Texas-Rose - you're absolutely right about not all treatments working for everyone in our same shoes. That's what sucks so bad about autism, it's not a one size fits all kind of thing! I do think they're getting better at seeing the signs in milder cases, and I also think that some people are quick to diagnose ADHD or autism, when it might just be a maturity or an actual parenting issue. Those exist, too! And, if you think about how many more vaccines we're giving the kids compared to however many years ago, I don't really think there's any way we can deny that some of the things we're doing (within the environment, with vaccines, etc.) are why we're seeing the increase.
We fought an autism diagnosis for a looooong time because we just kept thinking it was something we were doing, or it was because he's an only child, and so on. But, deep down, I knew that something was definitely different about our little guy. My mom's opinion weighs a lot with me and she kept telling me he was fine - part of why we denied it for so long. She changed her tune when she took Jonah and my nephews to the Science Center and to Chucky Cheese and he had a complete meltdown because he was overstimulated and he couldn't handle it and had no other way to get his feelings out. I'm talking screaming, crying, going ballistic for at least an hour!!!! She changed her tune in a hurry! And, she was also NOT a believer in supplements, etc. (doesn't believe in drugging kids, either) but she is now. THAT is huge as far as I'm concerned! If these results can sway MY mother.....that is really saying something!
I've worked with Autistic children for years and personally I do think it is a blanket diagnosis. But there is a broad spectum of what is considered autistic. I feel ADHD is overly diagnosed as well. I believe our numbers of Autism has shot cause of 2 reasons, just about any delay is now considered Autisim adn enviromental factors that are now catching up to us. Look at what's in the food we eat and have bean eating for years as well as the environments we live in. All these crazy combinations were bound to have an effect on us. And no, I do not believe meds should be the first choice in treating Autism, though for some kids, it is neccessary. For Autistic children it's about helping them to connect the dots.I hope that makes snese.
And, it's not just autism that's on the rise. What about the fact that breast cancer is occurring in younger and younger women - even the 10 year old girl that is currently fighting breast cancer. AND 9 year old girls starting their periods!!!!!! There are a lot of crazy things that are happening - it has to be linked to environmental factors and the things that we're putting into our bodies now that we never did before.
I've worked with Autistic children for years and personally I do think it is a blanket diagnosis. But there is a broad spectum of what is considered autistic. I feel ADHD is overly diagnosed as well. I believe our numbers of Autism has shot cause of 2 reasons, just about any delay is now considered Autisim adn enviromental factors that are now catching up to us. Look at what's in the food we eat and have bean eating for years as well as the environments we live in. All these crazy combinations were bound to have an effect on us. And no, I do not believe meds should be the first choice in treating Autism, though for some kids, it is neccessary. For Autistic children it's about helping them to connect the dots.I hope that makes snese.
Yesssss...I have a master's in psychology and used to work with disturbed kids. When I got my degree it was about 20 years ago, and at that point only the really severe cases of autism were labelled autism. Now the umbrella includes a lot of the mild cases of things that would have just been called "quirky" behaviors. It's not necessarily overdiagnosis, it's just that the definition has widened so much it includes a lot more. Most of that is because of lobbying for services and people needed a diagnosis before their kids can get help in schools. Same for ADHD.
Meds can help some kids, others get better results from other therapies. Mental health drugs are often trial and error, not just in kids but in adults, too.
And whenever I see a ChemLawn truck coming I hustle my kids inside the house, I don't think that the proliferation of pesticides etc has done any good for anyone, and probably has more to do with developmental problems than people realize.
I'll still be getting the H1N1 shots, though, since I think it's better to immunize your kids than not to. My MIL is 88 and was a nurse during the polio epidemics, and she harasses me to get everyone their shots because she's seen what it was like to be in an iron lung and have kids die. My kids tend to get respiratory infetions when they get sick, and since the H1N1 goes in that direction I want to prevent anything if I can. Especially since a little 6-yr-old just died from it in my area, and she had no other health problems. It can be mild or severe, I just don't want to take any chances.
Whatever you decide, tell your kids to wash their hands a lot!
