Does anyone NOT take children to yearly Dr visits??

I did not take my children for yearly physicals – we just took them when they were sick enough to warrant a doctor. They did get their vaccines at the times required though they have never had a flu shot, and I will never have another after experiencing peripheral neuropathy after one about 10 years ago – fortunately after 6 months the symptoms went away – but I will never do it again or recommend them to my girls. Most things I treated with homeopathy and herbal medicine – I always took them though when I deemed it necessary – there are times when medical care is required, and then we would go. The European doctors where we were when they were little (Germany) were big on holistic medicine, they still are and so we never had any trouble if we did not go. I could often call and tell them the remedy I was thinking of using and they would either agree or recommend another holistic remedy – I miss that. My girls vaccines were often late, but no-one ever said anything about it. They also did not argue when I said we did not want one. Here it is different – they pressure us about flu shots and gardasil everytime we have to see them – lately with my one daughter that has been a lot. I told the doctor with my daughter as sick as she is, it would be insane to vaccinate her for things like that – they get quite pushy but I just ignore them, and my daughter who is old enough to decide herself always refuses as well – so that is that. Shame it has to be that way though. Linda

I group my kids…  My Oct and Jan kids get theirs done around January… and my May and July kids around now.  Although I think we maybe missed January???

I know you are asking who doesn’t but just wanted to say we do and that’s about the only time we go. We have a wonderful family Dr. He’s a father of 5 and will take our family of 8 by blocking of the morning for us. Thankfully other than a few colds/coughs etc. my kids don’t need to see the doctor too much (it’s a good 40-60 mintues drive). We moved and didn’t want to find another doctor.

We do, when I remember.  They are not vaccinated however.  Here’s some food for thought – We had heard somewhere that if CPS ever gets involved in your homeschooling affairs, they use not taking your kids to the yearly wellness checks as ammo that you are a “bad parent” and are neglecting your children.  So we take them, mainly as insurance that if we’re ever investigated we’re “covered”.  

When we thought we were going overseas they told us there were mandatory vaccines but the doctor was willing to work out a slower schedule – only one shot every month or so.  We asked the receiving base about vaccines and they said they’d take the kids without the shots, “We do it all the time”.  No shots were given.  Yeah England!

Nope, my boys have not been to the doc since they were babies. One time when my son was around 2 and having major cramps did I take him. All the other times they get sick, we use homepathy to help heal. We don’t vaccinate either. After my first son had “reactions” to his MMR when he was a baby, I decided to do lots of research. From then on I decided no more vaccinations!

However, if something major came up we would take them to a naturopath or D.O. We have been through vomiting, diarrhea, sore throats, sneezing, coughing, and fevers on our own. I pray I will never have to face anything worse than those!

tandc93 – from my own point of view I don’t see all doctors as the evil empire. I am a great proponent of medical care when it is necessary – my daughter who been so ill is regularly seeing a GI doc and I have not problem with that. I do have a problem with those doctors who are pushy, who do not hear their patients concern and work with them – that is what I liked about the German doctors, they use both holistic and allopathic but generally treat holistically first if it is warranted. Most doctors there have training in both fields and I think an integrated approach is best. There are times when allopathic meds are most certainly warranted and times when they are not. My daughter avoided ear tubes in Germany because the osteopathic doctor was able to do manipulation to drain the fluid – he then taught it to me to do for anytime one of us had a sinus issue or ear problem. It is not difficult just involves massage and gentle ear manipulation – works wonders and so through that we avoided a surgery. Over here a lot of the doctors I have met are very narrow minded when it comes to holistic medicine and I do believe that some people rely on it too much – when it might be better to get medical advice – however many people are put off the doctors because they are not willing to listen to alternatives and work with the patient. It is a two way street which requires more understanding on both sides. My girls had all the vaccines except for the Gardasil and the flu shot – those were personal decisions based on medical history and lifestyle. I do resent the doctor who keeps pushing it though – it is not as if the vaccine is 100% and to me that one is a choice. There are many who could benefit from it I don’t doubt, I live near a city and if you have been in one of their ERs and seen what comes through the doors, I understand why doctors are jaded and think all teens are wild and sexually active – it is a pity, but that is the reality of life today. Our last visit to the ER when my daughter had a riding accident, was horrific – so many drunken or drugged out teens, girls in terrible states, very young teens who were obviously pregnant – it does open the eyes to the world that we often choose not to see – doctors are humans and when they are confronted with that day in and day out – I understand why we get tarred with the same brush initially – do I like it no, but I understand it. On the other side of the coin, drug companies make huge money peddling their medications and I have seen the Astra Zeneca drug rep giving out her samples to the doctors – so there is pressure there for the doctors to use certain medications I am sure of that too. I think we all have to do what is best – I don’t believe in going to the doctors just because I can, but when there is a need I will go. My one daughter with cerebral palsy sees an orthopedic doc every two years to check on her status since her tendon lengthening op when she was 11 – she happily goes to those. At the moment she is dealing with an occupational therapist to see if she will be allowed to drive – it does not look too hopeful, but we are going to spend the next year ding arm strengthening and then see how she tests. So the medical profession are not perfect, but there are times when they are lifesavers and very necessary. There are good ones and bad ones out there – as Tandc93 has said we need to try and gently educate doctors as well – though it does not work often from what I have seen so far over here. We too have travelled all over which means certain vaccinations were a given for us. So I do value my doctors when it is necessary to see them, and if I don’t like one, I find another, my task is not so easy over here though to find and understanding ear. No offense meant at all. Linda