ForgottenWoman

Autism, Tylenol, Vaccines, Mommas

Are any of my friends living under a rock and not seeing the uproar around us after the recent press conference concerning MAHA – autism, vaccines, Tylenol, etc.? I’m sure that each of you has seen or heard something or many things at this point. I didn’t intend to write on this subject, but changed my mind this morning in light of some very disturbing actions, comments, and arguments floating around social media. I may not be able to communicate with the masses, but maybe one person will listen and at least consider what I’m asking you to consider.

First of all, let’s address the outrage by people who aren’t parents of autistic children who have simply decided to be offended by what the president said or how he said it. Besides the fact that in the press conference, the president was trying to succinctly give an overview of the findings in the studies so far, I cannot imagine that there is any way anyone could state everything about the science perfectly. Personally, I would listen to a press conference like that and determine to follow the research based on the simple findings presented. Instead, those who hate our president have gone a different direction. Sadly, some are trying to make a point and have even videotaped themselves taking large amounts of Tylenol while pregnant. There was a reported death just this morning as a result of this outrageous behavior.

Others have taken the virtue signaling approach and have made announcements to mothers of autistic children that “It’s not your fault!” Some have gone so far as to not only imply but state that the president blamed mothers and their Tylenol use for their child being autistic. I’ll simply say here that if I knew that anything that I innocently did contributed to my child’s diagnosis and challenges, I would want to know so that others don’t blindly do the same.

Then there is the sudden outrage that anyone would consider autism a ‘bad’ thing – a negative that should be prevented if possible. I speak as a mother of autism, and I have told many people, and I repeat it today, my autistic child is one of my favorite humans! I have 9 children, and each is unique and each has a seat of honor in my ‘favorites’ group! But since this article is focused on autism, we’ll talk about that one.

I’ll tell you that as Mom, I’ve learned a lot! I was forced to research, study, contrast, compare, experiment, and fight for my son when he was diagnosed as severely autistic. I exercised my ‘courage muscles’ when I stood against the mainstream way of thinking and halted daily therapy in a clinic, and chose to work with my son at home instead. I faced criticism and heard much unsolicited advice when my son’s behavior was not appropriate or was embarrassing to onlookers. I even wore battle scars from violent outbursts and attacks before my son learned to control his responses to overstimulation, fear, or anxiety. Yes, I had to explain to police officers why my young son was ‘missing’ when he suddenly took off out of the house and could not be found. Hundreds of sleepless nights were endured (maybe thousands) because his insomnia meant that he may be on top of the refrigerator, may silently leave the house and wander, or often was just moving the furniture in his room. I spent many Sunday mornings sitting in the parking lot with my son during church because his presence in the classroom (under the tables or pews) wasn’t acceptable for those in charge.

Through each of the above experiences and more, I learned not only patience and endurance, but compassion and grace for others facing similar things or worse. One of the most important things that I learned is that a mother can love a child with autism with every fiber of her being and still wish that he didn’t struggle day in and day out! She can even adore his quirks (which I do to this day) and wish that life were easier for him! She can be thankful for all that his life has brought to her family and also rejoice that there is research that may prevent others from facing similar challenges. Both can be true!

Now, as a believer, I also have the assurance that God knew every part of my son before his birth and He intends to use his life for His glory – as long as my son allows Him to! Sometimes that means that God allows what isn’t what we would choose, He allows what is difficult for us, He allows hard things, and calls us to cling to Him and trust Him to work all things together for our good and His glory. I can also believe this, and also believe that it is a good thing to find out causes and ‘helps’ for the challenges we as humans face!

To simplify that concept: I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Having been diagnosed when I was just 23, it is a part of who I am. It is an autoimmune disease that brings with it many challenges, not only to joints and bones but to the entire system of the body. Does my RA make me less of a person? No. Does my RA make life difficult at times? Yes. Should I be offended that studies are continually done to offer help and answers? Should I be insulted by that and think that others consider me a ‘less than’ individual because I face the challenges that come with RA every day? Absolutely not! So, why should parents or those virtue signaling who aren’t even connected to an autistic individual find it insulting that research and studies are being done?

Whew! I know – this is long – but there is much to say!!! I hope my points in this introductory section are clear.

Very quickly, I want to share that there is HOPE for not only living with but also gracefully dealing with the challenges of autism. My son is now 22 and functions as a productive adult – is married, has a wonderful job, has numerous friends who adore him, and no longer has violent outbursts or attacks individuals. He acknowledges his challenges and lives with many of them to this day – coping with strategies he has learned. He laughs with us at his own quirks and knows that he is adored and even respected by his family members for who he is and what he has conquered.