I just want to clarify what I said before - I'm not AGAINST vaccinations in general. I just think it's important to slow them down when they're little because they're getting too many at once. And I think it's important that people discuss the fact that there are ingredients in the vaccines that are just as bad or worse in some instances than the illness itself. If a vaccine comes up that I feel is necessary, doesn't feel like there will be a black label put on it 10 yrs down the road, etc. I'll be happy to do it....know what I mean?
And thats the frustrating thing about those meds, they are SO trial and error. It's all about finding the right combination and/or dosage that works. Very difficult. But when you do, they can work miracles. But that has always beens my last choice...unless a child was extremely aggressive. then you kind of have to give them something, just so they are capable of learnig.
I spoke to my mum this morning. She and my dad had their flu shots on Monday and my dad is now really sick with flu - I don't believe this is a coincidence! Mum's feeling ok - just a bit under-the-weather, but my dad actually passed out yesterday because he's feeling so bad.
It seems that getting the shot isn't any kind of guarantee.
Edited to add:
I agree about how alarming it is how many vaccines are pumped into babies and small children. I totally think there is a connection between my son's learning disabilities and the MMR shot. For my younger son, we paid extra for separate shots given a month apart, because I couldn't in good concience subject my next child to something I felt had harmed his brother.
Many of the 'reports' that are done to prove the safety of drugs are sponsored by the drug companies. I simply don't trust them.
While consulting web sites like factcheck.org it is important to know who funds them and pulls their weight.
So, educate us...who funds them and who pulls their weight? I know the answer, but don't leave everyone hanging with the implication that it is a big secret.
The information about thimerosal is not true. The scientific jury is not in agreement. Some say the 49% mercury it contains causes a trigger effect in some children predisposed with genetic markers to these syndromes. Some say the build up of heavy metal in the brain from repeated vaccination causes the reactions. Some blatantly dismiss it and say it isn't possible. The possible side effects list is reason enough not to take it for me. They have to legally list all that on there-for good reason. No amount of down playing can make it go away.
I don't know what you mean by "the 49% mercury it contains." If anything was 49% mercury, it would be rather opaque and silvery in color, not to mention too thick to inject with a standard syringe. (I'm old enough to have played with "pure" mercury.)
Did you know that there is a thimerosol-free version of the flu vaccine?
Edited because this isn't a political forum, and I really don't need to bore y'all with a point-by-point response.
Jonahsmom, I've noticed the increase in autism, but I wondered if maybe they're getting better at diagnosing it and catching the milder cases now instead of just the very severe ones. There seem to be more kids diagnosed with ADHD now than there used to be too...I remember when I was in school, there were "bad" kids, now they're kids with ADHD and the schools actually have to work with them instead of just sending them to the office or to sit in the hallway all the time.
I think that there are a couple of things going on.
One is that the diagnostic criteria have changed significantly.
Another is that the home and school life/expectations for children are a lot different today than in the past. When dh and I were young, preschool and kindy were a time for social skills development and play. Now, they are a time for the kinds of things which were taught later. More kids have trouble fitting into this kind of structure.
Yet another is that there is likely a huge "lumping" together of kids with different underlying causes/conditions, all being called autism. It is possible that different conditions could have similar external appearance. If some physical condition, rather than a neurological difference, is causing the symptoms, addressing that physical condition might amazingly "cure" the child of what appeared to be autism. Complicating this is that a child may be both autistic and have another condition, which when treated gives the child more resources with which to cope and manage the difficulties from the autism.
I'm not sure why you feel the need to be like that. I am not making this political but that doesn't diminish that most sites like that one are driven by something that is political with a purpose. And it is no secret that factcheck.org is primarily funded by the Annenberg Foundation. I wasn't implying a secret but stating the obvious that most organizations are funded and somewhat controlled by their backers.
Bottom line you can't believe everything you read.
Thimerosal (INN) (C9H9HgNaO2S), or sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, commonly known in the United States as thimerosal, is an organomercury compound (approximately 49% mercury by weight) used as an antiseptic and antifungal agent.
It was invented and patented by Morris Kharasch. The pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly and Company gave it the trade name Merthiolate and it has been used as a preservative in vaccines, immunoglobulin preparations, skin test antigens, antivenins, ophthalmic and nasal products, and tattoo inks. The compound is being phased out from routine childhood vaccines in the United States, the European Union, and a few other countries.
