Ok.. to start off, we ARE going to be getting the kids up to date on their shots.. It's something that we have thought long and hard about and have decided that we should do. Especially in light of something that has been brought to our attention.. Do y'all remember me talking about my son and how he would have coughing spells then couldn't breath and then would throw up????? Well, We got a call from the school the other day reporting that a child in the JR high was confirmed to have whooping cough.. Today we got a letter and The bottom of the letter gave some symptoms of the disease "people with whooping cough may have coughing spells in which they can't catch their breath between coughs. As they catch their breath at the end of a coughing spell, they may loudly gasp ("whoop") and vomit or feel like they're choking." As I read that, I thought that sounds EXACTLY like what Nick was doing.. I did a google search to see if I could find someone actually having a spell and of course came across several on youtube.. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MY SON WAS DOING!! I also read that they need antibiotics to get over it and that it's highly contagious.. My son still has a cough after 4 or so months but is not having issues with the breathing nearly as often or as severe.. I also read that there is a test and nothing was ever done and I'm very concerned that my son might possibly have spread something unknowingly to people in the community.. I'm taking him to the doctor next week and going to talk to the doctor about all of this.. If you remember right, we switched doctors after my son was told he was a liar and was making this up to get attention.. GRRRRRR.. What do you think?? Nobody in my house has gotten sick and it's supposed to be highly contagious.. But he was also covered in prayer and so was our family.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68b8JA5M9a4 THIS is what MY son was doing.. IT IS TERRIFYING!!
So Nick was doing the "whoop" too, like this boy? This boy's "whoop" doesn't sound like the one they put on those public service announcements on tv that are to encourage you to get your kids vaxed. Well, this is what puzzles me: he is recovering without treatment, and no one else in your house got sick. Maybe it was, and maybe it wasn't, the actual whooping cough he had. If you're decided on getting everybody caught up on shots, I'd still encourage you to have them spread them out over a period of time and not give several shots with even more meds all at once.
Nicks "whoop"was a bit more severe, actually a LOT more severe, but this is how it was for us.. There were times when he was gasping for air with his hands on the toilet throwing up and his legs were walking up the wall.. Complete misery and I wouldn't wish this on anyone.. HORRIBLE!! Still has the cough. For my piece of mind, I have to get him checked. Thanks for advice on giving only one shot at a time.. We will definately do that.. After digging a bit more, I found out that Nick is completely immunized against whooping cough already.. He had his last vaccine with the tetnus booster he recieved when he cut his hand and needed stitches.. According to what I read, the tetnus booster shots now have the vaccine for whooping cough as a part of them.. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.. I would think that someone else in the house would have come up with the symptoms being that it's so contagious, but who knows.. Just for my piece of mind..
I'm hearing you, mommi! Peace of mind is a lot. But if he was already "immunized" fully, how did he get it? If it didn't protect him, how's it going to protect the rest of the family?
it's possible for sure that no one else in your family got it if you all are healthy and such, My step father once got TB also extremely contagious and our house was even under quarantine and my mom nor I had vax for it, but neither of us got it either, and we lived in the same house..
I finally found this article on immunizations that I was trying to find for you for your other thread: http://theconversation.com/six-myths-about-vaccination-and-why-theyre-wrong-13556 Part of what the article addresses is that immunizations don't work 100% against getting the disease, but they do minimize the effects of the disease. So, it's possible your son did get whooping cough despite being immunized but that it reduced some of the effects of the disease.
Lindina, For the reason Shelly was talking about.. It may not fully protect them from getting it, but it could help it to not be as severe.. The one that "possibly" has it has always been a sick kid.. A common cold for the rest of us turns into pneumonia and FAST for him.. There are some shots that I still won't get like the one for chicken pox or the human paploma virus for various reasons, but I really feel like with the recent outbreaks here, we need to take some precautions.. The kids are older now and I feel a "little" better about getting the shots..
I agree that they should be old enough now to not have the possible side effects that very young children MAY (or may not) get. I also agree with the choices you named that you're going to leave out. But you're not doing it for me, you're doing it for your family! So whether I agree or not is irrelevant. My best to you and your family, mommi!
