MMR Arthritis Fears - Update

Thank you so much to everyone who commented and wrote us emails concerning our worries with the MMR Immunisation. We really have appreciated everyones advice, your help and wisdom was so welcome - so we thank you. Its been a difficult one though, because for every good story it was followed by a not so good one, leading us back to where we started.

I have had some wonderful chats with the nurse at our local doctors, she has been truly amazing. To actually have honest sympathy regarding the situation is lovely. However the problem we face is that we are discussing all the issues with people who actually know nothing about what I am telling them. Its such a surreal place to be in, knowing that the written facts are there, having that first hand knowledge and yet I have still not met anyone in the medical profession who has actually experienced it.

Lots of people mentioned getting the MMR in separate doses, unfortunately New Zealand do not offer that as a choice, its all together or nothing. However they do not inject intramuscular which apparently is something only done in the UK and the Netherlands now, so this could be something to think about.

Basically we never got to see a specialist, mainly due to the fact there was no point, again that person had never heard of it and was unable to offer further advice. Today I went and met the Doctor and he told me that they have in fact had many lengthy discussions about this case, discussing the information I had provided in a team meeting - but yet again they honestly said they had never heard of it and were unclear of where to go next.

We have been referred now to a Paediatrician, we expect the appointment to be within the next 2 months. There is of course no actual rush to have the immunisation so for now all we can do is wait and hope for some results once seeing the Paediatrician.

It stirs up all kinds of scary thoughts though...there must be other families out there that have experienced this? Why does the leaflet within the actual packs of the MMR Immunisation state that side effects could involve 'muscular pain linked to Arthritis' yet it isn't expanded on? If this is so then why does it seem like no medical professional knows about it - do they not read the leaflet?

From what I have read so far every single child that has reacted to this has reacted in a horrendous way. There are doctors out there who must have treated children who have been affected. Surely these doctors would want to investigate this further...? I know that the percentage of children affected is low, but even then, even then, wouldn't someone want to know why and what can be done to solve this????

Once again thank you all for caring so very much, its been such a stressful time trying to decide what to do. I have found it a very lonely experience to be honest, not because the support isn't there but because its hard trying to discuss something that no-one knows anything about.

Until the appointment now all we can do is wait, and I worry that even then we will still be non the wiser.