Vaccination & epidemic

[Clodfobble]

Since May of 2009? Ah, yes, I have had time to do more research since then, as has been extensively chronicled here in this thread. Part of that research has changed my opinion of the original MMR study, not based on the UK Medical Board or the British Medical Journal, but based on the opinions of the actual parents involved, which I read way back at the time the interviews were done.

To the best of my understanding, Wakefield fudged the data of his limited participant set for what he thought was a greater good, representing the literally thousands of other children with very similar experiences. Creating composite patients is not new or exclusive to Wakefield, but it is obviously wrong, and ultimately did more harm than good. But I absolutely stand behind him as a gastroenterologist who first widely publicized the connection between gastrointestinal disease and autism, and as an advocate who has stood by his initial association between vaccines and the symptoms of autism despite massive personal and professional loss. Were it not for Wakefield, the very clinic that I take my children to would not be open, and they and the 1000+ other patients they have seen would not be recovering and/or fully recovered. The original study did not just father the vaccine investigation, as Dana noted, it also fathered the investigation of what have turned out to be extremely effective treatment avenues. Wakefield is a flawed individual, as most of us are, and he took shortcuts that he never should have taken. He should have taken the time to make his initial study airtight, but he thought it was just the first of a long line of data to be collected and examined, he never realized the backlash to his tiny little study would be even a fraction of what it turned out to be, until it was too late.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Will you, as an NP, be able to suggest or order such testing?

I hope so, and I hope you end up working in a practice that respects your insights and experience in this area.

I'm unclear on the technicalities of this. I know an NP can prescribe a blood draw for basic lab testing. However, all our specialty lab testing kits--the ones that have to be sent out-of-state to a proprietary lab rather than done at some walk-in place locally--have our supervising doctor's name on them. That may be an "across state lines" thing, a "more likely to get reimbursed by insurance" thing, or simply a "we get stacks of test kits pre-printed in advance, so they all get one name on them" thing.

The intention is most certainly that I will be working in a biomedical autism clinic in town. Currently there are two, but by the time I finish in several years, I expect those two will have expanded significantly (both have added new MDs in the last few months) and there may even be new independent clinics operating by then. For that specific test you're referring to, though, it's only really helpful pre-diagnosis, at least until more antiretroviral treatments have been researched. So it's unlikely anyone would come to me for it.

[TheMercenary]

I think this may provide evidence that a cause was given to an effect under other than honorable conditions. It therefore gave a convenient source of blame to be weighed against an obvious, albeit potentially false cause. And given the sudden increase in the recognition of cases of autism other causes need to be scientifically explored. Money needs to be funneled in to better and broader research. The number of children being identified as having some form of autism has significantly increased and we need to take a hard look at the issue. But we cannot and should not expend expediency for connivence of a cause. Science should provide us with adequate clues to direct further research.

[tw]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

And given the sudden increase in the recognition of cases of autism other causes need to be scientifically explored. Money needs to be funneled in to better and broader research.

You are repeating what science has been saying for generations. There are easily 100,000 chemicals we all routinely contact that are virtually unstudied. Some chemicals - ie teflon - were known to have serious health affects in 1970. Laws said those facts could be and still can be withheld. Only 'activist judges' and wikileak type actions have exposed some.

Danger is not limited to household and workplace chemicals. We know a minimum size Vitamin C tablet sold in miracle health stores is just under what causes genetic damage. Where was anyone discussing these known hard facts when hyping what was obviously junk science on vaccinations.

A previous study once "proved" childhood leukemia from electric lines. Where do we start casting blame? At those who ignored the study to blame high power transmission lines? Hearsay even identified the wrong wires. That bogus study was blaming a wire under the floor to air conditioners or stoves. Not only was it also an intentionally deceptive study. It was made scandalous again because so many people out here never got past a sound byte. Believed only what their emotions told them to know.

We know we have a serious chemical problem in all homes. We just do not know how serious, where the problems lie, and have citizens who cannot think using concepts taught in junior high school science. If we did, then Saddam did not have WMDs. And we would have been going after bin Laden back in 2002.

Numbers now suggest that maybe one in 120 kids have autism. That number increases to about one in 70 when kids live in agricultural regions where pesticides are used extensively. Is that enough to know anything? Does that blame pesticides? Not for one minute. Of course not. That is only enough to prove research must be done. Amazing how many Jenny McCarthy's only need know that much to be experts.

