My father was diagnosed with ATM in summer of '93 at the age of 45. He
is unfortunately still suffering chronic pain although he does an
amazing job of tolerating it. What seems to be unique to my family
however is that not only my father but TWO OF HIS SISTERS have also been
diagnosed with this malady. They have all gone through the routine tests
but nobody, of course, can give any clue as to what has caused this. I,
my brothers and sister as well as my cousins are next in line to
possibly inherit this disorder and we are all extremely worried about
the possible effects on OUR children as well.
The only factor that seems consistent with my father and his sisters is
that at a young age they were all given the relatively new polio
vaccines. Now my father has, in addition to the two afflicted, 5 other
siblings who have, as yet, shown no symptoms whatsoever.
I wonder though, could this polio vaccine possibly be the source of all
of this? Could TM possibly be a long-term effect of an early stage in a
"miraculous" vaccine? Or perhaps it was a certain component in this
vaccine that lies dormant for 30 or 40 years and then begins to wreak
havoc on the recipient's system during some kind of bodily/
chemical/neurological change?
What is most infuriating to someone who has to watch several loved ones
suffer is not the suffering itself or the fact that I am unable to do
anything to ease it - no. The infuriating part is that after all the
tests have been done time and again and the same diagnosis is delivered,
the doctors (at least my father's) seem very...apathetic and reluctant
to discuss any sort of research or any attempt by the patient or family
to search for answers themselves.
Any feedback on this is most welcome.
Ange McKee