Has anyone ever regret their decision to NOT vax? - Page 3

[EviesMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen 

Hmm, i don't know if this is any value or not, but my close friend doesn't do any vax (and doesn't BF past a few weeks because her milk 'dries up') and her DD, 5, caught rotavirus a few years ago and was almost hospitalized for dehydration. She says the toll that it took on her daughter felt like torture (the vomitting and diahhea lasted over a week) and the nights of worry it caused her and her DH were not worth it. She says she wishes she just would have gotten the vaccine since it is oral and not as dangerous as the injectibles. Of course I strongly feel the not breastfeeding part was a HUGE factor.

Not me personally, but maybe what you're looking for? 

 

Was rota vax out 5 years ago? I know it wasn't 6.5 years ago when DD was born, and it's only given before 6 months of age (might be even earlier?). I know that vax couldn't have been given to a 3 year old, for example. So I'm not certain that rota was ever an option for that particular child. 

[sosurreal09]

Originally Posted by stacey05 

I found a blog today about a family who lost their 3 year old to hib last year.  They are one of the PA families we heard about the beggining of the year in 2009.  I cried for so long reading about her being in the hospital, being brain dead and then her family losing her.  They seemed to be non vaxers because the Mom said she wished she had known about Hib and done differently.  It was so sad!  Seeing a face with the number or statistic was really hard.  I have an unvaxed 3 yo and I cannot even imagine.  I know there are countless stories of vaccine damaged children and even children who have died from vaccines.  It is so hard to feel completely comfortable either way.  I started rethinking the hib vaccine and, of course, I worry about making him more vulnerable to other bacteria that might move in and could cause invasive disease too.  Does anyone know if vaccinating for hib will make your child more vulnerable to other meningitis causing bacteria?  I haven't regretted my decision to not vax, but I don't think you can always change your mind and go get a vax...like in this mother's case...it was too late.  Such a tough decision!

NVIC.org

it is very hard to know what to do...you have to weigh the risks. for me injecting my child with something that may kill her, take away her fertility, or cause paralysis is scary...especially when fully vaxed kids still get HIB.

Edited by sosurreal09 - 1/4/11 at 2:48pm

[Xerxella]

I know this is somewhat OT, but I have in the past (head wound from hitting the floor) and would continue to lie in the ER about vax status.  Basically, the medical community agrees that even vaxed kids can get all the VPDs, so saying that their not vaxed only opens up the doors for scorn.  Please, just focus on my child and what might be wrong with them and not that I'm a "bad mommy." 

[browneyeNYmomma]

Originally Posted by stacey05 

I found a blog today about a family who lost their 3 year old to hib last year.  They are one of the PA families we heard about the beggining of the year in 2009.  I cried for so long reading about her being in the hospital, being brain dead and then her family losing her.  They seemed to be non vaxers because the Mom said she wished she had known about Hib and done differently.  It was so sad!  Seeing a face with the number or statistic was really hard.  I have an unvaxed 3 yo and I cannot even imagine.  I know there are countless stories of vaccine damaged children and even children who have died from vaccines.  It is so hard to feel completely comfortable either way.  I started rethinking the hib vaccine and, of course, I worry about making him more vulnerable to other bacteria that might move in and could cause invasive disease too.  Does anyone know if vaccinating for hib will make your child more vulnerable to other meningitis causing bacteria?  I haven't regretted my decision to not vax, but I don't think you can always change your mind and go get a vax...like in this mother's case...it was too late.  Such a tough decision!

Stories like these ARE so sad!

For me, coming to the conclusion of being comfortable to go the non-vax route, I have had to accept in my mind that sometimes death is inevitable. Part of my faith in God includes believing that he has a plan, even though sometimes I may not like that plan. There are very sad cases where non-vaxed children get a "VPD" and die from it. But there are also many, many cases where fully-vaxed children die from something that is not preventable. To what extent are they going to keep making vaccines for things? Is there going to be a vaccine against cancer eventually? The list just keeps growing! We simply can NOT prevent every bad thing from happening, unfortunately...we are NOT God.

That being said, if my child were to die from a "VPD", I would find excuses and say "I wish I had ___" as well, that is just human nature.

These are just my personal thoughts, everyone has to figure out how to wrap their own mind around this topic:)

[Sol_y_Paz]

Originally Posted by peainthepod 

Incidentally, I'm now wondering if it's better just to lie and say your child is up to date on vaccines if they ever have to be hospitalized. It's not like any hospital is going to be testing for vaccine reactions as a cause of the symptoms anyway. 

interesting.

[bebebradford]

I have an opposite opinion now that my children are older. My first child was vaxed completely on schedule, and was the healthiest of my two..no reactions. My second child I delayed vaccines and she was always sick(even before vaccines). It really depends on the child. I don't think it's a good idea to use a child's vaccine status when it comes to how often they get sick. There's no scientific basis.. too many variables. Do some people have vaccine reactions? Yes. Do some people DIE from common illnesses that a vaccine can prevent? Yes.

[raelize]

i do vax, and i'm not commenting on people's choices, i just wanted to chime in about the doctors at ERs.  my dd has ceilac (so do i) and her symptoms are seizures, when we had the first one, they were CERTAIN that she had meningitis despite having NONE of the symptoms, and basically refused to treat her unless we submitted to a lumbar puncture. we told them, no way, we'll go home then.  and tehn they treated us.  so, just saying, those ER doctors are UAVs whether or not you vax.  they actually didn't believe me that she was totally up to date with everything but CP (which we don't vax for). 

