So tired of being on the "outside"

[furfeet]

We chose not to vaccinate our 2 kids and I am so tired of constantly fighting every doctor we encounter. Where our first child was born it was acceptable to not vaccinate but we've been here in the midwest for 4 years now and I can't even count how many people now think I'm nuts or just a plain bad mom.
I guess I just need to know there are other people out there who have made this same decision and don't think I'm a crazy radical uneducated neglectful mom :
I've been thinking about getting my kids the DTaP because they are CONSTANTLY sick and in to the doctors (when I need to take them in to walk-in on weekends it's always fun to be grilled by a new doctor who doesn't understand why I don't want to discuss vaccinations, not like I haven't been freeking discussing them for over 6 years now!!!!) but I think it's just because I've been scared by the doomsday threats from the doctors and I've started to doubt myself and my decisions. The kids seem to have no immune system to speak of, regardless of any supplements I've tried or their diets which included breastfeeding for 2 1/2 years each. It's mainly horrible ear infections and colds, pneumonia for the youngest...
I'd love to just be able to get some ideas on dtap and the immune system from people who aren't bent on scaring me into vaxing.

[T&D2005]

Just playing the devil's advocate here.. how will the DTaP shot help your kids? Will that shot prevent pneumonia or ear infections or colds and flu (the illnesses they have had already)?
Since the pertussis vax isn't effective in preventing transmission, they would still be at risk for pertussis.

Perhaps visiting a naturopath would be beneficial?

[brendaziz]

Very sorry that your kiddos are sick all the time :-( That being said I do not think that vaxing is going to improve the health of your kids in regards to colds and ear infections and such. Every child is different and every child responds differently to their environment and viruses and such. If I were you I would stay true to your decision and try to just let all the doctors and such roll off you. I know it's hard, and some days it seems like it will never stop (and maybe it won't) but you made your choice for a reason and try to remember what those reasons are.
I agree though- it sux to be an outsider with this stuff! No fun at all. But parenting isn't always fun now is it.... well- some days more than others :-)

[kiara7]

Do you think that the doctors' crap will stop if you give them DTaP? No, it would probably only get worse. The diseases in DT are quite rare and not a threat, P doesn't prevent transmission and not 100% effective (like all vax's), but the DTaP is very reactive.

I'm sorry your kids are sick so much - but all kids are different, some are sick more than others. At least their immune system is getting stronger by battling bugs the natural way. I know it isn't much consolation, but stay strong. You don't want to risk them developing some auto-immune issues. I have MS and while it's different from your own kids, I think I (and my parents) would prefer I had pneumonia every year than live with this chronic illness for the rest of my life (thanks for the flu shot, big Pharma).

Best of luck!

[Sheryl1678]

I just wanted to say . I also live in the midwest after living other places with more "progressive" parenting attitudes. I actually have family members that don't speak to me because I am "different" (meaning no-vax, babywearing, extended breastfeeding...etc). It has been very hard to take. I stopped all wbv because of the hassle. I don't need it.

[Purple Cat]

I, too, used to go through the worst anxiety and emotional angst anticipating the tirade I would get from pediatrician's and nurse practitioners about my children's lack of vaccines. I ended up physically shaking like a leaf in one charged encounter where the pediatrician tried to bully me, telling me I had no choice but to let her give the vaccines.

Couple of things, though. First, you won't save yourself anything by doing one vaccine. Instead, you'll be blasted my mainstream pediatrician because your children have not been fully vaccinated.

Second, I cannot follow why you would expect giving a vaccine to help your children avoid their myriad sicknesses. DTaP doesn't protect agnst colds, flus, etc. Instead, it compromises their immune system. Our pediatrician who is very pro-vaccine started off a visit by saying he would NOT consider vaccinating my children because they had been sick so much. The twins contracted RSV and were sick for 12 weeks solid.

I, instead, would focus on trying to strengthen my kids' immunity. I had a lot of success with Kefir/probiotics.

I also found I ended the vaccine tirades by stating calmly and matter-of-factly that we don't vaccinate for religious reasons. I don't say one more word than that. I dont' explain further. I dont' add reasons like compromised immjunity, fears of autism, etc. That has completely shut up everyone. Think about it. If you were a dr. and a pt. simply stated they didn't vaccinate for religious reasons, you would look like a fascist to try to persuade them that their religious beliefs were "wrong." You lose your power, in my experience, if you say one more word than "we dont' vaccinate for religious reasons."

