The Vaccination Question has No Easy Answers

Every day I receive reports in my email box about various autism biomed treatments or the latest cases involving vaccine-injury. CBS Evening News has an exclusive story on the second round of cases that went to court today alleging a causal relationship between child vaccination and autism cases. Meanwhile, the recent outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis) at the East Bay Waldorf School has people chattering about vaccines from a different perspective.

I usually stay silent about the various debates because I don't see a clear answer and because these issues are too close for comfort. I've experienced these questions as a parent and studied neuropharmacology, immunology, and other such subjects as a graduate student. I've been brushed off as a "desperate mother," yet have seen firsthand how environmental stimuli can play a role in characteristics that fall on the autistic spectrum.

Before I became a mother of a child diagnosed with PDD-nos, I was respected as someone with two Ivy-league degrees, one of them a Masters of Medical Science. But once my son came along, since I put him on the Feingold Diet and questioned the vaccine schedule, I became an uneducated fool in the eyes of many medical professionals.

I have no doubt that my son is sensitive to vaccines. I don't claim that they "caused" his sensitivity to various chemicals and other stimuli. After all, it is that sensitivity that means that after a vaccine he'll regress. But I do believe that too many vaccines at once can have a negative impact on kids such as my son. Doctors may think it is all in my head, but if they were to observe my son immediately post-vaccine and then again a few weeks later, they would believe they were seeing a different kid. The same goes for when my son is on or off the Feingold Diet, an elimination diet for hyperactive kids, such as those diagnosed with ADHD. (There is quite a lot of overlap between spectrum disorders, AD(H)D, sensory integration issues, NLDs and other such things, but that is a discussion in itself.)

When my son was in preschool, a mother approached me about mercury poisoning. When her husband phoned me to "discuss" I was optimistic, but ended up feeling isolated. This man drilled me about my situation: Did I have a difficult pregnancy? Did I eat fish while pregnant? Am I Rh-negative? Is my son Rh-positive? How was the delivery?

He lectured me about the causes of mercury poisoning and how it was imperative that I start my son on chelation as soon as possible. He warned me about not vaccinating my younger son, lest he "become" autistic. He told me to read his website about vaccinations, and he told me the name of a physician who would work with us to un-poison our son.

He told me I was lucky, since my son has only some autistic tendencies, whereas his son is completely non-verbal and was non-social until the chelation has improved his situation.

This man approved of my efforts in trying the Feingold Diet, but said that it didn't go far enough. I had gone from being told by doctors that the Feingold Diet was a sham and that I was restricting my son too much, to being told that I wasn't far enough into alternative medicine. Am I too radical, or not radical enough?

After I got off the phone, I was sad, angry, and confused. I cried to my husband that night, saying that this man had essentially staged an intervention, and that his assertions seemed almost cult-like. Husband gently suggested that in a way it was a cult: a group of people who have found hope in something that they are eager to share with others. I agreed, but still felt horrible.

After that experience, I realized that might be how some people may believe about me and my enthusiasm about the Feingold Diet. But I emphasize over and over again that I do not believe in "one cause, one cure" as many of the people in the various "camps" may.

People may think "the mercury people," "the vaccine people," or the "diet modification people" are all crazy. But we aren't stupid. While we may be trying to figure out the best ways to help our children, we aren't "clinging" to something just because it is there.

Autistic spectrum disorders are not all caused by the same thing. It is a label that encompasses similar behavior types, but these may not have similar causes. That said, there is no one "cure" for autistic-like behaviors. I don't believe that all autistic children have been poisoned by mercury. I don't think that all ADHD children can be helped by diet modification.

Any one approach will likely not be successful unless combined with another approach: medication alone or mercury chelation alone without behavioral therapy probably won't work. And behavioral therapy for a child sensitive to artificial flavors probably won't work until those additives are eliminated.

I believe there is a genetic predisposition to be sensitive to certain chemicals. This may be a particular salycilate, or artificial colors. It may be a tendency to be unable to dispose of mercury effectively. For people with such a sensitivity, these substances are essentially drugs.

If doctors believe that adding medication can  help, it astounds me that they don't believe that other chemicals can act the same way such that eliminating certain chemicals can help, too. And by extension, that an immunological overload, particularly with various preservatives used in vaccines, might cause regression: temporary or permanent.

Given my beliefs about the many causes of behaviors on the spectrum, it is no surprise that I may seem "wishy-washy" on issues such as vaccines. I respect the reason behind vaccines, but at the same time believe that they may be too harmful than good for some kids.

It will be interesting to see what comes of the vaccine court. CBS will be airing its story tonight at 6:30PM. I imagine there will be plenty of chatter afterwards, both online and in print. But I am not sure what I'll say, if anything!

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Original Silicon Valley Moms Blog post, Kari also writes at The Karianna Spectrum.