what is the worst thing a doctor has said to you, re: not vaccinating? - Page 2

[threenorns]

i've only ever really had asian (chinese and pakistani doctors) so maybe i got off easy but the worst was the family doctor who delivered my youngest.  he just looked worried and a little sad and said "i do respect that you've looked into this a lot but i would be irresponsible if i didn't tell you that i've seen every single one of these diseases and it would break my heart if saari were to have to go through it.  i have seen many vaccine reactions and i've seen reactions that i'm pretty sure were from the vaccine but none of them has been as bad as the babies i've seen with polio and whooping cough."

i put a lot of credence into what he told me because i was 40 when saari was born and my doctor got his degree 8 years before i was born!

but after the third shot (he only did dtap - not hib or rotavirus bec even he said the schedule was getting stupid) i told him i was pulling the plug bec it was taking her longer and longer to recover which, to me, indicates a weakening immune system, not a strengthening one.

[taly]

Hello everyone! I'm a new mom of 4,5 month old baby boy. I have to admit, I did trusted doctors to take good care of my child; but after first round of vaccines I just got that kind of filing in my gut what something is wrong. It just didn't make sense to me what such a small baby need so many vaccines. I started to do my research and I was shocked to find out what they put in our children. Today we had our scheduled well-child appointment, and when I told our doctor what we are not going to do any vaccines anymore, I was asked to find another health care provider. Well, I did expected that, but still felt kind of disappointment. She just said something about whopping cold out there, and what I'm putting my child in danger and if he's not vaccinated it will put in danger other children in her practice. Any advice how to find another pediatrician who will respect our decision and will take care of our child when we need it? Thank you!
 

[Monkeygrrl]

I had a ped tell me he'd been to 3rd world countries and he had seen all these illnesses and they are just horrible and I should really consider vaccinating so my child doesn't have to go through that. --- Right. Because I live in a 3rd world country. Without access to clean water. And good medical care. Ok.

I had another ped tell me that my child was having seizures because I DID NOT vaccinate him. *blink blink*

[Asiago]

Originally Posted by taly 

 Any advice how to find another pediatrician who will respect our decision and will take care of our child when we need it? Thank you!
 

I would interview, and upon interview ask about delaying or waiving vaccination. You'll know by the response whether to or not to hire the doctor.

[gradstudentmommy]

Originally Posted by taly 

Hello everyone! I'm a new mom of 4,5 month old baby boy. I have to admit, I did trusted doctors to take good care of my child; but after first round of vaccines I just got that kind of filing in my gut what something is wrong. It just didn't make sense to me what such a small baby need so many vaccines. I started to do my research and I was shocked to find out what they put in our children. Today we had our scheduled well-child appointment, and when I told our doctor what we are not going to do any vaccines anymore, I was asked to find another health care provider. Well, I did expected that, but still felt kind of disappointment. She just said something about whopping cold out there, and what I'm putting my child in danger and if he's not vaccinated it will put in danger other children in her practice. Any advice how to find another pediatrician who will respect our decision and will take care of our child when we need it? Thank you!
 

I searched the "Finding Your Tribe" section that included my state and found my ped there.  Good luck! It's worth the effort to find a doctor who respects you.

[taly]

Thank you! :-)
 

[Asiago]

Along with Tribe suggestion, here are some links taly:

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/vaccines/find-vaccine-friendly-doctor-near-you

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vaccinations/database?method=reportRows&tbl=3

[taly]

Thank you very much!
 

[reg423]

Our first pediatrician questioned why we didn't get the "mandatory" HepB vaccine when our LO was first born. I explained that this vaccine was not "mandatory" and that no vaccines are in fact "mandatory" - I was then told: "well, they're mandatory here, so if you're child is not on schedule with immunizations we will not be seeing you..." - I told him he was right about one thing - he didn't see us after that. 