Good luck. Hang in there.

[brendaziz]

I agree with the last poster-
However don't expect religious reasons to get ALL docs off your back. Kaiser is still a pain every time I go in and after telling every doctor and nurse in teh practice that we don't vax for religious reasons- it still has not been put in a computer system at all which i found out just recently when I got medical forms filled out for my son's preschool and they wrote in big letters "Parent refuses vaccination! Has no exemption! Child is not up to date and needs to get __ ___ __!"
So annoying.
I don't think that i'm being very uplifting now am I? :-) Sorry!

[furfeet]

sorry I should have clarified, I don't think the vax would help the kids with their current health problems but I am terrified of this winter and what they might end up coming down with. Last winter the little one ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and my husband and other son couldn't even come visit because my son was sick with ear infections and pinkeye. Now it's not even really winter yet and they've been sick for weeks. I know vaxing wouldn't keep them out of the hospital for what they already have going on but after getting all the talks from the doctors I fear they could be in there for something that could be prevented.
I used to make kefir but they won't drink it straight or hidden in other things. So we do the chewable whole food vitamins with probiotics in them. We do xylitol for ear infection protection but it doesn't work for them so now we're waiting on an ENT appt. for tubes.
I know it could be so much worse but I'm just exhausted with the constant sickness. I don't know what else to do to protect them, or feel like I'm protecting them, I guess that's the main thing here. I also had a miscarriage last month so I'm kind of hypervigilant these days. And I have chronic Lymes so I'm sick all the time too. All these things just add up until here I am doubting the decisions I made so carefully. I guess I should just sit it out and revisit the the vax decision when I have a better handle on things.

[furfeet]

oops double post

[chaoticzenmom]

I wouldn't get the dtap, I would cut milk from the children's diet. All of the issues that you mentioned sound like milk reactions. Milk increases mucous and helps it build up in ears, throat, stomache.

Try that and then see how their immune system works. I used to say that my kids had no immune system too.....until I cut out milk! No more vomiting, earaches, colds. Nothing for 3 years now since cutting milk....with the exception of a mystery fever once and a stomache flu that went through our house 2yrs ago.

[prescottchels]

Your kids' long term health is worth sticking to your guns on the no vax issue. Hang in there!!
Something you could try w/new docs that some friends of mine have used that did not vax any of their kids is saying, my kids have all the vaxes they need or my kids are current on all the vaxes they need or something along those lines.
As an aside... it sounds like your kids may have some food allergies or intolerances that are contributing to their perpetual illnesses. The immune systems main focus is what comes down the intestinal track and if it's always battling bad foods for that body it doesn't have the energy/resources to attack germs/viruses-something I just learned from a famous naturopath.
unsolicited advice warning... I would highly recommend your kids eat only foods from the beneficial list, until they can stay well for a few months, for their blood type, based on Eat Right For Your Type.
Hope you have healthy kiddos soon!

[chaoticzenmom]

After looking through your old threads, I see that you've already cut milk I'm sorry that they're sick so often. I dont' think vax's will help and may hurt. I did give in and get my son a dtap shot at 9 months old and he screamed for 2 days afterwards. That to me is proof of harm. I only got it because my naturapath, who I trust, really thought it would be good to get. He never got any more, that's for sure!

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by chaoticzenmom

After looking through your old threads, I see that you've already cut milk I'm sorry that they're sick so often. I dont' think vax's will help and may hurt. I did give in and get my son a dtap shot at 9 months old and he screamed for 2 days afterwards. That to me is proof of harm. I only got it because my naturapath, who I trust, really thought it would be good to get. He never got any more, that's for sure!

Wow I have never heard of a naturopath that would advise to GET the DTaP!! very strange

[Ophelia]

Originally Posted by Marnica

Wow I have never heard of a naturopath that would advise to GET the DTaP!! very strange

I take DS to a doc that is both MD and NP. As far as I know, he's OK with no vax or S/D (it wasn't even mentioned at DS's 2 year appt), however it irks me that he's got pro-vax stuff in the lobby and believes the IOM report of 'vaxes don't cause autism".

But maybe that is because he had the MD before the NP. I don't know.