[mamamich]

Hi all,<br><br>
I am new here. My 7 year old is unvaccinated and<br>
last night he stepped on a *rusty nail*. I took<br>
him to the hospital, as I assumed we would have<br>
to vaccinate with tentatus.<br><br>
The hospital was amazingly supportive and didn't<br>
freak out that he is unvaccinated, and if anything<br>
they kept mentioning how healthy he is. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Our Pediatrician is excellent and I wanted to wait<br>
to see what he thought so I asked the emergency<br>
doc if he'd be OK with us waiting.The doc at the<br>
hospital said it would be fine to wait until today<br>
to talk to our regular doc.<br><br>
So... our doc said not to worry about it. His position<br>
is that tetanus is so rare that he wouldn't<br>
recommend doing the shot (gotta love that, eh?)<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/bouncy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="bouncy"><br><br>
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else out<br>
there has chosen not to do tetanus shots<br>
even after an injury. It would be nice to<br>
hear some stories - and also help me in<br>
my decision to go without the shot.<br>
I trust my doc... but it's still worrying!<br><br>
Also... someone mentioned in an old thread<br>
that there wasn't thimerosal in many vaccinations<br>
now. Well, you can't get Tetanus shot without<br>
thimerosal yet. It's isn't manufactured without<br>
it except with DTP.<br><br>
So... I had/have the choice of exposure to<br>
definite toxins or risking the extreemly rare<br><i>possible</i> incidence of tetanus, the<br>
disease. Like my doc reminded me, a lot<br>
of adults are unvaccinated for this and<br>
cut themselves on all kinds of things doing<br>
DIY etc... My husband certainly falls<br>
into this catagory. His last tetanus shot<br>
was many years ago...<br><br>
thanks,<br>
~michele~

 

[sahli29]

You could do some herbal,gse,or sodium ascorbate soaks.Or try homeopathy.My kiddos 5 and 2 are also unvaccinated and have had their share of wounds(some even unnoticed till later). It IS hard not to worry at times like these.It was great to read the support you got from the medical side.Shoot, I have heard of doctors pushing the tetanus vaccine for a bee sting!<br>
I hope your son heals well. Hugs!<br>
Sara

 

[momto l&a]

As I understand it by the time you get a shot for tetanus for some injury its to late to do any good anyway.<br><br>
Wishing your son a speedy recovery!

 

[mamamich]

Hi,<br><br>
Thanks for the responses. From what I have read, and there is conflicting info, the shot can help if you have it within 72 hours of injury. But on one site, it seemed that maybe that wasn't true.<br><br>
I don't know... My son seems fine today. The wound did bleed when it happened, which I read on some old threads was a good thing... I cleaned it with soap and water and put some breastmilk on it -- the normal procedure in our house.<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
The stinky thing is that it can take up to a month for tetanus to develop. Anyone know any info on that? I guess I should go and get some homeopathics... thanks for the info on that.<br><br>
love,michele

 

[mamamich]

By the way, Sara, can you explain what the soaks are exactly?<br>
thanks,<br><br>
michele

 

[Mirzam]

My DD cut her knee very badly on a barbed wire fence while at a farm camp a few years ago. The farmer's wife knew how we felt about vaccinations so she bled the cut and cleaned and dressed it. She also gave DD raw beet juice to drink, which DD didn't really care for, to keep the blood thinned. DD was fine. It was a very deep cut and she does have a scar but no tetanus! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[thepeach80]

From what I've read, if you've cut yourself and you got tetanus in there and you're going to get it, no vax is going to help. The vax has to be in your system for so long before it helps so basically the only reason they give tetanus shots in the ER is b/c they know most adults are not up to date. I know I'm not. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[mamamich]

Thanks again for the info and thoughts. I am trying to let this go, but being an *awake parent* is so darn hard sometimes!!!!<br><br>
Love,michele <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nut.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nut">