Now, let’s look a little bit into this whole Tylenol thing. After reading this explanation, ask yourself if you can imagine a president trying to explain all of this in a press conference. He isn’t the doctor, y’all. He is the president of the US. He is responsible for creating a team to do the science – and is trying to communicate findings along the way, while the studies and research are continuing! Why can’t we as adults understand this concept?

There are many complexities of Autism research and the challenges in finding root causes.

Due to the confusion and hysteria over the Tylenol discussion, let’s just focus here on the MTHFR mutation. About 40-70% of people have an MTHFR genetic mutation. That stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. It’s an enzyme in the body that manages a chemical reaction involving Vitamin B-9 (also known as folate). There is more than one type of mutation in this gene, but for the purposes of today’s article, I’m keeping it simple.

Folate is important because it helps the body make red blood cells and is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division. During pregnancy, it is important for proper neural development (think spinal cord and midline of the body). That’s why doctors tell you to make sure you get enough folate during pregnancy. IF you have the MTHFR mutation, then the synthetic version of B-9, known as folic acid, can actually block cell receptors and keep you from being able to absorb vitamin B-9 appropriately, thus affecting everything above. Folic acid started being used in vitamins and in enriched processed products (think breads and cereals, etc) in the late 1990s. At that time, we saw an uptick in midline abnormalities (tongue and lip ties, “stork bites”, sacral dimples).

The prescription presented in the press conference that can help with autism recovery is a form of folate called folinic acid. It is another chemical variation of B-9 that has shown success in allowing people with genetic B-9 issues to absorb it and utilize it in the body. Since B-9 is so key to functions in the body, you can see why better absorption can lead to better outcomes for individuals.

So that’s why HHS is recommending that particular prescription. If B-9 levels in the body are low, it can cause decreased production of glutathione. Glutathione is the “master antioxidant” in the body. It is the main key to your body’s ability to detoxify. Lowered glutathione means toxin exposure in the individual will cause more damage than in a person with normal glutathione levels.

Acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) lowers glutathione in the body. If your glutathione levels are already low, it creates even more challenges with getting toxins out of the body. It also crosses the placenta. So, to be on the safe side, the upside of avoiding acetaminophen is higher glutathione levels, so that you and your baby have a better chance at eliminating environmental toxins that can cause neurological damage.

Furthermore, when you are sick, glutathione plays a key role in helping you heal. That’s why President Trump was so adamant about avoiding Tylenol.

So, how do vaccines/injections play into this? Many mothers say they saw their child regress after routine vaccinations. Yes, I know that correlation does not mean causation. The problem is, so much of the science on this has simply not been completed. Do we gaslight these mothers and tell them they are crazy or imagining a link? Absolutely not! So what could be the mechanism(s) of harm?

This part of the post could be a whole post in itself, so let’s summarize.

****Look up vaccine ingredients. You will find antibiotics, heavy metals, chemicals that open the blood-brain barrier, biologics from animals and humans, and even things like chemical dyes. **Some of these ingredients are known to disrupt gut health and be neurotoxic. **Some are carcinogenic.

Some claim that it is in such small amounts that the body can get rid of them. But what if the detox systems in your body are impaired? Furthermore, the adjuvants in vaccines (typically aluminum–a known neurotoxin) cause inflammation in the body. Without inflammation, the vaccine won’t cause an immune response. But inflammation can trigger all kinds of downstream events in the body, depending on the current toxin load and the genetics. (Notice here that genetics may also play a role – it isn’t necessarily either / or)

The above is why the President suggested breaking up how many doses you give your child at a time. There are no good studies on what happens when giving multiple vaccines at once, even though they give up to 6, sometimes even 8, doses at a time. (For clarity, the DTaP would be three doses because it has three infectious illnesses in it.)

The old ACIP committee decided that vaccines were generally safe to give multiple at a time if they were “put in a different limb.” There isn’t any science to actually back that statement up!! If you want to be cautious about toxin load (and why wouldn’t you?), then breaking up injections into fewer doses at time is a way to manage how much the body is being exposed to at once.

Common sense would say you wouldn’t get measles and mumps, and rubella all at the same time, so being careful about it in clinical applications would be logical.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you! That’s the summary (even though it was still long!!!) No, I’m not an expert; just another Momma who is sharing what I believe I understand from experience and research. I can only hope that this helps weed through so much that is swirling around us!

I’m going to keep studying and keep learning. How about you? As I often say, let’s be real adults here, attack less, and show gratitude more!