I was definitely not raised with the "doctors are god" mindset. In my house, nutrition was god, and well, God was god. I refused the well-baby visits with Violet (we had 2 maybe). I essentially want to avoid the fear-mongering of doctors when they discover we don't vaccinate. The old "well I've seen..." My family is rife with auto-immune diseases, and when I extrapolate the links between vaccines and auto-immune diseases they want to know "where I heard that." I try not to be offended at the implication that I read an article in People about thimerosol, and now I'm just convinced that vaccines are bad. In fact I have put countless hours of research into every vaccine that she would get, compared it with the risk of the actual disease and the likelihood of contracting it, and the dangers and documented reactions to those vaccines (which are vastly underreported and are constantly deemed "not vaccine related.") In fact, I'm in an online vaccine study group now, rehashing the whole thing to be as informed as I can be. I am fully confident that I can treat most childhood illnesses at home. Yes measles (everyone used to get it), chicken pox, mumps, fevers, flus, colds. I can diagnose strep, viral infections, etc etc etc. All it takes is a little research. I am also confident that I can determine when medical intervention is necessary. I diagnosed my baby with a viral rash. The disease was progressing as chicken pox would, but since I know that even doctors have a hard time diagnosing chicken pox until the third day, I wanted to simply wait. I certainly didn't know if it was or wasn't at that point, and there wasn't anything to do whether she had it or not. Other than vitamin A and vitamin C for everyone involved. If she did have it, I would have already been exposed. I dutifully called my obstetrician's office and told them I had potentially been exposed to varicella. When met with a "what?" I proceeded to explain that varicella was chicken pox, and that I was potentially not immune. They then demanded I take her to the doctor. Why, I asked. I can treat chicken pox at home. They insisted I needed a diagnosis. Sigh. So I called the doctor to make an appointment for Violet, explaining that I wasn't concerned about chicken pox, just the risk of congenital varicella syndrome. The nurse assured me that if I was out of my first trimester, there was no risk. I explained that all the literature on CVS said the risk was through the first HALF of pregnancy. Or 20 weeks. "Oh." They then asked me if the spots were crusty. "No." "Well then it probably isn't chicken pox." I then proceeded to explain the progression of chicken pox. Fever, 3-4 days, superficial spots, 24 hours, crusties and more spots, blah blah blah. By this morning, I was positive that it wasn't chicken pox, and we just had some kind of generic viral rash. To the doctor we go, purely because I didn't want to get yelled at at my next OB appointment. Diagnosis? Viral rash. Yeah. Thanks. So all this nonsense so I can return to the OB with the diagnosis of "viral rash."
2.2.06
we're not worthy
I was definitely not raised with the "doctors are god" mindset. In my house, nutrition was god, and well, God was god. I refused the well-baby visits with Violet (we had 2 maybe). I essentially want to avoid the fear-mongering of doctors when they discover we don't vaccinate. The old "well I've seen..." My family is rife with auto-immune diseases, and when I extrapolate the links between vaccines and auto-immune diseases they want to know "where I heard that." I try not to be offended at the implication that I read an article in People about thimerosol, and now I'm just convinced that vaccines are bad. In fact I have put countless hours of research into every vaccine that she would get, compared it with the risk of the actual disease and the likelihood of contracting it, and the dangers and documented reactions to those vaccines (which are vastly underreported and are constantly deemed "not vaccine related.") In fact, I'm in an online vaccine study group now, rehashing the whole thing to be as informed as I can be. I am fully confident that I can treat most childhood illnesses at home. Yes measles (everyone used to get it), chicken pox, mumps, fevers, flus, colds. I can diagnose strep, viral infections, etc etc etc. All it takes is a little research. I am also confident that I can determine when medical intervention is necessary. I diagnosed my baby with a viral rash. The disease was progressing as chicken pox would, but since I know that even doctors have a hard time diagnosing chicken pox until the third day, I wanted to simply wait. I certainly didn't know if it was or wasn't at that point, and there wasn't anything to do whether she had it or not. Other than vitamin A and vitamin C for everyone involved. If she did have it, I would have already been exposed. I dutifully called my obstetrician's office and told them I had potentially been exposed to varicella. When met with a "what?" I proceeded to explain that varicella was chicken pox, and that I was potentially not immune. They then demanded I take her to the doctor. Why, I asked. I can treat chicken pox at home. They insisted I needed a diagnosis. Sigh. So I called the doctor to make an appointment for Violet, explaining that I wasn't concerned about chicken pox, just the risk of congenital varicella syndrome. The nurse assured me that if I was out of my first trimester, there was no risk. I explained that all the literature on CVS said the risk was through the first HALF of pregnancy. Or 20 weeks. "Oh." They then asked me if the spots were crusty. "No." "Well then it probably isn't chicken pox." I then proceeded to explain the progression of chicken pox. Fever, 3-4 days, superficial spots, 24 hours, crusties and more spots, blah blah blah. By this morning, I was positive that it wasn't chicken pox, and we just had some kind of generic viral rash. To the doctor we go, purely because I didn't want to get yelled at at my next OB appointment. Diagnosis? Viral rash. Yeah. Thanks. So all this nonsense so I can return to the OB with the diagnosis of "viral rash."
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7 rubber neckers:
good for you, I feel basically the same way, although Jim doesn't. so, we have to compromise...
conor leaves most of this to me. he generally agrees anyway. i was just amazed that people would dispense faulty information so readily. about something this potentially serious.
I don't why people would dispense faulty information that is potentially serious...but our president doesn't seem to have a problem doing it.
follow the leader! like in kindergarten.
Faulty information is key. If people know the truth, they want to run things. If everyone knew what was going on with their helth, they wouldn't go to the doctor. And then they'd be broke. That's no good (for them). And if we knw the truth about all the other stuff, the president would be impeached, tried and hung. That's definitely no good (for him).
There is something critical to remember here...while doctors and the people that work in their offices can be asses...there are some things that cannot be treated at home, and should be monitored by physicians. And not all doctors are evil, fear-mongering morons. Other then that, good for you for protecting the babe from unnecessary interventions. I think the overuse of antibiotics is the cause for much illness in this country.
i think the critical juncture is personal responsiblity. it is my responsiblity to KNOW what can be treated at home and what cannot. and i don't think all doctors are neccessarily morons, but that they often interfere in the body's natural ability to heal itself. how often do you go to the doctor with an illness and they tell you to go home and rest without giving you something? an expectorant, a painkiller, an antibiotic. if for no other reason than to justify the trip to the doctor. i think people have little faith in their bodies, and don't give them a chance to do what they do. i will say other than pushing vaccinations like they're getting perks from pharmaceutical companies (oh...wait) the doctors i've encountered(not counting her horrible birth experience)haven't pushed "remedies" too much.
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