[tri-med] Re: Pneumonia - Tess

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David & Tracey Pass"
>> Well
> I refused the vaccine and so (touch wood) I have not shown the slightest
> sign of getting a cold BUT I have lost count of the people I work with who
> had the vaccine and have been off work with the flu!!!!!

Alex has had the flu vax every year and has never gotten the flu. He does
get colds and viruses at times but its never been influenza.
So many people even today see every cold as being influenza - but they are
very different as you know.

Alex is pretty lucky really - despite the IGA problems he doesnt get many
colds and kicks them pretty well. I am sure a good diet and the echinacia in
the winter months helps.

>> Unfortunately the
> vaccine only covers one strain so I figure why have it if it is just as
easy
> for me to catch another strain.

His aides all get the flu vax and this year so am I - way too many deaths in
the US and Europe from influenza last winter to risk it in the house with
the Master. I realise that its only one strain - but its the strain thats
been causing all the problems overseas - and its one less that we have to
worry about exposure to.

No one gets through the front door at this place if they have overt cold
symptoms. We must seem odd - major signs at the front door with instructions
to visitors :-)
Lets see there is the:
No rubber
No ballons or balls
Oxygen in use
Turn off mobile phones
Please remove shoes (that ones new - you guessed it he has started reacting
to peoples shoes - one day I will have to put him in a bubble I am sure)
and one that says "please advise if you have any illness"

Am I paranoid - you bet!!

The worry for me is that Alex is IGA deficient. So getting the flu could be
deadly - especially with his predisposition to apneas, the broncho-tracheal
malacia, choanal stenosis etc. And if that doesnt get him being in hospital
for it will.

Plus when we did his vaccine titres last year so many of his vaccines from
infancy hadn't taken - despite all the dramas to get the whooping cough
vaccine for him he has no immunity to that one at all and weak immunity to
many of the others. I realise thats because of the IGA deficiency but I am
glad we did the titres to check and at least I know he has no immunity. Like
everyone else I just assumed because he had the vaccines that they would
work - they don't always.........

I spoke to his GP about the vax and his current cold. We decided it wasn't
worth doing viral studies to see if his current snuffles is a cold or
reflux. Instead we will use normal saline and a decongestant for a week. If
its not gone we will go ahead with his vaccinations anyway and consider
looking into his snuffles and ear problems as being from reflux. I wont be
in a rush for another fundo unless he is developing Barretts again.

(for those new to the joys of reflux - one of the signs of reflux in
children with low tone can be repeated ear infections)

I would however have the pneumococcal
> vaccine given to Alex if I were you.

Yes - we will give the pneumonia vax next Friday as well - its been 5 years
and he falls into the "risk" category for the free dose. I wont be getting
it cause I would have to pay - and despite being a smoker I havent had
bronchitis or pneumonia in about 20 years (touch wood) so I will endavour to
wing it a while longer. Had to laugh when Michael read out the categories -
called the first one as being "75 years and over" and then said to Alex
"that one you definitely don't qualify for" Alex looked at him all innocent
and said "does mum?" - its a good thing I love the kid :-))

Wish we could justify the meningococcal - I have had 5 friends in the last 2
years come down with that. Lucily only one lost some fingers and no one
died - but it does scare me even though he isnt in the at risk age range
anymore. Ahhhh to have unlimited funds or even health insurance sometimes.

I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere.
-- Unknown

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (9 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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