The flu shot
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| Mon, 12-12-2005 - 11:59am |
I just had Ella with the doctor this morning and she has an ear infection. The poor little girl is miserable and just wants me to hold her all day which is fine ny me because she usually wants no part of hugging or holding. I talked to the doc about whether Ella had SID or if she even thought SID could exist without another disorder. She said she had never seen a patient who just had SID. I'm confused because I thought it could. Not that it matters what the label is but I just want her diagnosed correctly. While I was there she remimded me that I hadn't given either one of my children the flu shot. I'm sick of feeling like a bad mom just because I refuse the flu shot every year. My kids stay home with me so they are not exposed a great deal to the virus. I have never refused to give any other shots even though I have many concerns still about the shots and the controversy about the link to autism. I still don't know what I believe about it all. Do you give your kids the flu shot and can SID exist on it's own?
Teresa

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i did take the flu shot with both pregnancies and gave it to matt his first year, before i knew better.
besides the risk of thimerosal, the vaccine also has formeldahyde in it, detergent, and more then likely aluminum. none of those are good things, especially a child who is at risk for delays.
yes, SID can exist on it's own. i think it's just that those with autism almost always have sensory issues.
don't feel guilty about the vaccine. i always think about the fact that we grew up without taking flu accines are we are still here. same with chicken pox for that matter. remind yourself that it's your child and you are the decision maker, not the doctor.
take care, valerie
Teresa,
To answer your queastions:
>>Do you give your kids the flu shot<<
No. Had a huge fight with DH about it this year, but it is kind of moot, because you can't *get* a flu shot for love or money around these parts now.
>>and can SID exist on it's own?<<
Yes (I think my DH has standalone SID). However, it is probably more often seen in conjunction with another disorder. It is common in preemies, kids with congenital brain differences, and anyone with an immature nervous system. I have run across SID in kids with ASDs, ADHD, FAS,(fetal alcohol syndrome) CP, Down's. ACC (agenises Corpus collosum (sp?)) MD, and CAPD.
I have probably just raised more questions than I answered. Sorry...
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Just to offer a different side of things, I say yes to the flu shot every year -- in fact I'm disappointed that I didn't get Sylvia in to the doc in time to get hers this season, since there's now a shortage. I have always been prone to the flu -- used to get it every season at least once -- and if I can prevent my kids from going through that misery, I'm going to.
However, given that the flu usually isn't a life-threatening illness for kids who are otherwise healthy and over 2 years old, I don't think it's a big deal if you decide not to give the flu shot to your kids. Do what feels right.
Jennifer
Jennifer,
Good point. Also, you can ask for a preservative free flu shot if you are concerned about the metals.
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
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If you're making the choice not to give a flu shot, don't waste your time feeling guilt about it. You've made your decision, go with it. Life's too short for carrying around burdens like that. I'm just getting older and have learned not to angst over those things. I used to get flu shots, but no longer. They are a bit of a lottery anyway so the risk of that particular vax's ingredients and impurities compared to knowing it will ward off the actual flu didn't weigh in as worth the jab to me. I'm not anti vax...just really choosy now. They have to try and guess which strain will strike anyway. The flu is pretty hyped up in the press every year.
There are things you can look into that will aide the body in fighting the flu and other things. vitamin B12 is antiviral and you don't need large amounts of it. The new theories of colds and such are not that they are spread from mouth and nose...but start off in the ears. This is not medical advice, but people who feel a cold coming on put hydrogen peroxide in their ears for a few minutes to kill the bacteria find that their colds go away. I think they do it every 6 hours or so. I find I only need to do it once and it kills my colds. I also take a sublingual (methylcobalamin) tablet in the morning to help. It sounds crazy, but it works for me. I haven't had a cold in two years. Again, not medical advice, I'm just saying it just happens to work for me.
I also had a terrible earache a couple years ago and putting warm garlic infused olive oil in my ear was such a relief of the pain. It was also instant relief as well. I made it myself, but they sell garlic mullein ear drops at the health food store. I didn't think it would work, but I was desperate and other moms kept swearing it worked and to my surprise...it took away the pain that alleve never touched. Again, I'm not saying you should do this and it's NOT medical advice...but something to research if you were interested in reading about it. Never, ever put anything in an ear with a ruptured eardrum.
LR
P.S. A warm water bottle or wash cloth on Ella's ear might help a tad bit to take the edge off.
I did get flu shots for both my boys - it's important for Nate (NT) b/c he has asthma.
No flu shots here. My dh gets one, he feels it really helps him. And he doesn't like to miss work! Workaholic!! But me and the boys don't get one. We mostly just get colds and I just don't see the need for us.
michelle
Amen to the garlic olive oil ear treatment. That is the best.
When Cait was a baby and toddler she had a million ear infections and with it a million antibiotics. The regular ones didn't work so she got stronger and stronger ones. I thought - ear infection - antibiotic.
A couple years ago someone intro'd me to the warm garlic olive oil thing and it was a god send. Don't even have to wait to go to the doctor to get relief. As soon as they start in the with ear-ache in goes a few drops of oil and have them lay down and some tylenol. Haven't had to have anti-biotics in a very long time.
I have learned that if you can get your body to fight off things on it's own you will be healthier and stronger for it.
As for the flu, we give ourselves and the kids eccinacea and vit C during cold and flu season (alternating on and off with the eccinacea) and if they start with a cold I add zinc to that and it really knocks it out quick.
I know lots of folks that have been getting very sick for days with horrible colds and flu's. For the last couple years we get maybe a minor thing here or there and they go away pretty darn quickly.
I just got "airborne" and plan on trying that out. THe kids won't take the effervescant one though. BUt I will see how it works for me. I hear it is great stuff.
Renee
Oh, that reminds me, Renee....I also give the boys echincea when they start to get sick, it keeps their colds mild and it shortens the length of time that they're sick. And inaddition to their multivitamin I also give them extra vitamin C too.
michelle
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