[MommaMenk]

My LO was in the NICU for jaundice after he was born. Right before they released him a doctor came in and asked me why he hadn't had his eye ointment when he was born.I told her we opted not too. She tried to tell me it was against the law to refuse it ( I knew she wanted to put it in THEN..crazy)..and I told her that I researched it and it was not against our state law and that the hospital even had me sign a waiver that said I would not be doing it. She backed off right away. I knew she was trying to get me to do it then and was surprised that I knew the proper info. 

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Monkeygrrl 

I had a ped tell me he'd been to 3rd world countries and he had seen all these illnesses and they are just horrible and I should really consider vaccinating so my child doesn't have to go through that. --- Right. Because I live in a 3rd world country. Without access to clean water. And good medical care. Ok.

I had another ped tell me that my child was having seizures because I DID NOT vaccinate him. *blink blink*

You say that as if it makes no sense at all!  lol

[emma1325]

I have a little bit of a different story.

When I was pregnant with my first baby ten years ago, I came across some conflicting information about vaccines on the internet.  I felt confused.  I had never even heard of the debate before, but now I was reading things that made me worry that vaccines might be unsafe. I entertained the idea of not vaccinating, and it made me uneasy.  I was too indoctrinated to even consider it.  I thought that maybe I would delay/select, but I had no idea how to even begin researching, and it made me feel extremely overwhelmed.  Science scared me and I felt I wasn't smart enough to understand the information even if I tried.

So late in my pregnancy, I decided to stop tormenting myself over it, and to just do whatever the pediatrician said.  It was such a relief.  I figured that this was a person I was supposed to be able to trust with my child's health, so why not take her advice when it came to vaccinating?  Ahhh, blissful Ignorance.  I basked in it for a while, giving myself a break from considering the terrifying idea that so many doctors could be wrong about vaccines (after all - what else might they be wrong about?)

For weeks and weeks I focused on learning about breastfeeding and natural birth.  I devoured Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.  I attended a La Leche meeting.  I didn't let the word "vaccine" cross my mind.

Then my baby was born.  At the hospital, I cringed at the idea of her getting any injections, but they did it in the nursery where I couldn't see it and didn't have to deal with the emotions.

Our pediatrician walked in on the day we were being released.  She said, "I'm so glad you decided to vaccinate."

I was a little taken aback.  I didn't expect to have the pediatrician expect me to make a decision in the matter.  I didn't make a decision as far as I was concerned...I just signed whatever forms the nurses told me I should sign.

The pediatrician continued: "Some parents these days are choosing not to vaccinate.  A very bad idea, in my opinion."

Even though she made it clear that she did not support non-vaccination, she legitimized the choice in my eyes.  She brought it from a silly paranoid internet fear to a real-life concern that real-life parents were dealing with.

The next few weeks, I started reading what I could on the issue.  The information still overwhelmed me.  I ended up taking Emma for the first 2 sets of infant shots, delayed by a month because of general uneasiness with the whole thing.  After the 2nd set of shots, Emma's temperament changed and she started having brief seizure episodes, among other symptoms.  Her health went downhill...she was sick most of the time for several months after the shots. By the time it was time for another set of shots, I was set on *at least* delaying further shots until I understood more about the whole thing.  I decided that my child would not get a single vaccine unless I thoroughly researched and investigated the reasons why I thought that particular vaccine was a good idea.

Thanks you, Dr. Maiher, for giving me that very important heads up.

[BlessedAgain]

7yo just in the ER for croup - never had it before, and I thought he was too old for it, so it was pretty scary.  The doc expected it was viral... until she learned that we didn't vax.  "So, he's NEVER had ANYTHING?"  No.  Then, all of a sudden it could have been haemophelius (sp?) influenza... although he didn't have any symptoms.  Everyone who had been in the room now came back with masks (um, even if it WAS, you've already been exposed).  It was actually kinda funny.  Thankfully he didn't think anything of it.