[JulianneW]

My siblings and I, 26, 23, 21 and 16 are all not vaccinated, as are our children 4, 3 and 1 month. We have never regretted it. I have been to Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia and my sister has been to Central America. Illnesses that meant death back in the day are now easily preventable and treatable so I have never been worried. 

Im sure my experience as an unvaccinated person has made me more comfortable with not vaccinating my children.

Edited by JulianneW - 1/5/11 at 11:37am

[heathergirl67]

This is probably the wrong place for your question.  As it's name is "I'm Not Vaccinating" it's safe to assume that most people here are currently not vaccinating their children.  So, of course, they would have no reason to regret something that they're currently doing. 

[Disco Infiltrator]

as a medical professional I strongly recommend not lying about vax status.  You certainly could state that your vax status is not relevant to the situation if you are in for something like a head lac, but lying is going to set up an adversarial relationship from the very beginning and could significantly impact your care. 

[member234098]

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Edited by member234098 - 6/12/12 at 12:37pm

[BeckyBird]

Originally Posted by heathergirl67 

This is probably the wrong place for your question.  As it's name is "I'm Not Vaccinating" it's safe to assume that most people here are currently not vaccinating their children.  So, of course, they would have no reason to regret something that they're currently doing. 

Ha! This is the Perfect place for her question, as you can see from the 3 pages of responses.

[Gismobabe]

Not regretting it as my first DS died of unclear causes after a shot!

[BeckyBird]

Barbara, I am so sorry to hear about your sweet little boy. Thank you for sharing with us, as painful as it must be.

Also, congratulations on your new little surprise baby :)

[GoBecGo]

If she wants to know about regrets this is not the best place.  People with regrets are probably not posting in the I'm Not Vaccinating forum.

I almost fully vax (UK schedule, skip the flu shots for the kids, which were only offered for H1N1, and we've all had it anyway now), and i don't regret THAT decision.  

I know a person who regretted not vaxing briefly.  Her 4yo got pertussis and gave it to her 4 week old.  Both survived fine though, so she only really agonised over it when the baby was in hospital (for several weeks, she did get very sick, but as i said, survived it fine ultimately).  She decided to selectively and delayed vax afterwards and feels better about it all.  And yes, she is well aware that even a vaxed child can have and transmit pertussis, but she feels she didn't do everything she could have to prevent the situation and says if she'd vaxed she would feel it was "one of those things" and because she didn't she felt to blame.  So it depends on personality type - are you the sort to regret action more than inaction?  That sort of thing.
 

Originally Posted by BeckyBird 

Originally Posted by heathergirl67 

This is probably the wrong place for your question.  As it's name is "I'm Not Vaccinating" it's safe to assume that most people here are currently not vaccinating their children.  So, of course, they would have no reason to regret something that they're currently doing. 

Ha! This is the Perfect place for her question, as you can see from the 3 pages of responses.

[Virginia Mom]

I think I'm more inclined to say I regret having ever vaccinated my kids.

My now 6 year old was fully vaxed up to 6 months........and then at 3 years old we started to play catch up........a few months after one shot at 3, he had his first seizure....it turns out that he has a rare blood vessel disorder in his brain....(that it's possible is a result from 6 months of vaccs, but no one knows for sure)...Our now 4 year old only ever received one shot as well, at 6 months...a DTap....about 5 days after the shot she had fevers that ran as high as 105.3 for about 7 days before our peds did any diagnostics other than "treat with tylenol and  motrin".  Yes, not being fully vaxed could put them at risk for something, but don't forget, even if a child is fully vaxed, this is no guarantee that they will stay healthy......look at all the outbreaks of measles (sp) outbreak last year.......and all the bad reactions to that vac for 'tween' girls..........

It's tough. You make the best decision that you can, and hope and pray it's the best one. 

[member234098]

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Edited by member234098 - 6/10/12 at 9:45pm

[GoBecGo]

This whole thread is anecdotal.  That is the nature of the information the OP has requested.
 

Originally Posted by miriam 

I know a person who regretted not vaxing briefly.  ...  That sort of thing.

Anecdotal evidence.  

[MrsJewelsRae]

Not at all.  All 3 of my children are completely vax free.  My youngest ds has even just pulled through a several months illness from Whooping Cough/Pertussis.  It was NOT fun, it was very scary at times in the beginning, but his cough is finally clearing up (he got sick the beginning of August!!) and thanks to the mothering community I knew to treat it with Sodium Ascorbate- which, no joke, it worked FAR better than the inhalors my doc prescribed.  It was a very stressful time, but I still do not regret not vaxing him.  In my gut I feel like he would have been vaccine damaged- he is very very sensitive to foods, ended up in the ER the first 3 times we started him on solids (at 7, 8 and 9 months) due to digestive issues (not allergies).  He had colic and suspected silent reflux.  He is allergic to peanuts, eggs, dairy, and soy that we know of so far.  He just seems to have a very tricky balance to his health, I think vaccines could have really done a number on him.  My dd also had eczema with multiple sensitivities and allergic to penicillin.  Overall, I just feel strongly that we made the right choice. 

[browneyeNYmomma]

Originally Posted by heathergirl67 

This is probably the wrong place for your question.  As it's name is "I'm Not Vaccinating" it's safe to assume that most people here are currently not vaccinating their children.  So, of course, they would have no reason to regret something that they're currently doing. 

Ok, fair statement. Maybe I should repost this same question in the main vaccination forum so it is out there for people on both sides of the topic.