Has anyone here experienced a marked and permanent difference in their child after the MMR?

[CrushWithEyeliner]

I know this is a loaded question and may be very sensitive for some of you here so I really appreciate your responses. DD is due to have her jab in 4 weeks and like many I have very mixed feelings.

Of course they're an urban myth, Mother's who've watched their children regress couldn't possibly be capable of telling the truth could they. I know one of the doctors. Seen him in the flesh. He looked quite real (and sane) to me. Met the child he was talking about as well.

Why is he keeping quiet?

if you are in doubt you need to consider the risk of havng it down and the risks of not having it done, I waited until my dc were a couple of months older than the 13month timetable. Dr Wakefields research has been criticised for the unethical way he carried out his research and also because of the sources of funding he used, there is also significant research from Scandinavia which demonstrates no real link. Although I have read somewher and I can't find it now that some heriditory conditions can predispose areaction to MMR I think these are around bowel conditions and probable autistic spectrum It is a hard decision to make but do consider both sides of doing it or not doing it as measles can be very harmful

yurt - can I ask a possibly stupid q - would the leaky gut issue potentially apply to a child who has a weird milk intolerance/addiction thing going on - DS used to have awful stools and drink up to 4 pints of milk a day - once I got rid of milk as a drink, stools improved, and I think he became more alert/responsive.

Because as he rightly said it could never be proved. What could he do? He has been supportive of my friend's decision not to vaccinate subsequent children though, which I guess is about as helpful as he can be realistically.

There are several people without autistic children but various other problems on mumsnet who have said over the years that their medical specialists (consultants) have advised them to avoid MMR for their children. If you search you'll probably find the posts.

An even more stupid q - does leaky gut mean frequent diahorea???????!! I thought it might mean something more internal...

god knows TC, but milk proteins seem to be involved in leaky gut and autism for some children (but that's not the same type of gut problem as found in the MMR kids). I've seen milk proteins mentioned in leaky gut and type 1 diabetes as well.

DS3 had his urine test done when he was 16 months and we were getting very concerned about him. He came back as having beta caseiomorphine in his urine which is a breakdown product of cows milk. (one that shouldn't be there). I talked to the ARU and said I wasnt keen on soya as ds1 went really werid on soya so they suggested goats milk (it has a different protein and is easier to digest). Within a week of switching he was pointing and starting to talk. It was like someone turned the lights on. Thank fuck.

goldpony the MMR kids often have lots of very obvious bowel problems. But they have ulcerated guts. The leaky guts kids sometimes do (esp if milk is involved) but often don't.

thanks Yurt. think I will go with my gut (no pun intended!) instinct and not let DS have the pre-school booster. Already had GP nag over that one - when spoke to her about DS awaiting assessment for ASD, I got a lecture about not labelling, and told that he was due pre-school booster

Well you could always look into singles, or get a blood test to check immunity so you know whether its needed now or not. Richard Halvorsen will see people to go through their history (although it costs). His 'standard child' advice is to vaccinate with singles, so if he says anything different then you know he thinks there's a reason to doit differently iyswim.

Actually I'd really recommend his book if you're thinking about not doing it at all as it presents all the arguments - both for and against in more detail than I could here. And he gives advice to parents at the end (in which he generally advises that most vaccinations are given).

Yes, I have with my first, consequently none of my others have had it.

blood test is excellent idea - would NHS do it though, or would I have to get that done privately? will look into the Halvorsen book.

NHS probably wouldn't. Somewhere like Breakspeare would though- they're worth talking to anyway.

goldpony - one of the drs at our surgery shot me a withering look when I said I wanted to wait til he was completely well. I just ignored her. He's not her child and she doesn't have the dilemma.