And sure there are thimerosal free versions.
My point in addressing the thimerosal at all was to discredit the info on the factcheck.org site.
Surely you must see that your own playful observations with mercury do not credit you with enough knowledge to say that there is no mercury in thimerosal or in the vaccines containing thimerosal.
While consulting web sites like factcheck.org it is important to know who funds them and pulls their weight.
So, educate us...who funds them and who pulls their weight? I know the answer, but don't leave everyone hanging with the implication that it is a big secret.
From factcheck.org: "The APPC accepts NO funding from business corporations, labor unions, political parties, lobbying organizations or individuals. It is funded primarily by the Annenberg Foundation." The Annenberg Foundation was founded by a former ambassador and his wife who was the Chief of Protocol for the US. The foundation does a lot for education.
So I don't think they're being paid to tell us it's all okay.
But it's possible that some vaccines aren't safe and that the medical community thinks they are. Factcheck.org isn't going to run tests on people to see for themselves, they'll just go by what's been published in medical journals or said by experts, that is, doctors. And the doctors are the ones who the drug corporations really go out of their way to seduce.
There is a bit of recent scandal and a history of trying to monopolize journalism in this organization. Just saying don't go believing everything you read. There are dozens of power hungry organizations in control of news, media, what we read, watch and learn. There are also organizations and families who have remained at the top of the monetary-totem-pole through control of all of these things.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/29/Swine-Flu.aspx
Please note discussion on the previous pandemic scare. 
No......this isn't the first one.
I worked in a Pharmacy for six years and was offered the flu shot every year. My boss was always disappointed when I rejected his generous offer, but soon came to realise it was he who came down with the flu every year, not me. Needless to say he quickly stopped having his injection every year.
I had my first flu ever last year and let me tell you that sunshine is a great help. I layed out in the yard for at least half an hour every day and it was gone within the week. (Who cares what the neighbours think 
)
My MIL is a great believer in vaccines, so much so that she had my s-daughter have ALL her vaccines TWICE. Don't make me count how many special education meetings I've been to at the school. She also quickly forgets how many times her son has had whooping cough even though he was vaccinated.
If some physical condition, rather than a neurological difference, is causing the symptoms, addressing that physical condition might amazingly "cure" the child of what appeared to be autism.
There is another possiblity about "curing" or at least improving based on diet or other alternative methods and it's what my nephew's specialist told my sister. That if the parent wants to believe something bad enough they will see the child get better with a change of diet when it isn't really helping and the child hasn't really gotten better.
I'm not sure why you feel the need to be like that. I am not making this political but that doesn't diminish that most sites like that one are driven by something that is political with a purpose. And it is no secret that factcheck.org is primarily funded by the Annenberg Foundation. I wasn't implying a secret but stating the obvious that most organizations are funded and somewhat controlled by their backers.
Bottom line you can't believe everything you read.
I'm not sure what being like "that" is. In case you're curious, I did lots and lots and lots of research, going to primary sources when possible, when the whole autism/vaccine issue first came out, and have continued to research as new information comes out.
I do want to apologize that I did misunderstand what you were saying about 49%. I thought you were indicating that vaccines were 49% mercury, which I have actually heard people claiming. You weren't. It was my misreading.
Snip of information directly taken from the "thiomersal" (sic) Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal
My point in addressing the thimerosal at all was to discredit the info on the factcheck.org site.
I didn't see where you discredited anything. You said that the scientific jury wasn't in agreement, and seemed to be saying that the fact that some say it is dangerous is enough to conclude that it is. If you weren't saying that, then I misunderstood.
Surely you must see that your own playful observations with mercury do not credit you with enough knowledge to say that there is no mercury in thimerosal or in the vaccines containing thimerosal.
And surely you see that just because 'some people' say something is dangerous doesn't necessarily mean that they are right. I think that there is still plenty of need for well-controlled, well-monitored studies.
