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i mean, i'm so scared!!!!!!

CEM, I'm reallt sorry to hear this! First off behavioral problems does not mean autism; I've even heard of food alergies causing behavioral problems in children that young. Second multiple *scientific* studies have failed to show connection of autism and vaccines. That said I suppose theoretically it is possible. 5 years ago some of the vaccines contained Thimerosal and I think the same brands like in the US would be administered to Canada. I'd say the posibility looks quite remote, but nevertheless still there. It's VERY important to get the right diagnosis, and for that I'd get a second opinion, even if you have to travel south of the border. Additionally, if you have this suspicion, look for parent groups in your area that may have some resources on how to proceed. I've heard of the waiting lists in Canada. Do they have an ETA for his exam?

CEM, I am sending you many hugs. I know you must be so scared and sad. I just finished a round of tears at the thought that my son is behind with "mama/dada". Please let me know if there is anything I can do. I will say a prayer for your son. XXXXX

BBK - thanks for your help. we're currently living in denmark, so things are a bit different here. we went for an initial meeting with a specialist in april of this year and were told then that there was a 12 to 15 month wait. :( not fun, when times are hard.my son is an amazing little boy, i really wouldn't want him any other way, we just need to learn some tools in order to deal with him more effectively. his behavioural problems are not just "problems", but very symptomatic of someone with slight autism or asperger's. he is, at the same time, very advanced in some areas for someone his age, being able to re-hum a rachmaninov symphony after hearing it once, remembering small details from when he was a very small baby (3 months of age), and things of that nature. so he's definitely been more than rewarded for his shortcomings! but the thought that i could have caused all the negative things drives me crazy! as if we don't already have enough to worry about as parents! by the way, what is thimerosal? Narcissus, thank you for your concern and kind words. yes i am scared and sad that i may have done some damage, but i'll love my little boy no matter what! why is your son behind with mama/dada, if i may ask? you are a very nice person, Narcissus. i will also send out all good thoughts to you and your boy. :)

April? Oh my! Is that because of the central healthcare system there? Thimerosal is a preservative with mercury that was used in vaccines up until 1998-1999. Some influenza vaccines still have it, but others do not. It is in the middle of the "vaccines causing autism" controversy. Generally speaking there are more questions about autism than there are answers and there are many suspected causes of it. There is a vocal group of people that attributes the increase in autism to mercury and mercury polution. I personally think it's more than just mercury and since there are so many environmental pollutants full of neurotoxins, any and all could be causing this spike in autism. That said, we all know mercury is just bad, so the sooner Thimerosal is banned the better.

yes BBK, the wait is due to the centralized, safety net of a medical system here. so it's good and bad....the mercury pollution theory causing autism also seems feasible enough. i don't really know what's worse; knowing we may have caused this, or the sad reality that pollution may have played a part. :(

CEM, I wouldn't agonize over the thought of you causing the baby harm. You could have just as easily skipped a vaccine and him contracting one of the preventable diseases.... it's one of those you're d__ned if you do or don't scenarios. BTW, there are some "alternative medicine" people that claim to have success with chelation therapy. The chelation agents bind the mercury and it is expelled. The same group of people say that autism then disappears. Unfortunately the evidence is insufficient at best and a boy from England recently died when he was injected with a chelating agent (EDTA). There maybe potential to chelation therapy but so far it's experimental to say the least.

I should clarify that There maybe potential to chelation therapy as far as autism goes. Chelation therapy in general is a good way to get rid of toxic metals in your body.

Hey CEM, sorry to interupt your post, just wanted to say I'm praying for your little guy! Hope that everything will be alright! (Snow in Denmark yet? Calgary got some the other day!!!!! Brrr....)

chelsey, you're not interrupting at all, thank you for your support. i guess i've always known deep down there was something "different" about my son, so it's not really news. but the thought of it being caused by vaccinations really saddens me. i guess it's something we'll never know....BBK, if that is the case, and it really boils down to mercury poisoning how can you then explain all the things he can do that are beyond his age group? does that just mean that he would have been that way no matter what? or can mercury exposure also be a good thing? just curious....BTW, how do you know so much? are you in the medical profession? thanks again... :)

CEM all of my family members are MDs, and I started out that way too. I decided against it since while I can grasp the knowledge, I'm not that great in dealing with sick people, blood etc. Let's say anatomy lab kinda put the end to my medical aspirations. I went on to get a bachelors in physiology and a masters in biochemistry. I started my career out as a lab researher but due to luck and circ_mstances I moved to the business world, working for one of the major drug companies. I still have to keep up with reasearch since I have to be a speaker in medical conferences and be able to answer questions. Now, I don't buy the mercury poisoning theory either, it maybe a contributor, but it being the only cause has not been proven, and multiple research does not conclude that at all. At this point it's only speculation. Many of the activists will refer to "scientific papers" but it usually involves a scientist expressing opinion and theory. At least one of the theories says that a neurotoxin can work in different ways and once certain functions of the brain are impaired others can become overdeveloped..... Keep in mind we don't know yet what is wrong if anything with your boy, at least physiologically.

Can I jump in here? I am so intrigued by this topic... And torn. I worked with autistic children for many years. I have seen so many amazing families have autistic children with no known cause... I am so fearful of having my own son vaccinated (now 5 weeks) and was curious, BBK, if you had your daughter receive the normal rounds of inocculations?? My son had the hep shot in the hospital... All I did was ask if it was mercury based (told "no"). I am a little nervous about that and am coming up on the infamous 2 month appt. To CEM... Hang in there and wait for a diagnosis. I have seen so many times... Things are not always what they seem at first!

KrisD we had them done at about 9.5 weeks. All went OK. I think we'll be skipping the influenza one. Vaccines (besides influenza) have been thimerosal free for at least the past 4 years. There is some mercury in some brands but I checked the ones my daughter took. Here is a web link (take out any dashes) that addresses the parents concerns: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/6/1394

Thanks a lot for the info, BBK. I'll check out that info now. KD