So, we have been sick. Despite all my best efforts we have passed it around. to everyone. Just as all the children are recovering, and I am prepared to breathe a huge sigh of relief, it hits me. Hard. Like a pedestrian impacting a Mack truck.Of course, because life likes to have a giggle at my expense, all the children had eaten their Wheaties and were chock full of energy at the exact time I decided to go bed-bound. fun times. It was so bad, I went completely hermit and made Brian stay home from work. I can't even remember the last time I was that sick.
Being a big believer in more natural forms of medicine I drank cups of echinacea tea and swilled elderberry syrup like it was going out of style. But honestly the ibuprofen was my very best friend.
All of this has me thinking, with H1N1 hitting the nation so hard, how do I feel about the vaccine? If you had asked me a few weeks ago, I would have said we were going to pass on the vaccine. But. We had a long chat with Chloe's Asthma doctor about it, he is very much in favor of the vaccine for anyone with asthma. His logic makes sense, this virus seems to hit the respiratory system the hardest in people with no problems. Having just gone through the great Asthma attacks of 2009 that were triggered by just a cold, I can't imagine what that would look like and frankly it scares me. But I hate to make any decisions based on fear.
On the other hand, I don't like what they put in vaccines, the preservatives, wierd ingredients, mercury. I don't like some of the associations to diseases like autism. I read up alot on the vaccine for HPV and wow, it seemed like everyone was talking about how safe it was, but it had real consequences for way too many girls for me to feel safe. I know this vaccine is being manufactured in a very tried and true way for the flu, but I don't know what to think. Like I said, I don't want to make a decision based on fear.
So unsolicited (or in this case solicited) advice is officially welcome here. What are your plans?
4 comments:
I myself pass on the flu vaccines because, frankly, I don't get sick. As far as the H1N1 vaccine goes and all the bad things you hear I think you have to way the pros and cons. I heard an interview with a doctor here in St. Louis talking about it. He was specifically asked about the Mercury in it and his response was you would get as much mercury if not more from eating a tuna fish sandwich. I think the media hypes this kind of thing to sell ratings. Just a quick search for pros and cons yielded this article: http://public-healthcare-issues.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_new_swine_flu_vaccine. I think the most important thing is knowing your risks and weighing the consequences.
I think you know our stance on this topic. ;) I'm glad everyone is on the upswing... I hope that lil' piggy stays away from your house too!
I understand that getting the vaccine will help certain people. But each & every time I've made my kids get it, they've gotten the flu anyway. Since there are so many different types of flu I feel like it's a hit or miss. Do I like my kids getting sick? No. My feeling is that they will get it anyway because that's the typs of kids they are. I am anti-vaccine for obvious reasons & think the flu is scary. However, I would rather deal w/ the flu than a vaccine injury. It's different for everyone. Greg had his shot & while he hasn't gotten the flu itself there are several viral ilness's that are going around that are very similar. Just my opinion..
I've had the vaccines and I've not had them. Couldn't tell a difference either way. I hear that from lots of folks. So I'm not a fan of the vaccines anymore. Not because I think they are "bad" for us but rather I think they are over-hyped a bit.
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