Name: ICHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-05T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-07T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Bourbonnais, IL

Tagged: checkups, doctor visits, vaccinations, vaccines, wellness visits

This topic has 19 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 9 months ago by TracyM.

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July 31, 2011 at 3:16 am
thepinkballerina
Participant
Besides going to the doctor when our dd’s have gotten ill and need meds, we’ve not taken our girls for a yearly “wellness” exam in a couple years now. One reason is I’ve been avoiding giving our youngest, now age 4, the MMR vaccine. When she was a year old the pediatrician said she wouldn’t advise waiting longer than 18 mos (since we stay at home) to get the MMR. Well I didn’t take her again because I wanted to way,t and I knew her Dr would pressure to get the vaccine. SHe’d already talked to me about ONE case of measles on NY that year, so don’t want to risk it. I don’t know of any vaccine friendly pediatricians around our area.
I am curious to know if other parents just take their children in when they are sick and forego the yearly exam. Or do you love to get their yearly weight and height done and the exam done? It seems in the winter months we are in with illness at least one time, so they weigh them then anyway, so why turn around and take them in for a check up soon after (they have winter birthdays).
I don’t know. I’m thinking I should get them in soon since it’s been awhile since they’ve been sick. I’m dreading to hear that my now 6 1/2 yr old hasn’t had her 5 yr vaccines yet. And my 4 yr old none since age 12 mos! My now 8 yr old got her 5 yr old vaccines so I’m thinking she’s still good. We don’t do the flu shot anymore, so I don’t go in around that season unless they are ill.
Tara

Tara
July 31, 2011 at 3:38 am
Sara B.
Participant
We take them (though we hadn’t the past year or so because we had been in the process of moving). We also don’t get vaccinations anymore. Our new dr (small town, plenty of homeschoolers) had absolutely no problem with it, though I was armed with info and web links on my phone. 🙂 They never find anything of real importance, but they do check their eyes, they make sure they’re growing “normally,” and they can catch things in their heart and lungs, etc that we wouldn’t catch ourselves. You have the right to not get the vaccinations for personal/religious reasons – at least I think that’s in every state. So just stand your ground, arm yourself with info (print them out if you need to, bring books, whatever), and they will have to write down “refused for personal reasons.”
I don’t know what our previous dr in our old city (big city/suburb) would have thought of it. And we’ve chosen not to volunteer this info to our family/friends unless asked specifically. That was fun when my dad asked…. Although he’s usually supportive of our “weird” decisions, he wasn’t 100% ok with this, but he respects our decision, at least.
BTW, I think you can get their yearly physical done at the same time when they’re in there for illness since they won’t be getting vaccinated (if you’re sick, you shouldn’t get vaccines). Unless they need a urine sample (& I would doubt that – your kids are still pretty young), or they’re too sick to do the eye exam or something, I would think it would be OK. But check with the receptionist when making your appt, just to make sure.
July 31, 2011 at 3:38 am
missingtheshire
Member
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
July 31, 2011 at 3:39 am
missingtheshire
Member
Oh I should say we did always go to the eye doctor yearly, and dentist every 6 months – just not the doctor when there was no reason. Linda
July 31, 2011 at 3:50 am
suzukimom
Participant
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???
July 31, 2011 at 3:59 am
LindseyD
Participant
WE DON’T!! In fact, we don’t even have a pediatrician. Not to advise you one way or another…just sharing our personal experience. We vaccinated our children until ds was 3 1/2 and dd was 2 1/2. It’s been four years, and we haven’t given a single shot. We have taken the necessary steps to be “legit” with the state (Texas). We have to fill out paperwork and present notarized affidavits to anyone, including doctors, who would require our children to have vaccines. It is illegal for these documents to be rejected because they are from our state.
Now, if you’re just wondering if you should take your kiddos to the doctor for a yearly check-up, I don’t see why it would hurt. You can refuse any service if that’s what you feel is best for your children. No one can force you to vaccinate your child (yet). If they’re well, growing, and healthy otherwise, maybe you don’t need to go to the doctor.
I can see day to day that our kids are growing and healthy. I know the food I’m putting in their bodies is helping them stay well and grow strong. I know that I treat minor illness naturally. I know they go to our chiro once a week. I don’t feel the need or desire to wait two hours at the pedi’s office just to have them weighed, measured, and listened to. If it puts you at ease, though, that’s what you should do. This is just what we do in our home.
Blessings!
Lindsey
July 31, 2011 at 4:26 am
thepinkballerina
Participant
I do take them to the dentist every 6 mos and eye doctor after they turn 5. I do need to take my 6 yr old for her first eye dr appt when I go.
I was lumping my girls together for one well visit as well, but it just seems we go in for a sick child or two, so I don’t go back for awhile.
I forgot to mention our pediatrician we normally see always wants to make sure we are socializing our girls. She wants to know what activities we are involved in outside of our homeschool. When my oldest was only 3 or 4 she encouraged us to take her to preschool for socialization.