Ironically, many chemical dangers are known to the manufacturers. That information need not be released for the same reason why cigarette manufacturers were test marketing products to addict five year olds to cigarettes. In a government where mosques in Manhattan are major disasters, impossible is to do what is necessary to also identify the reason for autism. This problem made worse because so many even here could not see through an obvious infant vaccination myth.

One must start at the source of all these problems. Too many citizens are so easily scammed – have so little ability to think for themselves – as to even waste money on power strip surge protectors. Even the manufacturer does not claim protection. So many buy one in violation of principles even taught in junior high science. Its all about learning how to think. And about ignoring attitudes bases only in emotion.

How many are so dumb at to buy Dannon Yogurt for its digestive assistance and digitlaus rectalitem? Yes it is called that because you stick your finger up your ass to be "informed". That is where this problem starts. That is where an autism solution must begin. Because of where this problem lies, many here will call this post confusing - so they can ignore problem #1.

One did not have to read much to know those autism claims were bogus. Other than one study - now so discredited - no other hard facts existed. Only feelings and emotions existed. Traceable to problem #1.

[glatt]

You forgot Listerine. But I guess you replaced it with Dannon.

[tw]

Originally Posted by glatt

You forgot Listerine. But I guess you replaced it with Dannon.

Scams that exist only because of problem #1. Put four wheel drive safety on that list.

[DanaC]

*looks slightly startled* Merc...I think...I think I may agree with you :P

[Undertoad]

That number increases to about one in 70 when kids live in agricultural regions where pesticides are used extensively.

citation needed

[Shawnee123]

[TheMercenary]

good one.

[Shawnee123]

[Undertoad]

[glatt]

I'm not sure what the point of me posting this is, other than it's another data point.

I just heard that one of my son's old pre-school friends has come down with a serious health problem. We haven't seen this kid since the summer, because now that they are both in 3rd grade, they go to different schools.

In December, this 9 year old boy had a minor cold with no fever, and went to the pediatricians office for a reason that's unknown to me. Maybe for the cold, maybe a wellness visit. While at the pediatricians, he was given the nasal flu vaccine. The nurses administering the vaccine knew he had a cold, but since he had no fever, they said that giving him the FluMist vaccine was fine. Beginning the next morning, and over the following 24 hours, his personality had completely changed. He couldn't find a pair of pants that he would wear, because they all felt funny on him. He said they were too loose, and that his skin was too loose to. He was crying in the corner and was almost inconsolable. His parent's finally found one pair of pants in the dirty hamper that he was willing to wear. He came home from school, that first day, and immediately stripped naked and hid in his room. Saying that he felt really weird and wanted to die it was so bad. The parents kept calling their pediatricians, and it sounds like they weren't very helpful. They finally were willing to make an appointment with the boy, but also suggested that the parents make a psych appointment too.

At the pediatricians office, about a week or so later, they had no idea what was wrong, and suggested the parents take him to a mental hospital and check him in there. Meanwhile, the parents had done some research and learned that there is a really rare condition where people who have a strep infection and get this vaccine can get really fucked up. So they asked for a strep test. The test came back positive, even though the kid had never had a fever. They were somehow able to determine that he had the strep infection back when he got the vaccine.

So they put him on an aggressive course of antibiotics, and things are improving slightly. He has stopped saying that he wants to die. But he still has all sorts of compulsive behavior, and he still strips off his clothes as soon as he gets home from school because they drive him nuts against his skin. He hides naked in his room.

The parents have been looking for a doctor who knows about this "PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep)" and is able to diagnose their son. The pediatricians they have been dealing with are clueless, and don't feel qualified to make any diagnosis. They found a doctor and have an appointment, but haven't been yet.

So there's no official diagnosis yet, but they know the boy's personality changed dramatically within a day or two of getting the FluMist vaccine while he was infected with strep. This used to be a normal kid. Even though they are just acquaintances now, these guys used to be good friends of ours, and this sucks for them.

[Clodfobble]

I'm so sorry, glatt. If they are unsatisfied with their new doctor, let me know. I know of several doctors who diagnose and treat PANDAS. Also, it would be good to mention to your friend that at this point it would save a lot of time and energy if the boy could get his tonsils taken out ASAP.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I'm so sorry, glatt. If they are unsatisfied with their new doctor, let me know. I know of several doctors who diagnose and treat PANDAS. Also, it would be good to mention to your friend that at this point it would save a lot of time and energy if the boy could get his tonsils taken out ASAP.

Refresh my memory, what did the removal of tonsils do for your kid(s)? Did it help a lot?