Mommi, My dd had whopping cough when she was in 4th grade. We do immunize! It is my understanding that the immunization looses is effectiveness after time. Anyway, IT WAS TERRIFYING! Her cough was mostly at night. She would wake up, cough that horrible cough, throw up and then go back to sleep. She did cough some during the day, but it seemed to be worse at night. The first time it happened, I thought she was going to suffocate before my eyes. My dh is a primary care physician and I had to convince him she had whooping cough. The pediatrician agreed and it was reported to the health department. I don't remember giving her antibiotics (I guess we did) and it lasted 3 or 4 months, however the worst cough was a month or 2. No one else in the family got it. I believe it is contagious early. Is was the scariest illness we have dealt with! I am sorry your MD did not recognize it and hope you find a new one who will listen to your concerns in the future. Even though she was immunized and still got it, I have no regrets regarding immunization. Prayers for you and your family as you make your decision.
It's the right decision! As you rightly pointed out, it's not just whether your own child gets sick: It's also the impact of spreading a disease to others in the community. Not many immunizations are 100 percent effective, but they do reduce both risk and severity. Incidentally, even though we're always told that you can't get chickenpox twice, I did. For every general rule, there's an exception. Very few things in life are absolutes; we live in a world of probabilities.
oh, that does sound like whooping cough. It's a scary disease, but my friends baby (newborn) died of it, so I'm probably biased. It's not as bad for older kids or adults as it is for newborns and people with a weak immune system. that's why we immunise against it, cause no mum needs to see her 2 month old go blue in the face and stop breathing. The less people who can get it, the less chance these vulnerable beings are exposed to it and get sick from it. Don't worry now, though, it's only contagious at the start. You can't treat it either. They give you antibiotics at the start as it reduces the chance it's spread. Not to treat it, cause you can't do much against whooping cough. Takes about 3-4 months for the cough to go away. Incidentally, if you spread out your vaccines and only give singles, you also increase the amount of unwanted stuff you inject. More preservatives and stuff. There are very few viruses in a vaccine, compared to the normal air anyway.
My son had whooping cough about 2 years ago. Out of the 6 of us, he was the only one who was fully immunized against it, and the only one who got it. Go figure. But his girlfriend got it and so he did too. Anyway, we got a call from the Center for Disease Control. They track the disease and everyone he had been in contact with. So even if your son has recovered, I think you should still report it to your doctor. Now, what my son had was horrible, but compared to what I've heard, I think he had it mild. And I think that was because he was immunized.
Let em offer my advice. Make a decision, with the best info you can, and realize there is no perfect answer here. There are options, but this is not a black and white issue. No need for mommy guilt. Honestly, his having whooping cough (if he did) offers better immunity to it than the vaccine. That being said, I was fully vaccinated as a child and have had whooping cough twice. Once even developed pneumonia from it. I've also had chicken pox twice. There are no guarantees when we talk about diseases. There are probabilities and statistics, but, as Steve said, very, very few absolutes. I understand the wrestling with your decisions, but it simply isn't a black and white issue, and I think knowing that helps...
Well, he is still coughing.. He called me today from school asking for cough medicine.. It's not constant so sometimes I forget he's still doing it.. This has been going on since the end of June I think.. We have been to the doctor a million times even the ER and nobody has felt the need to test him.. I still haven't taken him to be checked out again, but I think I'm going to request a test for Whooping cough.. Assuming that it would still show up this late.. Today when he called, he told me he couldn't stop coughing and couldn't catch his breath ended up light headed from the episode. This kids immune system is NOT good.. He is always sick and has numerous things going on with him at the moment that doctors can't figure out.. Now this.. After being to just about every doctor imaginable and not having a diagnosis it's really annoying and makes me wonder what the point is of even taking him to a doctor.. We have switched to a pediatrition since the last run in with the doctor. ((sigh)) I'm just ready to figure out what's going on with him..
