posted by Suzanne
Our medical insurance is now in effect and Erin has an appointment with her new pediatrician the first week of December. We all have to change doctors under the new plan but changing Erin’s doctor is much more nerve racking. Most likely this pediatrician has not heard of FOP (Fibrodysplasia Ossificians Progressiva). It’s scary that Alan and I will know more about FOP than her doctor will. In a way it’s kind of silly for my anxiety. Erin barely saw her last pediatrician but at least he was there for the diagnosis, read the treatment guidelines, and has been in close contact with the genetic counselor at Seattle Children’s Hospital. It would be great if the genetic counselor could be her pediatrician but no-can-do. So Erin will see her new doctor and I have to decide before then if I want her vaccinated for the seasonal flu and the H1N1. We have been fortunate that even with the H1N1 floating around the boys’ schools, no one here at the daycare has come down with either virus. I have been closely following the online conversations regarding the seasonal flu/H1N1 vaccinations in the FOP community. I am still wary of any flu shot. Some FOPers are experiencing bad reactions to the vaccinations while others are having mild swelling and redness. H1N1 is a new vaccine and I can’t help but compare it to a new model car. It usually takes a few years for a car manufacturer to work the kinks out before the model is in top form. I feel the same way with vaccines. No I am not a doctor but I have to protect my kids. I also need to rely on good medical advice. I have high hopes for this new doctor. Hopefully I will not be disappointed.
On a side note, a picture of Erin’s toes is now on a flash slide on www.ifopa.org. Go check it out!
I understand the concerns parents have about immunizing their kids. We want to protect them and there is a lot of scary, or at least worrisome, mis-information going around about vaccinations. I don’t if there are additional factors that need to be considered before giving an injection to someone with FOP, but many vaccines are now also available thru nasal spray.
But whether by injection or nasal, vaccinations are a wise precaution.
Yes, there are some who have bad reactions to vaccinations. It is an unfortunate fact that no medication works for absolutely perfectly for absolutely everybody. But it is also a fact that when you look at the number of people who have bad reactions and compare it to the number of people who get flu it is a much smaller number.
Just playing the odds, you have a far, far better chance of catching flu than having a bad reaction to the vaccine.