reconsidering... - Page 2

[onetrumpeter]

Wow.  DH just had a physical check-up at our family doctor.  He went a couple weeks (?) ago for a cough and was given Zpack abx as well as a cough suppressant/Vicadin (pardon my spelling; hope these make sense) to help him sleep.

At the physical today he mentioned how he's still coughing (though it's def less severe and did seem to be *slightly* improved by the abx and cough syrup) and from his description the doctor though he had whooping cough.  I sort of am in shock.  I'm doing all this research... and then bam, it's not my kids (yet?!) but DH who has it.  I've had a cough but haven't had it to the point of vomiting so just not sure.  DH asked re: our kids, not having been vax'ed, if it sounded like they had it.  Doc thought no; that the abx a few wks ago would have stopped the transmission.  They did bloodwork and I got the impression they're going to look for evidence of pertussis there (familiar?)

So, of course, he wasn't uptodate on his tetanus, and he took the TDaP.  He's funny; doesn't feel comfortable w/ our kids getting vaccines (neither do I but I'm slightly more convinced to avoid/delay at this point than he is) but he feels fine just taking the doc's word and getting it.

And this is a "good" family practice doc, LOL.  I'm sort of doubting his dx as DH did *not* have the "whoop" to his cough.  but it has been very persistent and lingering for weeks...  wierd.  How accurate might the serum check be?

Both kids have a slight cough and runny noses...  I just ordered SA from iHerb last night.  can't get here soon enough, lol.  but if DH did truly have WC, I guess I'll just hope if my kids get it the symptoms are the same, b/c we can deal with that.

Mods, would love if this could be moved to H&H as I guess I'm transferring from vax info to dealing w/ pertussis info...  thanks :)

[First Time Mama]

 I worry about pertussis too, especially since I am having a baby in just a few weeks. I worry more that the baby could get if from DS and it would be worse for the baby. But at this point he wouldn't even have full protection in the baby's first few months when WC is most dangerous to babies. So far DS is unvaccinated, and sometimes I think of getting some vaccines for him, but I just have not been convinced and am not 100% comfortable with any of them at this point. But I worry that the baby could be exposed to more illness than DS was, since DS is in preschool and we will be out and about a lot more than I was with DS when he was a baby.

[onetrumpeter]

well, just to update, DH's bloodwork came back negative for pertussis.

So I guess, like someone else mentioned, other cough-like illnesses (in adults, at least) can present similarly to pertussis.  But, the 2nd hand line was something about that he "already has antibodies to pertussis."  Could that have been from his last TDap?  (He doesn't recall, neither do I) or perhaps he did have a slight case of it?

I don't know that I'll ever have peace about choosing/re-considering not vax-ing.  I did tell my mom how the doctor suspected WC for DH and she was like, "Grandmom (her mom, WWII nurse) remembers lots of babies dying from that."  I know she's not saying it to pressure me; she really feels a fear of the disease.  And I do, too, obviously.  But it's about risk:benefit, and I'm just having trouble determining what both are.

I SO appreciate *all* the tips and links given here, though.  I have 1lb of SA from Nutribiotics and need to research more how to use that.  Always more to research, lol.

[NaturalBirthGoddes]

I did want to add (for future reference) that the "Whoop" sound is usually found in smaller children.  Older children and adults have larger airways and are not as likely to get the whoop (they can, but not as often). 

[Ambyrkatt]

Our ped has been putting the pertussis vax push on us hard this year, too, and while I am generally very secure in our decision not to vax our children, she made me nervous about it just by the sheer number of times she has brought it up. We have a 5 yo son who goes to preschool 3 days a week and now a 2 mo daughter who will go to grandma's daily when I return to work. Pediatrician understands that we do not want to vax the baby because she is so little, so she is now suggesting that I, DH, and grandma all be vaxed for it. I am now trying to research and find out if that would help or matter at all. So far, it doesn't sound like it would be beneficial.

Also looking for info on dosing for SA and other things to do in case children do get it. I want to go ahead and have the SA on hand.

Currently, DS and I both have a light cough, but ped said she didn't think it sounds like pertussis because it responds well to OTC cough meds.

[Turquesa]

Actually, this is the precise reason that I get the vaccine.  Arguments about herd immunity hold little sway for me where pertussis is concerned, but on a personal level with my own children, this isn't a disease that I want to mess with.  There are lucky kids who recover from pertussis, and unlucky ones who don't, and I don't want to risk seeing my children in the latter category.  I respect whatever decision the OP makes, however, and recognize that this is a complicated decision.  I certainly struggled with it! 

Originally Posted by NaturalBirthGoddes 

And the pertussis vaccine does NOT prevent transmission or infection. It is just supposed to reduce the severity of the illness.