Sick kiddos and shots tomorrow...

[boysmom2]

We're doing a selective/delayed schedule. My 5yo and 8mo have check-ups tomorrow and are due for shots. My 8mo is finally seeming to be beginning to get over this nasty cold/flu thing he's had for more than a week, but he's still super snotty and has a bad, wet cough. My 5yo is a different story. He doesn't have a cold, but he's just been "off" lately. Actually for the last few months I've been feeling like something isn't right with him, but I can't put my finger on what it is. He looks terrible, pale with dark circles under his eyes, and he's been really tired. Not at all like him. And then one day last week he had a lymph node in his neck that swelled up really big. It was so painful that he could barely eat, but over the next 2 days it resolved on its own (I called the doc about this and they said as long as it continued to get better we could wait until his appt. tomorrow). Anyway, I'm planning to talk to the doc about all of this and see if we can figure something out.

But, I really feel like this would not be the right time to give either one of them any shots - right? I just feel like my 8mo needs a chance to finally fight off whatever this is, and we need to figure out what's going on with my 5yo. Maybe he's fine, but I think I'd like to know that before we tax his system more.

I guess I'd just like to hear others' thoughts on this. I know my ped will think I'm crazy! She's pretty mainstream but mostly tolerates my craziness.

Thanks!

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by boysmom2

We're doing a selective/delayed schedule. My 5yo and 8mo have check-ups tomorrow and are due for shots. My 8mo is finally seeming to be beginning to get over this nasty cold/flu thing he's had for more than a week, but he's still super snotty and has a bad, wet cough. My 5yo is a different story. He doesn't have a cold, but he's just been "off" lately. Actually for the last few months I've been feeling like something isn't right with him, but I can't put my finger on what it is. He looks terrible, pale with dark circles under his eyes, and he's been really tired. Not at all like him. And then one day last week he had a lymph node in his neck that swelled up really big. It was so painful that he could barely eat, but over the next 2 days it resolved on its own (I called the doc about this and they said as long as it continued to get better we could wait until his appt. tomorrow). Anyway, I'm planning to talk to the doc about all of this and see if we can figure something out.

But, I really feel like this would not be the right time to give either one of them any shots - right? I just feel like my 8mo needs a chance to finally fight off whatever this is, and we need to figure out what's going on with my 5yo. Maybe he's fine, but I think I'd like to know that before we tax his system more.

I guess I'd just like to hear others' thoughts on this. I know my ped will think I'm crazy! She's pretty mainstream but mostly tolerates my craziness.

Thanks!

Um, NOT vaccinating sick kids is mainstream, isn't it? I mean, probably a lot of incompetent doctors do it, but it's not a sign of hippieness or whatever.

I would not be happy w/ a doc who would think "I'm crazy" for not wanting to vax sick kiddos.

[Deborah]

Please don't give them vaccines. It isn't an emergency. If they wait another 3 or 6 months for their shots absolutely nothing will happen.

On the other hand, giving shots when sick is a risk. How much? Not sure. Studies haven't been done on the results of giving shots to sick children.

[boysmom2]

Thank you. One of the baby's earlier shot appt fell when he was a little congested. I asked about waiting and the ped acted like I was nuts. She "lets" me do my own vax schedule, but she's no too crazy about it. We missed the 6mo check up (stomach flu in the big kids and the holidays) and I can't imagine she'll be too thrilled about putting these off even longer. I really need to find a new doc.

[Deborah]

Yeah, I think so.

I used to have a friend who was a doctor. She told me she was trained to give shots who came in, even if they had a cold, because it was important to keep them on the schedule.

Herd immunity: it trumps the needs of the individual.

[Sileree]

Originally Posted by Deborah

Herd immunity: it trumps the needs of the individual.

So true.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by boysmom2

Thank you. One of the baby's earlier shot appt fell when he was a little congested. I asked about waiting and the ped acted like I was nuts. She "lets" me do my own vax schedule, but she's no too crazy about it. We missed the 6mo check up (stomach flu in the big kids and the holidays) and I can't imagine she'll be too thrilled about putting these off even longer. I really need to find a new doc.

Having a mild fever or other illness is no longer contraindicated for vaccination. This recommendation changed a few years ago, I think. The AAP really pushes peds to not lose an opportunity to keep a child vaxed on schedule.

Withholding vaccinations because of medical concerns that are not contraindications results in missed opportunities for prevention.

*Review valid contraindications. Some commonly cited reasons for non-vaccination are not true contraindications; many are not even precautions. Invalid contraindications include: mild illness, antibiotic therapy, pregnancy in the household, breastfeeding, and premature birth.

http://practice.aap.org/content.aspx?aid=1386&nodeID=3001

When I did vax, I would not vax a sick child; it would make it more difficult to differentiate between illness and reaction, also, their immune system is already compromised by the existing illness. As for your son, you have no idea what is off with him; vaccinating could make it difficult to diagnose him and/or cause additional problems.

[tabstha]

Hi there!

I work in a pediatric office and the comments about wanting to keep the kids on schedule is true. That said, our office is pro vaccination but has no problem working with parents who choose a delayed schedule.