[Emilye30]

I had my first experience today actually, at our daughters 4 month checkup. We decided not to vaccinate after she had a seizure after her 2 month vax. I presented the nurse with the vaccination exemption and she rolled her eyes at me, told me I was making a VERY poor choice for my daughter and I am doing a disservice to everyone elses kids and they wont see her again. She asked me to pick up our daughter and take her to the scale to be weighted, she normally takes her to the scale but she acted like she didnt even want to touch her! After that, she didn’t speak another word to me. I kept my composure and said that she was entitled to her opinion just like I am, she walked out of the exam room and slammed the door! WOW!!

We are now looking for a new Dr!

[fruitfulmomma]

Emily and Blessed, wonder what they were all worried about catching? Surely they were up-to-date on their own vaxxes. 

[Minerva23]

Originally Posted by Emilye30 

I had my first experience today actually, at our daughters 4 month checkup. We decided not to vaccinate after she had a seizure after her 2 month vax. I presented the nurse with the vaccination exemption and she rolled her eyes at me, told me I was making a VERY poor choice for my daughter and I am doing a disservice to everyone elses kids and they wont see her again. She asked me to pick up our daughter and take her to the scale to be weighted, she normally takes her to the scale but she acted like she didnt even want to touch her! After that, she didn’t speak another word to me. I kept my composure and said that she was entitled to her opinion just like I am, she walked out of the exam room and slammed the door! WOW!!

We are now looking for a new Dr!

That is absolutely outrageous!!!

Your daughter had a seizure after her last vax! If that is not clearly a contraindication then what is? Hope you will find a good Dr. soon who can actually read package inserts

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Minerva23 

That is absolutely outrageous!!!

Your daughter had a seizure after her last vax! If that is not clearly a contraindication then what is? Hope you will find a good Dr. soon who can actually read package inserts

 I agree but...... actually seizures is not a contraindication for ANY vaccine except the DTaP and even then - it specifies that it in the case of PROLONGED seizures that occur within 7 days which cannot be attributed to another identifiable source. Really the only contraindication for most vaccines (with a few exceptions) is a history of severe allergic reaction to that vaccine. 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/vac-admin/contraindications-vacc.htm

[Minerva23]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

 I agree but...... actually seizures is not a contraindication for ANY vaccine except the DTaP and even then - it specifies that it in the case of PROLONGED seizures that occur within 7 days which cannot be attributed to another identifiable source. Really the only contraindication for most vaccines (with a few exceptions) is a history of severe allergic reaction to that vaccine. 

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/vac-admin/contraindications-vacc.htm

How is a PROLONGED seizure defined? What I found stated 10 - 30 minutes. I don't know how long the seizure lasted but her seizure occured within the 7 days after the vax and apparently did not have another identifiable source. So to me this is clearly a contraindication. But I do know that others might not see it like this at all and def. not big pharma.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Minerva23 

How is a PROLONGED seizure defined? What I found stated 10 - 30 minutes. I don't know how long the seizure lasted but her seizure occured within the 7 days after the vax and apparently did not have another identifiable source. So to me this is clearly a contraindication. But I do know that others might not see it like this at all and def. not big pharma.

 If my kid had any kind of seizure - lasting 2 minutes or 30 and occurred 2 days or 2 weeks after a vaccine they would never get that vaccine again. I think the CDC guidelines are bullcrap personally.

[Emilye30]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

 If my kid had any kind of seizure - lasting 2 minutes or 30 and occurred 2 days or 2 weeks after a vaccine they would never get that vaccine again. I think the CDC guidelines are bullcrap personally.

My feelings exactly! Her seizure was long enough to make me research tirelessly and voluntarily go through the headache of getting an exemption, face the critics, get disrespected by her nurse, search for a new dr and who know what else lies ahead. I didnt go through all of this because its fun, I am doing it because I KNOW what caused her seizure and will not allow it to happen to her again. Moms have intuition like that! As moms, we are our newborns only advocates.
"Prolonged" (as defined by the CDC) seizure or not, its still not normal for an otherwise healthy, well-developed 9 weeks old child to seize one week after being injected with DTaP. Its just not.

Any nurse or dr who cant understand that is not promoting "Do no harm".