[ss834]

<p>Even when you are familiar with the risks and benefits, and make a decision that you will be vaccinating on schedule, or on a delayed schedule, it's common to deal with anxiety when it comes time to vaccinate. We've talked about this a little bit in other threads, and I've mentioned that one of my techniques for dealing with this anxiety is keeping a health journal for my son.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This NY Times article (from 2012) addresses the relationship between our emotional responses and our rational responses to risk assessment, particularly with vaccines, but also discusses some other situations where emotions can override our rational minds. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/opinion/sunday/why-smart-brains-make-dumb-decisions-about-danger.html?_r=0" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/opinion/sunday/why-smart-brains-make-dumb-decisions-about-danger.html?_r=0</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tara Haelle who blogs at Red Wine & Applesauce briefly mentions this fear each time she was getting her son's immunizations:</p>
<div class="quote-container"> 
<div class="quote-block">
<div>It’s not a very exciting story, is it? Honestly, the most “exciting” part was my anxiety: the stab of uncertainty I had before each round of shots, despite my knowledge of vaccine safety (after all, I’m human, and my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amygdala" target="_blank">amygdala</a> is just as powerful as anyone else’s), and the worries I had about him actually contracting pertussis before his 2-month shots or measles before his 1-year shots. The latter was far less likely, but it was not impossible. Despite the lack of drama in my story, however, mine is the more common story.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="http://www.redwineandapplesauce.com/2013/06/03/an-important-study-from-new-york-leads-to-my-own-vaccine-story-about-my-son/" target="_blank">http://www.redwineandapplesauce.com/2013/06/03/an-important-study-from-new-york-leads-to-my-own-vaccine-story-about-my-son/</a></div>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<p>Just thought this might encourage some of you. If you're facing these kinds of anxieties, just remember it's completely natural!</p>

 

[chickabiddy]

<p>Yes.  I am sometimes a little bit nervous about vaxes, but I believe they are the right thing to do so I do them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am also sometimes a little bit nervous sending her to school after I read about a school shooting.  And I'm a little bit nervous when we go a long road trip to visit family, since motor vehicle incidents are the leading cause of accidental death for children.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think nervous is normal sometimes.  It shouldn't stop us from doing what we think is best for our children.</p>

 

[One_Girl]

I was a little nervous about the chicken pox and hep a shots but they went well. Other than that it's never bothered me. I'm sometimes concerned ababout the miniscule chance that dd will contract a vpd if one doesn't work but the schools exclude non-vaxed kids during an outbreak so the chances of exposure are small.

 

[sciencemum]

I particularly noticed it with both kids getting their MMR. I'd convinced myself it was the right choice for my family and the risk of serious reaction was negligible. But there was still this little, "but what if..." going on in my brain.<br><br>
Of course it turned out just fine. <img alt="smile.gif" class="bbcode_smiley" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[ss834]

<p>After I made the decision to vaccinate, I had enough anxiety about it that I delayed a few appointments. Though, part of the reason is that I didn't really have a good relationship with the pediatrician so that was an entirely different type of anxiety. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>My son had a high fever after the MMR (almost 105F) and *possibly* a mild febrile seizure (shaking, but no convulsions) though no one saw it to diagnose it. That was scary at 2am. Then I learned more about what a febrile seizure was, that they are typically benign, and that the MMRV combo shot carried a higher risk with the first dose. So I was nervous about the booster but I knew the 2nd dose was usually less reactive. Fortunately, he didn't have any reaction at all to that one.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It was a happy day when he was done with all his early shots. Now I'm expecting a new baby, so the anxiety is kind of ramping up again. We are seeing a new pediatric group so I feel a little better about that part this time around.</p>

 

[erigeron]

<p>I was nervous about vaccines with my daughter, as I've been nervous about doing a lot of things with her (first time leaving her with anybody, first time leaving her with a sitter who wasn't family, was it ok to sit beside her and let her howl as she got used to being in bed by herself, was it okay to cut back her number of nursings when I was going batty, first time in day care, etc. etc. etc.) but I'm a lot less nervous with my new son, because we already made it through all that stuff and our daughter did fine, so it's not such weird uncharted territory anymore. </p>