OK, I was trying not to respond to this to the group,but I can't resist
any longer.
Some of you know that my son and I had pertussis last winter, and it is a
terrible disease. Jay, you said that a friend told you that many cases of
bronchitis are really pertussis, but no one wants to let on bec. then
people may stop vaccinating. That IS scary stuff!
Based on a population of two, (my son and myself), the one of us that was
vaccinated had a less severe case. That's my fifteen year old son. I am
terrified of ever getting that sick again. I coughed for months, blacked
out while coughing, couldn't sit in a movie theatre bec. the fumes of the
popcorn machine triggered the cough as well...my pediatrician diagnosed
it after weeks of the characteristic cough ,yes , you do whoop, and I
also vomited. Me, who never had morning sickness! I hate to throw up,
well, I used to hate it, but after the pertussis, I got used to it. I
vomited mucus every morning for weeks and weeks. I even lost weight.
(since regained of course!) I also expected a public health involvement,
I remember from yesteryear that homes were quarantined during certain
"routine" childhood illnesses. But there is a reluctance to involve
public health officials bec. of all the red tape involved, but I still
would have felt validated. The first three doctors were clueless, even
when I TOLD them that I thought it might be whooping cough. One doctor
told me that I should look for another doctor!Boy, was he right!
People have posted to lactnet that bec. they have seen family members
w/pertussis, they are MORE likely to vaccinate. I can understand that
now.
So what IS happening with this? Where are the cases orginiating from??
After all, my son must have been exposed to it, and brought it home--he
was coughing first, but it didn't sound as "whoopy" as mine did when I
started coughing...
I sometimes can't fall asleep, worrying about getting it again! I think
it's called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder!

Pearl Shifer, IBCLC