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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for your MMR un-scary stories

123 replies

WhatisaNarwhal · 30/04/2018 22:48

DD's MMR has been delayed on the advice of Drs (run of ill health at 1 year made them wonder if immunocompromised in some way - she had 6 months of vicious back to back infections that led to multiple admissions via A&E), but we got the all-clear, 'just bad luck, and a nasty, tenacious case bronchiolitis' and now there's measles in our local community so.... she's 2 and having it tomorrow.

She's only having the MMR - the other 12 month vaccinations (late too) will be given in a couple of months time. We're splitting them out - not for any defined medical reason - but because of her extreme high temps after all previous vaccinations, and the fact that she just reacts strongly to vaccinations, viruses, bacterial infections... she gets so unwell with all of it.

Im not anti-vaxx, and while I know there's no proven link between MMR and autism, but I am very aware that vaccine injuries DO happen. I am an anxious mother, in therapy for over 18 months for PPA/PPD- so please do - for AIBU - be gentle with me - and share your 'debunking the myth' MMR stories. She simply HAS to have this vaccination tomorrow, and I'm v anxious about it.

OP posts:

Witchend · 01/05/2018 14:04

Mine all have had it fine. In fact dd2 had 2 MMRs almost back to back as measles was going round so they did the boosters early as apparently it gives better protection.
Ds had his late because he reacted very badly to the first set of injections at 2 months, and then was ill from then until about a year. He didn't react at all, not even a mild temperature.

Cath2907 · 01/05/2018 14:04

My DD has had the MMR. She was also a sickly child and I was concerned about the temperature from the vaccine. To be honest it did make her feel a bit under the weather for a few hours but she was right as rain after. She is 7 now. As a drug development scientist I looked into the MMR / autism claims and research and it was clear the results were hocum. Kids should be vaccinated the risk benefit ratio is very clearly in favor of the vaccine being higher benefit than risk.

Original poster

WhatisaNarwhal · 01/05/2018 14:12

@Cath2907

That’s nice to hear from a pro! I’ve worked in a field where I had to undertake quite a lot of medically related research (think journalism) and am no stranger to the BMJ - have read lots on this and v reassured on autism.... just worry about the relative dearth of info on vaccine injury more generally!

OP posts:

Mumofkids · 01/05/2018 14:13

My autistic child had a massive reaction to his first injections at 8 weeks. That was scary and unpleasant. He was fine with the mmr.

toomuchtooold · 01/05/2018 14:18

DD2 had pneumonia aged 2. Shortly after, we moved somewhere that gives the MMR booster at age 2 so she was given it at her first GP appointment. Aside from outrage about the surprise injection, she was fine

FatherJemimaRackt00l · 01/05/2018 14:45

I also delayed it for as long as possible due to the MMR autism scare. I still believe it does cause it, and if I had a choice I wouldn't have personally vaccinated

@milkycoffeeandskinnysyrup out of interest why do you still believe it causes autism? Andrew Wakefield’s paper was scientifically disproved, he was found guilty on dozens of charges by the GMC including the abuse of developmentally delayed children, and struck off for fraud, unethical behaviour and misconduct.

Basically he said it to make money.

Absolutely getting vaccinated can cause side-effects (as can taking any medication) but autism is not one of them.

OP I wouldn’t for a second worry about having the MMR, I’ve had it and so have my children and the children of every medical professional I’ve ever met, with no problems whatsoever.

TittyFahLaEtcetera · 01/05/2018 15:07

I suspected autism in my DS when he was about 10 months old - before he'd had the MMR.

I'm ridiculously pro vax as I had rubella aged 4 (just before the MMR came out) and got major complications from it. Weeks in hospital with encephalitis, now I'm left half blind, half deaf and suffering awful migraines. I've now had the MMR about 4 times.

So DS had his MMR and he is high functioning autistic, just as he was before his MMR. He didn't cry for either one and the nurses both times said they'd never known a child to be so good. He did have a high temperature after both, but that was it, and calpol did the trick. Far scarier have been the three times he's had flu (He had swine flu twice at age 2!).

He's 11 now, still autistic, bright, articulate, hilariously funny and incredibly empathic. He thinks people who don't vaccinate because they're scared of autism are ridiculous, and says if people could see how poorly I am at times then they'd never want their children to be that ill. He says even if there was a link he'd rather be autistic and healthy than dead anyway (told you he's bright ).

As a disclaimer: Vaccine injuries do happen, but they are really very rare and there's usually an underlying cause. Spacing them out in light of your DDs health is wise, but unless she's had known drug reactions in the past I'd not worry too much. I've been immunocompromised before and was still able to have most vaccines, even live ones if I was in a good patch. The benefits far outweigh the risks OP. Measles is on the return because of the anti vax movement. Do it, you'll thank yourself later on.

Good luck with it, and for your recovery too x

DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 01/05/2018 15:31

I’m too old to have have MMR but I’ve had mumps and rubella. Neither was very pleasant and I do have lasting ear damage although I can’t remember from which one!

All three of my kids have had the MMR - DS3 had such wodgy legs he didn’t even feel the needles! None of them had any sort of reaction bar crying at the needle, and as I said that was only DS1 and 2.

My mum worked with Dr Wakefield’s secretary during the time of his trial and she was so angry - she agonised over giving the vacc to my brother who was about the right age - he did have it in the end btw.

I totally understand your worries, I would feel the same if any of my children had had any sort of adverse effects. Hope it’s all gone ok today.

Sirrah · 01/05/2018 15:36

My kids all had MMR in the early 90s, they are all fully functioning adults now. Better to have a mild illness after the jabs than risk measles, mumps or rubella and their nasty side effects later.

trixymalixy · 01/05/2018 15:38

My kids both have severe egg allergies so I was worried given it has been contraindicated in the past for people with egg allergy. Both had the MMR without issue.