By the way, could you please say what the Gulf War Veterans would have disagreed with about the Fact Check page? I asked a coworker who is one whether it bothered him in any way, and he was puzzled as to why I asked.
mbelgard
There is another possiblity about "curing" or at least improving based on diet or other alternative methods and it's what my nephew's specialist told my sister. That if the parent wants to believe something bad enough they will see the child get better with a change of diet when it isn't really helping and the child hasn't really gotten better.
While this may be true for some, it is not the case for everyone. It irks me to no end when people discredit dietary, vitamin, and other therapeutic interventions that ACTUALLY WORK!!!! My father, who doesn't really ever have much to say about anything, has actually made comments about his improved behavior, his improved eye contact, his improved socialization (actually PLAYING with my nephews instead of doing his own thing in the same room). And, did you see my statement about the change in his skill levels at school? That didn't just happen on its own.
I think listening to your doctor (and their associated pharmaceutical reps who are pushing the drug de jour) and taking everything that he/she says as golden is crazy. (collective your...not you personally!)
We saw a specialist at the U of I hospitals who completely blew us off about everything that we were telling them about how we wanted to treat Jonah. They kept saying the GFCF diet wasn't "scientifically" proven to work, that vitamins and supplements aren't necessary and won't help....gave us a pamphlet that said autism isn't treatable, only the symptoms (which told us they were more worried about making the people around Jonah more comfortable than really worrying how comfortable Jonah was). Well, I said it before and I'll say it again. And this is for us only, I'm not saying it will work for every child on the autism spectrum (I think anyone with an ASD child knows that!) - the interventions that we have put in place ARE WORKING!!!!! Keep in mind that we're using quality stuff - not what you're going to be buying off the shelf at Walmart that may or may not contain the ingredients as stated on the label! That could be a big difference, too, in whether or not some of these interventions actually work. You get what you pay for...
Are we where we want to be yet? No, not yet! But I see a much brighter future for him than I did before. And I will gladly tell every naysayer that they are dead wrong.
jonahsmom, I am glad you have found a combination of things that work for your son.
For my son, the single thing that had the most effect was Sensory Integration Therapy, which definitely doesn't work for everyone. Your son's feelings of discomfort were likely made worse by reactions to food. My son's were due to problems with processing sensory stimuli. He's always been a really healthy eater (OK, not so much now as a teenager, but...), and we have never seen any effects from food, other than sensitivity to greasy foods as a young 'un.
My son does take non-stimulant ADHD meds, but that was his choice, and he didn't start them until he was 16. We have never had anyone suggest/push/recommend any kind of meds for behavior, but if they did, I would ask what it is supposed to do, what the side effects are, and whether there are any non-drug alternatives. Note: herbals and supplements meet this same scrutiny. When my doc recommended Omega 3 for me, I researched for several weeks before giving it a try. (Who would have thought it would help severe dry eye and word finding problems subsequent to a brain injury?)
Jonahsmom-I think it is great that you have found what works for your son.
I feel the same way about meds that I do about vaccines-that there are some that are 100% necessary and life saving. Some medications are completely integral to an individuals quality of life, or even the ability to live period. However there are other instances where holistic methods will work just as well. I've heard often that combinations of supplements can work the same as a chemical compound in a medication, but they take longer to take effect.
I hope your son continues to do well!
Two and three years ago I got my kids the flu vaccine. They got the flu.
Last year - no vaccine. No flu.
Two and three years ago I got my kids the flu vaccine. They got the flu.
Last year - no vaccine. No flu.
Two years ago my kids didn't get the vaccine and did get the flu, and last year they did get the vaccine and didn't get it. One isn't necessarily the cause of the other.
The explanation that was posted earlier about which strains have to be chosen for the vaccine was a good one. The CDC has to try to judge which flu strain is going to be more prevalent, and use that as the basis for the vaccine, If your kids got a different strain, they'd get the flu even if they did get the vaccine.
There isn't necessarily a cause and effect relationship in everything, sometimes you just get sick.
