Re: Small Update and a Shopping Question

[Guest guest]

I would be very concerned if the doctor thinks the methods are the same as far

as he is doing them they are very different. I would specifically want to know

about the proper cut outs in the back and front, whether or not his table is

designed for young children and can address all three dimensions of correction.

Also does he anchor the cast at the hips? This is very important. How many

kids does he treat with progressive infantile scoliosis, how much correction do

they tend to get, how long are they casted and what are their long term results?

I would also want to know what his long term outcomes I would really encourage

you to contact Philadelphia shriners for a second opinion. Or Rochester NY. We

go there and I know they can get you in within a few weeks.

We have never had any problems with him sitting on anything. Our casting doctor

makes sure he has over 90 degrees of mobility with his legs with his cast on so

he can fit comfortably. I would cut his hair first.

I know this is very overwhelming, but it will settle down, once you get into

treatment and get a routine around it.

Jenn

Mommy to Cole, 2 years, 5th cast from Rochester, 13 degrees down from 47!

>

> The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the

Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at

all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the

22nd.

>

> I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.

>

> Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as

needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two

positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new

stroller?

>

> So far, on my list, I have:

> -a hair dryer with a " cool " setting for blowing down the inside of his cast

after bathing/swimming.

> -Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's

already having " rise " issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to

swap to these.)

> -Pocket bibs

> -a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast is gonna

get hot this summer!)

> -larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a

2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.

> -swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in

a while.

> -extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on

the furniture. That puts me down to two.

>

> Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum

powder?

>

> Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on?

(Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)

>

> ----------------------------

>

> Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all

directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric

bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and

now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure

of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be

pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, " roll up my sleeves and dive in

to work " .

>

> a

>

[Guest guest]

Hi a,

Please confirm with the treating surgeon that he/she indeed has

the correct sized, 3-dimensional casting frame. Also, confirm that he/she

understands the principles of the Early Treatment Process and harnessing the

childs rapid phase of growth to channel the spine in a more correct position

(3-dimensionally). ET is not Risser casting. ET w/ EDF (elongation,

derotation, flexion) w/ the Mehta Method is a very specialized improvement on

the EDF technique (for infants). The pioneer of this gentle cure had

25/30 years to perfect the EDF technique for babies. Applying a properly

applied EDF to an infant is different from applying Risser to an

adult/adolescent. The specialized windows in front/back are crucial

for correction and comfort. Have you been able to watch “A New

Direction,” DVD and read the article, yet? Please let us know if

you have questions.

Sincerely,

HRH

From:

infantile_scoliosis

[mailto:infantile_scoliosis ] On Behalf Of a

Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:03 AM

To: infantile_scoliosis

Subject: Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said

the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using.

That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to

him at our consult on the 22nd.

I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.

Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed.

I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two

positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new

stroller?

So far, on my list, I have:

-a hair dryer with a " cool " setting for blowing down the inside of

his cast after bathing/swimming.

-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's

already having " rise " issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's

probably time to swap to these.)

-Pocket bibs

-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast is gonna

get hot this summer!)

-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2

or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.

-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a

while.

-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on

the furniture. That puts me down to two.

Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum

powder?

Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on?

(Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)

----------------------------

Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions

at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon,

my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my

infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure of it

all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic

about the whole situation--- you know, " roll up my sleeves and dive in to

work " .

a

[Guest guest]

Hi a,

Please confirm with the treating surgeon that he/she indeed has

the correct sized, 3-dimensional casting frame. Also, confirm that he/she

understands the principles of the Early Treatment Process and harnessing the

childs rapid phase of growth to channel the spine in a more correct position

(3-dimensionally). ET is not Risser casting. ET w/ EDF (elongation,

derotation, flexion) w/ the Mehta Method is a very specialized improvement on

the EDF technique (for infants). The pioneer of this gentle cure had

25/30 years to perfect the EDF technique for babies. Applying a properly

applied EDF to an infant is different from applying Risser to an

adult/adolescent. The specialized windows in front/back are crucial

for correction and comfort. Have you been able to watch “A New

Direction,” DVD and read the article, yet? Please let us know if

you have questions.

Sincerely,

HRH

From:

infantile_scoliosis

[mailto:infantile_scoliosis ] On Behalf Of a

Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:03 AM

To: infantile_scoliosis

Subject: Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said

the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using.

That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to

him at our consult on the 22nd.

I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.

Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed.

I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two

positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new

stroller?

So far, on my list, I have:

-a hair dryer with a " cool " setting for blowing down the inside of

his cast after bathing/swimming.