KoshaMangsho · 01/05/2018 15:45

I have a full term baby and a premature baby. Both have had the MMR. Neither had any side effects. And as far as I can tell neither is autistic.
Lots of things can cause ‘injury’. When my son was ventilated at birth the ventilator could have caused serious damage. Some of the medication that kept him alive all had side effects. Penicillin can result in severe side effects. But few things go through the kind of rigorous clinical trials that vaccines do.

northdevonmummy · 01/05/2018 16:08

I had mumps as an adult despite having mmr at the aprropriate time. I was misserable and it took me so long to feel healthy again and stop catching every little thing.

Dd and ds have both had every jab avaliablr to them and we paid for dd to have men b as she was too old to have it. Both of them have temps after and it wasn't particually pleasent for them to feel a little under the weather and have a sore arm for a few days. But they would feel so much worse catching mumps measles and rubella.

Ds does not cope well with illness. For his 12 months jabs it was almost miraculous that he was well enough to have them. We did disscuss delaying with the gp and his consultant but was told it was much more important for him to get protection as he copes badly with illness. He did have a seizure the evening he had the jabs, but his epileptic so it was almost expected with so much going on in his body. He was very sleepy that night and not completely his happy self for a few days. However if he caught mumps, measles or rubella he would end up in hdu at the very least.

Member984815 · 01/05/2018 16:59

All mine got it didn't cry hopped up after delighted because my doc said they get ice cream from the shop after. I loved him he passed away in January , he knew I had a fear of needles and had had given me all my childhood vaccines.

Sidge · 01/05/2018 17:47

I'm a mum of 3 and a practice nurse.

My 3 all had MMR with no issues.

Anecdotally, I have immunised THOUSANDS of children (and many adults) with MMR and I am not aware of any adverse effects from any of them beyond a sore arm, a fever and a rash. Given that we get copied in on Yellow Card reporting events and audit our uptake and adverse responses, and see the kids again for preschool boosters 2.4 years later I think that's pretty reliable.

In 18 years I have (thank god) never had to use my anaphylaxis kit in an immunisation clinic.

Mousefunky · 01/05/2018 18:08

I don’t know anyone who has suffered an ill effect from it. I have had it as have my three DC and we are absolutely fine. My DC barely even cried.

Odoreida · 01/05/2018 18:14

Anecdotally I have never heard of any side effects from anyone I've met. My son was totally fine with it. Just wanted to wish you well, OP, it will be fine and good luck. Nice thread. xx

RexManning · 01/05/2018 18:25

I also delayed it for as long as possible due to the MMR autism scare hoax

Fixed that for you.

saucepot8 · 01/05/2018 18:31

Ds1 had most of the separate mmr injections. Now we know it was obvious from him being a newborn that he's autistic. What a waste of money! Autism is a neurological difference in the structure of the brain. Therefore it starts with early brain development. Brain scans have revealed that the autistic brain is different to a neurotypical brain. For example, a sudden noise lit up two areas of the brain in an autistic brain and only one in a nt brain. It's larger too. My dcs ended up having the mmr as the separate mumps wasn't available. I didn't have the mmr and I'm autistic too. I obsessively researched the side effects of the mmr and I couldn't find any link, apart from the widely discredited study.

Original poster

WhatisaNarwhal · 01/05/2018 18:42

Well we had it and...

She screamed for 15 minutes - starting before the injection even went in so I suspect she has a touch of the Drama Queen about her, which I believe is congenital and inherited from her fathers side

In all seriousness, it was vile. But she’s been totally fine since. If anything, jollier than I’ve seen her in a few days, and absolutely loopy with it.

Thank you all for being so kind

OP posts:

puglife15 · 01/05/2018 18:49

After the fact, but we delayed MMR by a year and DS who had a bad reaction to previous vaxx had pretty much zero reaction compared to his much more robust mates who had it at 1.

I personally think Wakefield may have been onto something and I'm pro vaccines. Not saying MMR causes ASD but there is a link between autism and gut health and vaccines also impact gut health.

Bearfrills · 01/05/2018 18:58

Wakefield was onto Jack Shit as has been proven many times over. He's a fraud and a liar and has caused untold harm to children who would otherwise have been protected by vaccines.

JamPasty · 01/05/2018 19:01

I personally think Wakefield may have been onto something - he was onto being a scammer is what he was onto.

slightlyglittermaned · 01/05/2018 20:19

Glad your DD is happy now OP! Hope she enjoys the narrowboat trip this weekend.

YearOfYouRemember · 01/05/2018 20:29

I spread out DC2 baby jabs as DC1 reacted to theirs. All three of my DCs had the MMR separately. We were worried about the apparent link to autism, a friend opted for separate jabs for her child a few years earlier and she was in a position to know more about it all than many people and then with dc1 reacting we decided we'd try and not take any risks. When DC2 was 2 the health visitor said the building blocks of their brain were already formed and a vaccine couldn't change that. DC2 has been diagnosed as autistic. I think DC3 isn't NT. DC1 NT. I don't believe dc2 diagnosis and the angst over separate jabs . DC3 never got the mumps part and that concerns me now they are 12.

AddictiveCereal · 02/05/2018 21:37

My son has autism but he was born with - it is nothing at all to do with the MMR which he had. Also, he has a very happy life and is doing very well and having autism is not a negative thing for him.

Some people wrongly think the MMR causes autism as it is given around the time that signs of autism in a baby are begining to become apparant - so people wrongly leap to the conclusion that the MMR must be the cause. In truth, the autism was there all along but not so obvious when the baby was very small.

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