I’m thinking we’ll go soon and just pick a different pediatrician to be our regular one who is less intrusive and pushy. I need to face the music sometime about vaccines. Not that I don’t want them to have them at all, but delayed as long as possible. I fear the MMR now that I’ve read more about its link (possibly) to autism.

I would LOVE if drs here were more herbal! Not that I’m an expert, but I’ve tried echinacea and goldenseal after TWO doses of antibiotics for a sinus infection. One week later I felt MUCH better.

We are in the allergists office for our oldest biweekly now for allergy shots and he does a check up every 6 mos, so that is why I don’t worry about her going yearly now. The pediatrician brushed off her eczema as something she would grow out of. When she started getting asthmas symptoms we knew we need to see someone and sure enough she has allergies to a lot of things int he environment! We figured food related allergies. Now her eczema is almost all cleared up. She does have to take Zyrtec year round for now.

Thanks ladies.
Tara
July 31, 2011 at 4:37 am
ALK
Participant
My friend said that her Doctor actually told her that the only reason they do “well checks” is so that they can get them in for vaccines. I am a nurse and I have not taken my kids in for well checks anymore, since I stopped vaccinating them. I do feel that I need to get a Pediatrician for them though, just so I can call for any after hours advice, should we need it. It is really good to learn about common home remedies for children and herbal remedies too. The Weston A Price foundation has excellent info on how to feed your family, and has lots of articles on different ailments. For me, I just think that I will know if something is off in regards to their development, and I need to see a Dr. But we do need to educate ourselves about their health, and how to keep them healthy. Take care,

July 31, 2011 at 4:57 am
Homeschooling6
Participant
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.
July 31, 2011 at 1:01 pm
thepinkballerina
Participant
I will chdeck out the Weston A Price site then! thanks! We’ve had to take ours in for scarlet fever, flu,bad croup, pin worms etc over the last several years so for important things that DO need medical attention!

I looked up what vaccines our office does at what ages and am going to go in knowing which ONE I’ll give my 6 yr old and maybe ONE for my 4 yr old. I used to be an all vaccine mom until I researched. I love how they tell you they’ll give them Hep A (or B?) shot and it’s for if they have sex or travel abroad which neither my children do lol so we refuse that for sure.
I’m thinking they can just get the Tetanis shot DpT?
July 31, 2011 at 2:26 pm
crazy4boys
Participant
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!
July 31, 2011 at 2:44 pm
botanicalbecky
Member
I didn’t with my youngest simply bc we have very crappy insurance and the visits were expensive. The dr never said they were important. And we did vaccinate, but they get done via the health dept not the dr office, so that wasn’t an issue.
July 31, 2011 at 2:45 pm
2flowerboys
Participant
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!
July 31, 2011 at 6:20 pm
tandc93
Participant
Ummmm, doctors are not the evil empire. I think if you heard the horror stories from the side of the doctors as in the patients from hell you might have a bit more emphathy for them. I do believe that there are doctors not fit for doctoring (as in any field) and that some are quick to prescribe. However…many of them are quick to prescribe because over time the patients have worn them down because they (PATIENTS) are so annoying and PUSHY and LAWSUIT happy!
And just to have one to call after hours? You mean for free, when they’re with their familiy?
And while some doctors may just want them in for vaccines, there are many doctors who do care about the children they see and their families.
Sorry. Sore topic with me. Yes, my husband is a doctor. And it amazes me how little people value doctors, their knowledge, their time, and their family.
I totally agree that many doctors do not have the knowledge of alternative medicine, it’s just not taught in med school. I think it is good to help KINDLY educate and expose doctors to other ways of thinking.
We do vaccinate, we just spread it out more. And when we brought the girls home from China we did titers to make sure we weren’t repeating or overdoing them. Which also leads me to the point that our children (the older boys) have traveled overseas and that was something I never dreamt would happen.

July 31, 2011 at 6:53 pm
missingtheshire
Member
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