Gut feeling about vaccines

[emma1325]

That's all I have. Try as I might to comprehend the science end of this stuff, I end up spinning my wheels. I am not a scientist.

Ever since my daughter had a neurological reaction to a set of vaccines nearly 5 years ago I have just "known" that the shots are worthless and dangerous. But I don't have the words to support what I know. I can spout off a few superficial statements in support of the choice to not vaccinate. I am armed with some facts showing that vaccines often fail and cause brain damage/death. But I cannot dissect the information. If someone wants to discuss many of these arguments in-depth and/or examine scientific literature, I cannot do it (very well.)

But lately I have been trying to convince myself that vaccines can be acceptable sometimes.

It would be sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much easier in so many ways if I vaccinated, even delayed/selectively. I wouldn't have to be on the side opposing "science." I wouldn't have to be the "crazy anti-vax lady." My children could go to school here in the state of Mississippi. I wouldn't have to run this community action group which in so many eyes is "undermining public health."

But my gut will absolutely not allow me to even consider bringing my children in for one of those shots. In my heart I know they're a farce.

Anyone else have this gut feeling that vaccines are bad, bad, bad...lol...but cannot effectively "prove" it to anyone through verifiable facts?

[Elijahs Momma]

I'm where you are. I've gone through and read the scientific aspect of it but I can't retain anything worth squat so my main argument against them is it really just doesn't feel right and, in most cases, the side effects are worse than what you're vaccinating for. Occasionally, that common sense factor will kick in if someone says I'm putting others at risk by not vaccinating and I can spit it something along the lines of if your kids are vaxed then why are you worried. But, instict is just a big part of why I don't vax. I mean, all those vaccines in a little one at so young of an age and so close together just doesn't set right with me. I haven't really had anyone argue with me about it though, they just seem to accept that we're the "un-mainstream" famiy that we are and there's no sense in arguing about it.

[Fyrestorm]

You might want to check out www.insidevaccines.com. They have a way of presenting the science with studies sited in a way that a non scientist can understand.

Follow you gut mama...it's usually right.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

You might want to check out www.insidevaccines.com. They have a way of presenting the science with studies sited in a way that a non scientist can understand.

Follow you gut mama...it's usually right.

Thanks!! I've looked at that site before but not very closely. Time to re-visit it!

[melanyh]

i never questioned w/ds1. he has SPD. now, he's been high-spirited since birth and maybe that was destined to be his cross ... but i can't help but wonder.

i vaxed soren (ds2) at his two-month appointment in june ... then couldn't get that bad taste out of my mouth. discussed it w/my husband, spoke w/a family member on his side who does not vax, spoke w/my chiro and then we just decided NO. i couldn't really give you stats and science as to why -- but now it feels wrong.

thankfully, our pediatrician did not flip out and basically accepted our decision.

[themammy]

My ds is one now. My local doctor had been very supportive of our decision not to vaccinate. When I went in for the 6 week check up, which is when he was due his first round of shots, I was so nervous about a confrontation. Dh came with me. I'd read books and books and books and was all armed to fight.

Then my doctor said to me, very simply, "What is you gut feeling? Do you believe vaccinations are safe? If I was to take your son now and put him on the bed and give him a shot, would you freak out?"

And I replied, "I believe they are not safe and I would freak out completely".

And she said, "it doesn't matter how much information I give you pro-vaccination. If your gut tells you not to do it, you shouldn't do it".

I was very impressed.....

Anyway - this is a longwinded way to say even the medical profession can accept your gut's power!

[NoMariposa]

My resolve came in this form --
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/from_...view_point.htm

The main page is still useful to those not interested in a Christian View point.
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/

[IntuitiveJamie]

Kellie,
HI! I was at the meeting last night. Great turn out! I THANK YOU for getting this group going. I am ecstatic about it. I was at the meeting...I was the one with the baby that got intvwd that was on TV that night. I did not see the newscast, but feel certain I sounded like an idiot. I am exactly in the same boat as you. I just can't do to my kids. I have a terrible feeling about my oldest..gut feeling I mean. I don't have the same feelings about them harming my youngest, but I still won't vax him b/c I just don't believe in it.
Anyways, I just happened to browse this forum tonight and just happened to read your post and had to tell you that you are not the only crazy anti vax lady in MS. We will bond together to create change here. I got your back!!

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by takebirthback

Kellie,
HI! I was at the meeting last night. Great turn out! I THANK YOU for getting this group going. I am ecstatic about it. I was at the meeting...I was the one with the baby that got intvwd that was on TV that night. I did not see the newscast, but feel certain I sounded like an idiot. I am exactly in the same boat as you. I just can't do to my kids. I have a terrible feeling about my oldest..gut feeling I mean. I don't have the same feelings about them harming my youngest, but I still won't vax him b/c I just don't believe in it.
Anyways, I just happened to browse this forum tonight and just happened to read your post and had to tell you that you are not the only crazy anti vax lady in MS. We will bond together to create change here. I got your back!!

I'm sure you didn't sound like an idiot! Thanks so much for coming Monday night. I thought it was a GREAT meeting. Will you be at the next meeting? Do you live in Jackson?

[dinahx]

(((Hugs)))
I'm a science geek and a debate lover, and I can prove it all day and all night, but the fact is: if someone is 'pro-vaccination' no proof in the world will sway them. They will believe just what they want . . . Also, the law is really not supportive of people 'proving vaccinations are ill-conceived through science and logic'.

The law supports just 'feeling' that they are against God's will. I always think it is funny that Doctors are like 'well if you were a Christian Scientist' but not if you just have a problem with heavy metals and carcinogens . . .