My daughter had the H1N1 virus in late September at college. She was too sick for me to pick her up and drive 4 hours to bring her home. The college put her in isolation and she stayed there for 6 days. Her roommate brought food to her since she had already been exposed. Ironically, My husband and I were visiting her the day before she came down with the flu and were put on Tamiflu for 10 days since we were exposed. The school nurse told me that because this is a new virus that the Center for Disease Control is not sure if a person could contract it again in the same season. My daughter is 19 so she will have to make her own decision as to whether to get the vacinne or not. The nurse told me that she should not get the live virus (nasal spray) nor should anyone who wants to have the regular flu shot at the same time. It is okay to have both flu SHOTS at the same time but not one shot and one live virus. You should wait two weeks in between the two if you want to go that route. Being on Tamiflu did not make me immune to getting the virus myself so I am still up in the air about getting the H1N1 shot when it becomes available. Whew, a lot of info. It makes you wonder what percentage of the population is aware of these guidelines. I must say, my daughter was very sick, moreso than any other type of flu. I even offered to drive down and we would stay in a hotel but she didn't even want to do that and just wanted to sleep.
Two and three years ago I got my kids the flu vaccine. They got the flu.
Last year - no vaccine. No flu.
That's not due to the vaccine because the vaccine uses a killed virus, which means it's impossible to contract the flu from it. That was just bad luck being exposed to a different strain than you were immunized for.
I actually have a flu question, if anyone can help.
A couple of weeks ago, both of my kids got hit out of no where with a horrible headache and then a high fever. Slept alot, etc. I started to take them to the doctor, but they were better after 48 hours. I assumed this wasn't the swine flu because it was so mild.
Then a couple of days ago, I heard someone describing the same symptoms in their child, for the same amount of time. They took their child in, and it was H1N1. They were only sick for about 2 days with headache and fever. What do you guys think?
OfficerMorgan,
That is exactly what my kids had. My 4 year old had a fever of 103 and she said her legs hurt too much to walk. I figured it was the flu because of the body aches, so I took her to the doctor. He looked at her eyes and asked about her temp and said she had the flu but he wouldn't prescribe meds because he said they weren't necessary, and he wouldn't do a flu test because he said they're only accurate 50% of the time. Three days later she was totally better.
My older daughter got it the next week and she was sick for 5 days, much worse than the little one, fever, vomiting, bad cough. I took her to the doctor and he said she had the flu too but prescribed antibiotics to give her only if she started running another fever. He looked at me while I was there and said I had the flu too. I only had the headache and fever two days but I've had a chest cold for a week since then.
When my kids have had the flu before it wasn't the same as when my husband and I had it. It totally wiped us out, but for them it was just like a really bad cold with a fever, but they were up and about. Their doctor said that sometimes flu acts different in kids than in adults.
One little girl on my daughter's bus was positive for H1N1 but was still up walking around telling everyone that she had it!
Two and three years ago I got my kids the flu vaccine. They got the flu.
Last year - no vaccine. No flu.
That's not due to the vaccine because the vaccine uses a killed virus, which means it's impossible to contract the flu from it. That was just bad luck being exposed to a different strain than you were immunized for.
They got the flu a couple of months after they got the shot.
Two and three years ago I got my kids the flu vaccine. They got the flu.
Last year - no vaccine. No flu.
As previously stated, ea. yr the flu vaccine is made according to which is predicted to be more prevalent. There are many stains of flu just like the common cold. The flu vaccine doesn't give you the flu. It does take approximately 2 wks for the vaccine to be affective. So, you may still contract the flu if you've been exposed before the vaccine was given or before about 2 wks post injection. You could also been exposed to a different stain of flu.
Personally, I took both the seasonal & H1N1 shot this year. I did so mainly b/c I work in healthcare. It is a personal decision. You should research all the FACTS before you make a choice.
Two and three years ago I got my kids the flu vaccine. They got the flu.
Last year - no vaccine. No flu.
That's not due to the vaccine because the vaccine uses a killed virus, which means it's impossible to contract the flu from it. That was just bad luck being exposed to a different strain than you were immunized for.
They got the flu a couple of months after they got the shot.
Just meant that means you were exposed to a different strain of flu than the vaccine was for.
TexasRoase-your kids sound WAY sicked than mine were. That sounds terrible! My kids were just kind of lethargic, but didn't have the muscle aches. I wonder if they just had a bad cold.
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