If the child has a mild illness it's not uncommon for our docs to recommend going forward with vaccines. If the child is clearly sick, the scheduled vaccine would be held that day.

[claddaghmom]

I had no idea! Ahhh this crazy country!

[mountainsun]

When we vaxed (6 yrs ago) it was not recommended to vax while the child was sick. Now all of a sudden it is OK? WOW. If we vaxed,I would not vax a sick or recovering kiddo

[boysmom2]

Thanks so much everybody! And especially for the revised guidelines re illness. I still don't think I'll do it today. Thanks for the support! At least some people out there don't think I'm completely nuts!

[Marnica]

I'm glad you are going to wait. It is NOT worth any potential damage that could be caused. There is clearrly something going on with both of your kids. Now is NOT the time to vax.

Also Please find a new doctor. Having a doctor that makes you feel "crazy" for doing what you feel is in the best interest of your children is damaging not only to the therapetic relationship, but to your own psyche. NOT COOL
It may take a little digging, but there are doctors out there that will recognize that they are NOT GOD and will respect your mothering desicions, even if they differ form what they reccommend.

[NamastePlatypus]

I wish I could find my link on the higher risk of bad happening when child was sick. I want to say most cases of autism were linked to when the child was getting/getting over something. Don't "" me but I think i have read that a few times.

[Deborah]

If a doctor says it is okay to give vaccines when a child is on antibiotics, insist that they supply full-text of the study which demonstrates no increase in adverse reactions.

There are two possibilities: there is such a study but if it is carefully reviewed it will turn out to be full of holes

OR

No one has ever studied this and it was a decision made sans data.

Either could be the case.

Perhaps we should write to the AAP and ask them for the study or studies used to justify this policy?

[ammiga]

Originally Posted by boysmom2

We're doing a selective/delayed schedule. My 5yo and 8mo have check-ups tomorrow and are due for shots. My 8mo is finally seeming to be beginning to get over this nasty cold/flu thing he's had for more than a week, but he's still super snotty and has a bad, wet cough. My 5yo is a different story. He doesn't have a cold, but he's just been "off" lately. Actually for the last few months I've been feeling like something isn't right with him, but I can't put my finger on what it is. He looks terrible, pale with dark circles under his eyes, and he's been really tired. Not at all like him. And then one day last week he had a lymph node in his neck that swelled up really big. It was so painful that he could barely eat, but over the next 2 days it resolved on its own (I called the doc about this and they said as long as it continued to get better we could wait until his appt. tomorrow). Anyway, I'm planning to talk to the doc about all of this and see if we can figure something out.

But, I really feel like this would not be the right time to give either one of them any shots - right? I just feel like my 8mo needs a chance to finally fight off whatever this is, and we need to figure out what's going on with my 5yo. Maybe he's fine, but I think I'd like to know that before we tax his system more.

I guess I'd just like to hear others' thoughts on this. I know my ped will think I'm crazy! She's pretty mainstream but mostly tolerates my craziness.

Thanks!

How long before that started had he had his last vax? I'd be worried about a bad vax reaction.

[elmh23]

We're selective/delayed as well and we don't do shots when someone is sick. My plan was to start ds back up on shots back in December (he is fully vaxd for polio and DTaP, but has recieved nothing else) but he has been constantly sick since about mid-November, so we're putting it off.

Our doc is a family doc and will not do vax's on children who are not healthy.

[HappyMommy2]

I wouldn't vax a sick child. I'm no expert, just learning as I go.

Even my pedi, who thinks we should have all or most of them, suggested we wait until next time since DD was sick.

[Arduinna]

Just flat out tell them that you won't submit to vax while your child is sick. Period. I used that everytime we went to the Dr ( we only go when we are sick anyway LOL).

[boysmom2]

Thanks so much everybody. I got out of there with no shots and not too much of a hassle. She clearly didn't agree with me, but she didn't try to change my mind.

Originally Posted by NamastePlatypus

I wish I could find my link on the higher risk of bad happening when child was sick. I want to say most cases of autism were linked to when the child was getting/getting over something. Don't "" me but I think i have read that a few times.

Thanks for sharing this. It just seems like a bad idea for a lot of reasons.

Originally Posted by ammiga

How long before that started had he had his last vax? I'd be worried about a bad vax reaction.

It's been a while. Up until DS3 came along (8mo ago) we had been following the schedule. I did my research during my last pregnancy so now we're doing things much differently. Anyway, DS2(5yo) had whatever would have been the previously scheduled ones, so a couple of years, maybe? I really don't remember for sure right now.

I really appreciate everyone's responses. It's so great to find other parents who have chosen to think critically about this.

[writteninkursive]

Yeah, stay away from that for now. Trust your instincts.

My youngest DD was horribly sick when she was about 14 months old and they tried to give her MMR, Polio, injectable flu, and chicken pox. I took her out of that place so fast. The ped was following me into the waiting room, angrily telling me that "there's no live viruses in these shots!" Um.... what?

We never went back. But that's a typical mainstream ped for ya.