So don't sweat the science. IMO, just say as little as possible to medical types to not give them an excuse to argue with you, kwim?

[nikkiethridge]

Originally Posted by emma1325

That's all I have. Try as I might to comprehend the science end of this stuff, I end up spinning my wheels. I am not a scientist.

Ever since my daughter had a neurological reaction to a set of vaccines nearly 5 years ago I have just "known" that the shots are worthless and dangerous. But I don't have the words to support what I know. I can spout off a few superficial statements in support of the choice to not vaccinate. I am armed with some facts showing that vaccines often fail and cause brain damage/death. But I cannot dissect the information. If someone wants to discuss many of these arguments in-depth and/or examine scientific literature, I cannot do it (very well.)

But lately I have been trying to convince myself that vaccines can be acceptable sometimes.

It would be sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much easier in so many ways if I vaccinated, even delayed/selectively. I wouldn't have to be on the side opposing "science." I wouldn't have to be the "crazy anti-vax lady." My children could go to school here in the state of Mississippi. I wouldn't have to run this community action group which in so many eyes is "undermining public health."

But my gut will absolutely not allow me to even consider bringing my children in for one of those shots. In my heart I know they're a farce.

Anyone else have this gut feeling that vaccines are bad, bad, bad...lol...but cannot effectively "prove" it to anyone through verifiable facts?

I sooooooooooooo agree with you, and understand where you are coming from. The science moms are a very very smart bunch. I actually like debating them though. In the end, I think there are good arguments on both sides. (but!) I always walk away more confident in my decisions.

Honestly, for me, its simple.
The current schedule scares the crap out of me. There have been no long term studies on it, my child is low-risk for almost all the 'VPD's, I seriously do not believe the very small % of immunity gained with a vaccine is worth the risk of an AE. So why take a chance of an AE which my actually be more severe than the illness itself? Apparently this is just crazy talk. :

[lava mama]

My gut feeling against vaccines is so strong--I've never felt anything like it! I'm so thankful that we never vax'd DS, especially now that we know he has extensive food allergies (we're still learning the scope of the allergies and he's 2.5!!!). I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that my DS would have been a vaccine-injured child if I had not listened to my gut. Nope, science can't prove that, but I'm positive that my God-/Nature-given instincts can!

And it's hard for me, because I don't remember everything I've read until AFTER a discussion has taken place. I'm left thinking, "Arg! I should have said_____ and _____ and they would have appreciated if I told them _____." It's frustrating, but I'm comforted in knowing that I'm doing what's best for my family!

[Thandiwe]

Originally Posted by themammy

Then my doctor said to me, very simply, "What is you gut feeling? Do you believe vaccinations are safe? If I was to take your son now and put him on the bed and give him a shot, would you freak out?"

And I replied, "I believe they are not safe and I would freak out completely".

And she said, "it doesn't matter how much information I give you pro-vaccination. If your gut tells you not to do it, you shouldn't do it".

I was very impressed.....

Oh you are so very lucky to have this experience! I cried as I signed the consent form at the 2-month check/up for my oldest. Even as such, and my begging for answers about the vaxes, the doc proceeded to push me into it. Told me I was silly for thinking anything could go wrong. Bad, bad, bad choice. Same as our circ with him; the doctor took him from my arms while I was bawling.

I don't know where these doctor's heads can be. With all the medical malpractice - not to mention the Hippocratic Oath - you would think they would be more inclined to say, "No, we're not doing this today. Not until you decide this is what you want."

Needless to say, I don't see either doc anymore.

To the OP, trust your gut. I recently wrote a letter to our legislators regarding greening our vaccines. I was able to pull some facts together, but I too just *feel* their wrong and can't spout off facts. I cling to a couple core beliefs but mostly it's my gut intuition. If you'd ever like a copy of the letter, I'd be happy to share it.

[kristin1924]

I was a mainstream mom with the vaccine thing for the first year of my daughter's life. She was injured from a combo vax and we will never vax her again, nor a new baby who comes into our life. Just as my mom was saying today, "I had the mumps, measles, and chicken pox... rubella too, so what is the problem? It's all propaganda!". She is right.

My daughter's pancreas was zapped by a vaccine, so she now has Type 1 diabetes (I believe that she had allergies to certain ingredients in the vaccines). So many parents on the diabetes forum I am on have private messaged me saying they believe a vaccine did this to their toddler too. So, I know where you are coming from, where it would be soooo much easier to vax and just not have to deal with the stress of it all, but something is wrong with the vaccines these days. They are total poison. There is a huge epidemic with autism and now Type 1 diabetes in toddlers. Something is going on.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by NoMariposa

My resolve came in this form --
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/from_...view_point.htm

The main page is still useful to those not interested in a Christian View point.
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/

I appreciated that website, thank you.

[stayo22]

I too am struggling with a STRONG gut feeling that vaccines are wrong for my child yet scared to go on this lonely road of being a non-vaxer. Thankfully I have a GREAT PED who supports my decisions but I am the only person among friends and family who is a non-vaxer. Hubby and I were discussing last night if we will just lie to family and friends if we do continue on our non-vax path since everyone we know would think we are CRAZY for making this decision.

Just FYI - I got the Hep B vax when I was 27 - the year after that vax I was a mess - I developed severe allergies, I had a sinus infection for two months and had to be on STRONG antibiotics. Lots of other little things happened too and at the end of that year I was like WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH ME? And I traced it back to the 2nd shot of the Hep B vax. After that I've investigated vax's and how to be healthy like a crazy person. I'm alarmed by the things I've learned. It's hard because I'm surrounded by people who would never question authority, everyone I know vax's their child. I feel so alone but regardless I will continue to be weird!