some new research into mmr and autism reported

[zippitippitoes]

..\link{http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/28/wmmr28.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/28/ixnews.html\ article here}

It is good isn't it Christie- am pleased you thought the same- you have a wider autism experience than me (considerably!)

You just play with them! Of course. I take it these people have never tried to teach an autistic/severely learning disabled child anything then!!!

I have been umming & ahhhhing over this and that film was the decision maker for me. I am not going to Vax. Thanks for that link.

The film is amazingly powerful, Jimjams!

I genuinely think that the citizenship curriculum in schools should include some sort of disability awareness.

Autism in particular is a condition which people often think they know about, but actually don't. 5yrs ago, I would have said that autistic children were quiet, never spoke, never showed affection and could either draw like leonardo Da Vinci or work out mathematical equations like Albert Einstein! Now, I realise I had no idea. I still don't of course in real terms but at least I feel better informed.

Since discovering that DS has leaky gut and seeing the dramatic difference in him since removing gluten from his diet, I've convinced myself (rightly or wrongly) that we had a 'lucky escape'. Literally within a few weeks he was pointing, making vastly improved eye contact and beginning to properly communicate. He's recently had the single measles vaccine and even that had a nasty effect on his gut (8 pooey nappies in one day plus manic behaviour)so I shudder to think what the MMR would have done.

I'm beginning to wonder if autism is perhaps a generic or umbrella term like paralysis. In so much as the outcome is the same to a greater or lesser extent but that there are many causes or 'pathways' that lead there.

Again Jimjams, the film is stunning. It should be linked on the home page.

Zippi - I've only just realised who you are (I think!) I hadn't realised you'd changed your name, I guess the MMR & 'possible' reactions aren't really at the top of a conversation list when you first meet someone! I feel more angry over the fact that they wont record these reactions than the fact that it happened. I could accept that my ds was the 1 in a million if that was the case but to not even acknowledge it?? how many times does this happen???? We're due to see a developmental paed in a few weeks and i'm interested to hear what he's got to say about it. I'm honestly not after some compensation etc, just some answers & acknowledgement.

homemama - it is now thought that there are indeed many routes to autism (which of course makes studying causative factors very hard - very few studies take into account that there is no single route).

Yes the film is a very powerful description of what it's like. I'd like to carry it with me. Only last week I was trying to explain to someone that we couldn't come to something she was arranging unless we could find somewhere for ds1 to go for the day. Ans she was half offended, half thought we were embarrassed about him, half thought we were being a bit wimpish (too many halves there!) I have a feeling we're going to have to end up going or cause major offence, but I can't see ds1 coping at all.

essbee- that's exactly what I was trying to say earlier- with my Sun 28th 9:12 message, if children have become severely ill following a vaccination and then go onto be diagnosed with a lifelong condition, the potential for the jab having caused it should be recognised. In the same way that it is for a child left with a lifelong condition following an illness. Instead you find mother's who have done their "civic duty", then in some cases rushed their child to hospital wondering if they will survive, are left with a damaged child- in many cases one who will require full 24 hour care for the rest of their lives, and those mothers are then told they are a) mad for questioning whether the jab their child had just receievd may have caused the seizures that their child had just had for the first time and b) that they're selfish when they don't vaccinate younger siblings.

Jimjams, yes my ds was rushed to hospital in an ambulance (barely consciense, photophobic and dribbling with a temp) and I was scared he wouldn't survive. The more I think about it the more I want to take action. Perhaps we should start/join (is there one?) a campaign for the acknowledgement of reactions and vaccine damaged children. I would feel far safer letting my children have any future vaccs if there was a protocol for recording any reactions. You'd at least believe the statistics, wouldn't you? I wonder how many of us there are on here alone?

jabs would be the people to contact. Often people think they are ant-vaccination, but they are not- they campaign for safe vaccination, better recording of adverse reactions etc and represent parents of children who have been vaccine damaged. Jessica Kingsley published a book called "a shot in the dark" (I think) by Mary someone- tells how her dd started having seizures following her meningitis C vaccination.

I thought there would be a group already, thanks. Just found them \link{http://www.jabs.org.uk/\here} for anyone else interested. Just going in for a read...

Jimjams - interested what you have said about reporting potential adverse reactions to drugs. My son had his MMR nearly 3 weeks ago. He then came down with an ear & throat infection. Then when he got over that he had a temperature of 39.8 for about 24 hours for no apparent reason. He's also had an upset stomach. He still has a slight temperature on and off. The GP has made no mention of reporting this - am convinced it was all caused by MMR (he has had no illnesses at all for months and it all seems a bit of a coincidence he came down with all these in 2 weeks). The GP seemed to agree it was all MMR related. I know these are minor reactions, but should they be reported?

I think any potential reaction should be reported-certainly in the early days of a new jab even mild ones should be, but might be worth asking your GP, as I'm not sure if you would have to report known mild reactions iykwim, and I'm not sure what is listed as potential reactions for the MMR.

very moving and accurate film, jimjams

It may be a coincidence but at work I have seen many mixed race male patients who have autism. This concerns me as ds is mixed race and I am still uncertain about the vaccine. He is almost 2. The GP has dismissed my fears and was unhelpful when I enquired about single vaccines. Another concern for me is that he constantly has a cold which makes me think he is a bit immuno compromised, therefore is he more vulnerable to side effects?