[mamfa]

I picked up on the words autism and MMR and something about the Dr struck off the register. "Should parents still be worried?"

Funny how we have just finnished talking about it in the Diagnosis to age 6 thread. Maybe they read our thread

Anyway i hope they show it before i have to leave for preschool...

[mamfa]

It wasn't that bad. I expected koshy to say something insane after the interview and the bimbo to agree or just giggle but its was Ok i think. Hope my MIL watched.

[tenar]

I didn't see the show, but don'tcha love the assumption that parents should have been worried in the first place...

[baddmammajamma]

Time to put a fork in this story, huh?

[Guest_jaicorbe_*]

I find the ridicule about vaccinations triggering autism pretty offensive TBH as I believe that is what triggered autism in my children. Not in the sensationalist sense that people like the stupid blonde bimbo in the US, but in a sense that like many other genetically biased conditions, the trigger for one inidivdual may now be the same for another - the trigger for my children was the MMR. Its similar to some cancers. Some can be caused by lifestyle factors, however other individuals also have those lifestyle risk factors and never develop cancer. Im not a biologist but I would assume that is because different genetic make ups cause our systems to react to outside factors in different ways, so it makes sense that what is a trigger for some is not for others.

The current (as far as I am aware) theory about the causes of autism are a genetic predisposition which can either be active from birth (there are many cases of parents and medical professionals being aware of a child later dx'd with autism as being different from birth) or dormant and either never triggered into an active state or triggered at some point in early development due to brain injury, viruses/illnesses or trauma. If viruses/illnesses can trigger autism, why is it such a stretch to imagine that injecting a toddler with three live viruses at the same time might not trigger autism in some particularly sensitive children?

In my boys' cases, DS#1 was given the MMR at 18 months (as that was the allocated age at the time). Prior to this, we had developed completely within the normal range. However, within a few months we realised that his speech never developed past that 18 month mark, he had become obsessive with lining things up, counting, had severe phobias and rejected most attempts at interaction. This isnt unusual on its own. Its a typical age to see a change in development where autism is concerned. I certainly never thought too much of it at first.

However when DS#2 had his MMR the schedule had changed and the MMR was then given at 12 months. A totally different stage of development. DS#2 had half a dozen words. He was happy and interactive. Within days of his MMR, he lost all words. Not only did he lose all words, but all babble, anything but screaming. Nothing but screaming for 6 months before we developed on to grunting. He never spoke again until aged 4. He went from happy and interactive to refusing any form of contact, very distressed all the time and would spend hours staring at nothing.

Two different ages and stages of development.

Even my paed who is head of the local autism research centre has not argued the point (and not in a condescending way either). I dont believe that vaccines are horrible scary things that people should avoid. I just believe that my children for some reason reacted to it in a way that triggered autism. I hate that OTT sensationalist morons screaming into crowds about evil govts and pharmaceutical companies are poisoning our kids mean that people like me who are reasonable and have credible experiences are ridiculed because of them.

Off my soapbox now.

[~Karla~]

Just a genuine question Jaicorbe - do you think if your boys hadn't had the MMR, there still would have been a "trigger" for the autism? Like a virus they picked up, or an event that happened in their early childhood? Or do you think without the MMR, they wouldn't have autism?

We got an autism diagnosis for both of our twins yesterday, and for us, it's been obvious that they've been "different" from birth - but we always put it down to all their medical problems. So to me, the idea of an external trigger is interesting as it's not something I've explored before.

[taddie]

Did I hear that Sunrise doctor get on and say that vaccines are 100% safe? I've never heard another doctor state that without reservation. Interesting.

~Karla~ Theres no doubt that some are like that from birth. The late onset cases are the puzzling ones.

This post has been edited by taddie: 25/05/2010, 10:13 AM

[baddmammajamma]

I find the ridicule about vaccinations triggering autism pretty offensive TBH as I believe that is what triggered autism in my children. Not in the sensationalist sense that people like the stupid blonde bimbo in the US, but in a sense that like many other genetically biased conditions, the trigger for one inidivdual may now be the same for another - the trigger for my children was the MMR.

jaicorbe, I'm sorry -- I shouldn't have made such an offhand comment without having seen the segment. Yes, my kneejerk reaction was to equate this story with Jenny McCarthy's rampage, but in doing so, I am not being fair to situations like yours (and I think have real merit). My apologies!

[Guest_jaicorbe_*]

K - I dont know if something else would have triggered them. Its probably likely, but I will never know. Im not bitter. I dont wish I hadnt given them the MMR, I wish they hadnt developed autism as a result.

B - oh its ok. I know no one meant to ridicule me personally. I am probably more angry that people like Jenny Mc mean that genuine situations arent taken seriously. Hell, I wouldnt mind sticking a fork in her...lol.

[Sinister Bonnet]

~Karla~ Theres no doubt that some are like that from birth. The late onset cases are the puzzling ones.

Why do you say that they are puzzling?