat autism now, I think). Some kids have to go on supplements like B12 shots and stuff. Many kids have recovered or are recovering from autism (and some of them were severe and almost died from seizure disorders). It's worth checking out I think.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by medusaatemydog

I am curious, did you take your children to a Pediatrician? or a Family doctor? or a Naturopathic physician? Because I wouldn't put it past the aap/american academy of pediatrics to put out a bulletins to pedis to diagnose unvaxxed children w/autism, when they aren't autistic, just to put a curve into the public perception of autism... and who knows how broad of a diagnosis criteria they will start to put on these diagnosis... if you are diagnosed you become profitable... even if you really don't have a 'real' disease...

Talk about tinfoil hat! Autism can happen without vaccinations being a factor. Like people were saying, there are multiple causes. It's a complicated thing.

I don't like the AAP either, but I really don't think they would do that.

[miriam]

I strongly suggest you go out of town or state to get a fifth opinion/diagnosis. Those four may have gone to the same conference.

Just an idea.

And then find a iDAN doctor to follow up.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie

Talk about tinfoil hat! Autism can happen without vaccinations being a factor. Like people were saying, there are multiple causes. It's a complicated thing.

I don't like the AAP either, but I really don't think they would do that.

I don't know...think about who sets policy and how politics and money can influence those policies. I really don't think it would be so far-fetched for the AAP to stress to doctors the importance of "watching out for" non-vaxed autistic kids and how important it is to make sure they're diagnosed.

Remember...they've recently changed their recommendations regarding the treatment of non-vaxed kids, stating that doctors can feel free to dismiss families for refusal to vaccinate.

[Talula Fairie]

I really do not think any organization would tell doctors to misdiagnose children. Anything's possible I suppose, but I'm taking off my tinfoil hat for that theory.

[cadydid]

I have two children with the same environmental exposures. One is autistic, one is not. Looking back, signs were present from birth, although we missed most of them until after our daughter arrived and we watched her development.

Technically, we don't have a family history of it, but the more we research we're realizing that if they had the same awareness 35+ years ago, my husband would have likely been diagnosed with ASD.

I know that moment of shock. It took months for me to stop crying whenever I thought about it. But my son is enrolled in a great program and he gets extra help with some of his issues and he is absolutely fabulous. The way he sees and interacts with the world is a little odd, but it's fascinating to watch him.

I don't worry about the 'cause' anymore. I just don't see the point. He is who he is, and I wouldn't trade him.

[sisteeesmama]

Originally Posted by emma1325

I don't know...think about who sets policy and how politics and money can influence those policies. I really don't think it would be so far-fetched for the AAP to stress to doctors the importance of "watching out for" non-vaxed autistic kids and how important it is to make sure they're diagnosed.

Remember...they've recently changed their recommendations regarding the treatment of non-vaxed kids, stating that doctors can feel free to dismiss families for refusal to vaccinate.

I agree, this is def. something to think about

[alexsam]

I'm sorry you are dealing with this...

The reality is that we don't know what causes autism. It is complex and clearly is more than just "vax or no vax". You did not cause this, you could not have prevented it.

Unfortunately, we just don't know yet.

It is hard. It would have been so much easier if autism was clearly and irrefutably connected to vaccines. We would have had a "bad guy", we could have known what to do to stop it, how to protect our kids. It would have been simple- we're right, they're wrong, just don't vax and no more autism. But it is not that way. The relationship of vaccines to autism is not a direct line (if it is a line at all... much of the current, global research appears to point away from vaccines... It doesn't make vaccines great, but we are to progress in finding out about autism, we might need to broaden the search for the "cause"...) and it makes it so hard.

I think it is natural to ask "How could this have happened?" But unfortunately, there is not really an answer. At least not yet.

Please pop over to the special needs forum. You will find others like yourself.

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by MommytoC

:

I'm not going to beat my head into the wall by arguing that vaccinations do not cause autism (they do not) because I know it will not achieve anything or be a productive conversation. But I will say that autism can be diagnosed as young as six months old, which is long before most vaccinations are given.

We have Kaiser (I don't know if that makes a diff) and they start vaccinations at 2 months. It's a round of several vaccines.

I think vaccinations could be a factor in autism in some cases, but they are not the only factor (i.e. there was already a predisposition).

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie

I really do not think any organization would tell doctors to misdiagnose children. Anything's possible I suppose, but I'm taking off my tinfoil hat for that theory.

I'm sure they wouldn't use the word "misdiagnose." I wouldn't put it past them given their history of questionable recommendations, such as the hep b at birth and mandated chicken pox shot. They accept money from drug companies and are willing to stand behind a policy which denies children medical care on the basis of vaccination status. They don't exactly have the most honorable track record.