-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's

already having " rise " issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's

probably time to swap to these.)

-Pocket bibs

-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast is gonna

get hot this summer!)

-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2

or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.

-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a

while.

-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on

the furniture. That puts me down to two.

Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum

powder?

Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on?

(Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)

----------------------------

Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions

at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon,

my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my

infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure of it

all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic

about the whole situation--- you know, " roll up my sleeves and dive in to

work " .

a

[Guest guest]

Hi a,

I think though that if the doc says that "they are the same as far as the technique that he's planning on using" that this could just be a case of him using an "old term." I know SLC up until recently always wrote Risser Cast in the doc notes even though they were in fact doing the Mehta method of casts. They just continued to use the Risser term. I think as long as you have a discussion and clarify the cutouts, table, etc. then should have all of your bases covered.

Jenn also gave you great list of questions to ask in regards to experience.

Your shopping list looks good. And yes definately get a hair cut first. Good luck!~Noah 4 1/2 years old9 months of casting in SLC; Currently on 2 years of bracing at 6* in braceAnd Mariella 12 months old - resolved Infantile Scoliosis

To: infantile_scoliosis From: jennifer.leggett@...Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:15:55 +0000Subject: Re: Small Update and a Shopping Question

I would be very concerned if the doctor thinks the methods are the same as far as he is doing them they are very different. I would specifically want to know about the proper cut outs in the back and front, whether or not his table is designed for young children and can address all three dimensions of correction. Also does he anchor the cast at the hips? This is very important. How many kids does he treat with progressive infantile scoliosis, how much correction do they tend to get, how long are they casted and what are their long term results? I would also want to know what his long term outcomes I would really encourage you to contact Philadelphia shriners for a second opinion. Or Rochester NY. We go there and I know they can get you in within a few weeks. We have never had any problems with him sitting on anything. Our casting doctor makes sure he has over 90 degrees of mobility with his legs with his cast on so he can fit comfortably. I would cut his hair first. I know this is very overwhelming, but it will settle down, once you get into treatment and get a routine around it. JennMommy to Cole, 2 years, 5th cast from Rochester, 13 degrees down from 47!>> The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.> > I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.> > Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?> > So far, on my list, I have:> -a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.> -Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)> -Pocket bibs> -a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast is gonna get hot this summer!)> -larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.> -swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.> -extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.> > Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder? > > Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)> > ----------------------------> > Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".> > a>

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[Guest guest]

Hi a,I've been a little out of the loop on the group lately, but I don't think powder is recommended, it can cake inside the cast. However, we have never had a waterproof cast- I'm assuming that's what you're getting? You might need to get some cream for any cast rubbing, something like Aquaphor or another thick cream near the hips- we use calendula cream by Weleda baby at Target. Our stroller is almost always angled up for our son, sitting more upright seems more comfortable to him. A lot of these things are on an individual basis...you may not need a new car seat if the straps fit.We cut our son's hair in the cast at home, we just use a bib and wash over the kitchen sink right after. Have you already read the what to expect on the first casting day tips on the website, with

bathing and diapering tips? On the left, near the top of the blue list...click on that link. Cetaphil cleanser or the generic brand and diaper wipes are very useful. We've had rocks down the cast, no kidding!!! They came out of the bottom!!! Yikes.I apologize if I'm repeating, I've been having trouble with my posts going to spam...I would wait on the orthopedic shoes, unless your doctor has prescribed them. We don't need any special shoes for our boy in casts.Most importantly, I wanted to say I think you are amazing. I am working on dealing with the stress of this condition now for over a year, and my best advice is to be good to yourself, take care of yourself and pace yourself one day at a time. It is a process that sometimes can wear you down when combined with all of the other life stressors, and it sounds like you have a lot of them on your plate. Life is not cured, life is managed, as someone wise once said. I'm trying to

learn to manage each new thing as it comes and not look too far in the future. You can do this casting thing, for sure, you are doing an awesome job being a great advocate for your children!!! Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)To: infantile_scoliosis Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 8:02:39 AMSubject: Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.

I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.

Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?

So far, on my list, I have:

-a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.

-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)

-Pocket bibs

-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast is gonna get hot this summer!)

-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.

-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.

-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.

Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder?

Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)

------------ --------- -------

Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".

a

[Guest guest]

Wow Heidi, rocks in the cast, you must have been freaking. It reminded me of when I took Peyton to the mall this week. It wasnt as serious as rocks but I gave Peyton some crackers to snack on while I tried to get some shopping done but little did I know that the shirt he was wearing did not come right up to his chin so wouldnt you know it CRACKERS all down the inside of the cast at the front! I managed to slip my hand up under the chest area through the front cut out but I dont know if I got them all out. I guess I will just have to watch and see if he is suddenly really itchy there.......what a little turkey!!

Oh and a, definately not talcum powder, it balls up under the cast and can become quite uncomfortable. Good luck, you will do great and so will Doc!!!!

Lynn

Subject: Re: Small Update and a Shopping QuestionTo: infantile_scoliosis Received: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 4:47 PM

Hi a,I've been a little out of the loop on the group lately, but I don't think powder is recommended, it can cake inside the cast. However, we have never had a waterproof cast- I'm assuming that's what you're getting? You might need to get some cream for any cast rubbing, something like Aquaphor or another thick cream near the hips- we use calendula cream by Weleda baby at Target. Our stroller is almost always angled up for our son, sitting more upright seems more comfortable to him. A lot of these things are on an individual basis...you may not need a new car seat if the straps fit.We cut our son's hair in the cast at home, we just use a bib and wash over the kitchen sink right after. Have you already read the what to expect on the first casting day tips on the website, with bathing and diapering tips? On the left, near the top of the blue

list...click on that link. Cetaphil cleanser or the generic brand and diaper wipes are very useful. We've had rocks down the cast, no kidding!!! They came out of the bottom!!! Yikes.I apologize if I'm repeating, I've been having trouble with my posts going to spam...I would wait on the orthopedic shoes, unless your doctor has prescribed them. We don't need any special shoes for our boy in casts.Most importantly, I wanted to say I think you are amazing. I am working on dealing with the stress of this condition now for over a year, and my best advice is to be good to yourself, take care of yourself and pace yourself one day at a time. It is a process that sometimes can wear you down when combined with all of the other life stressors, and it sounds like you have a lot of them on your plate. Life is not cured, life is managed, as someone wise once said. I'm trying to learn to manage each new thing as it comes and not look too far in

the future. You can do this casting thing, for sure, you are doing an awesome job being a great advocate for your children!!!

Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)

From: a <danceswiththesun@ yahoo.com>To: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comSent: Thu, March 11, 2010 8:02:39 AMSubject: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?So far, on my list, I have:-a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)-Pocket bibs-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast

is gonna get hot this summer!)-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder? Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)------------ --------- -------Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure

of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".a

The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free!

[Guest guest]

Wow Heidi, rocks in the cast, you must have been freaking. It reminded me of when I took Peyton to the mall this week. It wasnt as serious as rocks but I gave Peyton some crackers to snack on while I tried to get some shopping done but little did I know that the shirt he was wearing did not come right up to his chin so wouldnt you know it CRACKERS all down the inside of the cast at the front! I managed to slip my hand up under the chest area through the front cut out but I dont know if I got them all out. I guess I will just have to watch and see if he is suddenly really itchy there.......what a little turkey!!

Oh and a, definately not talcum powder, it balls up under the cast and can become quite uncomfortable. Good luck, you will do great and so will Doc!!!!

Lynn

Subject: Re: Small Update and a Shopping QuestionTo: infantile_scoliosis Received: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 4:47 PM

Hi a,I've been a little out of the loop on the group lately, but I don't think powder is recommended, it can cake inside the cast. However, we have never had a waterproof cast- I'm assuming that's what you're getting? You might need to get some cream for any cast rubbing, something like Aquaphor or another thick cream near the hips- we use calendula cream by Weleda baby at Target. Our stroller is almost always angled up for our son, sitting more upright seems more comfortable to him. A lot of these things are on an individual basis...you may not need a new car seat if the straps fit.We cut our son's hair in the cast at home, we just use a bib and wash over the kitchen sink right after. Have you already read the what to expect on the first casting day tips on the website, with bathing and diapering tips? On the left, near the top of the blue

list...click on that link. Cetaphil cleanser or the generic brand and diaper wipes are very useful. We've had rocks down the cast, no kidding!!! They came out of the bottom!!! Yikes.I apologize if I'm repeating, I've been having trouble with my posts going to spam...I would wait on the orthopedic shoes, unless your doctor has prescribed them. We don't need any special shoes for our boy in casts.Most importantly, I wanted to say I think you are amazing. I am working on dealing with the stress of this condition now for over a year, and my best advice is to be good to yourself, take care of yourself and pace yourself one day at a time. It is a process that sometimes can wear you down when combined with all of the other life stressors, and it sounds like you have a lot of them on your plate. Life is not cured, life is managed, as someone wise once said. I'm trying to learn to manage each new thing as it comes and not look too far in

the future. You can do this casting thing, for sure, you are doing an awesome job being a great advocate for your children!!!

Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)

From: a <danceswiththesun@ yahoo.com>To: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comSent: Thu, March 11, 2010 8:02:39 AMSubject: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?So far, on my list, I have:-a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)-Pocket bibs-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast

is gonna get hot this summer!)-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder? Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)------------ --------- -------Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure

of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".a

The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free!

[Guest guest]

Wow Heidi, rocks in the cast, you must have been freaking. It reminded me of when I took Peyton to the mall this week. It wasnt as serious as rocks but I gave Peyton some crackers to snack on while I tried to get some shopping done but little did I know that the shirt he was wearing did not come right up to his chin so wouldnt you know it CRACKERS all down the inside of the cast at the front! I managed to slip my hand up under the chest area through the front cut out but I dont know if I got them all out. I guess I will just have to watch and see if he is suddenly really itchy there.......what a little turkey!!

Oh and a, definately not talcum powder, it balls up under the cast and can become quite uncomfortable. Good luck, you will do great and so will Doc!!!!

Lynn

Subject: Re: Small Update and a Shopping QuestionTo: infantile_scoliosis Received: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 4:47 PM

Hi a,I've been a little out of the loop on the group lately, but I don't think powder is recommended, it can cake inside the cast. However, we have never had a waterproof cast- I'm assuming that's what you're getting? You might need to get some cream for any cast rubbing, something like Aquaphor or another thick cream near the hips- we use calendula cream by Weleda baby at Target. Our stroller is almost always angled up for our son, sitting more upright seems more comfortable to him. A lot of these things are on an individual basis...you may not need a new car seat if the straps fit.We cut our son's hair in the cast at home, we just use a bib and wash over the kitchen sink right after. Have you already read the what to expect on the first casting day tips on the website, with bathing and diapering tips? On the left, near the top of the blue

list...click on that link. Cetaphil cleanser or the generic brand and diaper wipes are very useful. We've had rocks down the cast, no kidding!!! They came out of the bottom!!! Yikes.I apologize if I'm repeating, I've been having trouble with my posts going to spam...I would wait on the orthopedic shoes, unless your doctor has prescribed them. We don't need any special shoes for our boy in casts.Most importantly, I wanted to say I think you are amazing. I am working on dealing with the stress of this condition now for over a year, and my best advice is to be good to yourself, take care of yourself and pace yourself one day at a time. It is a process that sometimes can wear you down when combined with all of the other life stressors, and it sounds like you have a lot of them on your plate. Life is not cured, life is managed, as someone wise once said. I'm trying to learn to manage each new thing as it comes and not look too far in

the future. You can do this casting thing, for sure, you are doing an awesome job being a great advocate for your children!!!

Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)

From: a <danceswiththesun@ yahoo.com>To: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comSent: Thu, March 11, 2010 8:02:39 AMSubject: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?So far, on my list, I have:-a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)-Pocket bibs-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast

is gonna get hot this summer!)-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder? Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)------------ --------- -------Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure

of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".a

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Lynn,I hear you, Bex eats crackers, too, but the dirt and rocks are the worst! He likes to toss them up in the air and they go down his neck. It happens so fast! We turn him upside down and shake it out, then floss the sweater to get it to fall out. I couldn't believe a jagged rock made its way all the way down, but he seems fine, now. We have the kind of cast where we can pull the sweater up to reveal the cut-outs and wipe down sand or dirt stuck in his belly button with a baby wipe.It is always a challenge, isn't it? We went to a birthday party for a 3 year old today, and they of course had a running water fountain- guess who wanted to spend all of his time there? : ) Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners,

currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)To: infantile_scoliosis Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010 9:13:05 AMSubject: Re: Small Update and a Shopping Question

Wow Heidi, rocks in the cast, you must have been freaking. It reminded me of when I took Peyton to the mall this week. It wasnt as serious as rocks but I gave Peyton some crackers to snack on while I tried to get some shopping done but little did I know that the shirt he was wearing did not come right up to his chin so wouldnt you know it CRACKERS all down the inside of the cast at the front! I managed to slip my hand up under the chest area through the front cut out but I dont know if I got them all out. I guess I will just have to watch and see if he is suddenly really itchy there....... what a little turkey!!

Oh and a, definately not talcum powder, it balls up under the cast and can become quite uncomfortable. Good luck, you will do great and so will Doc!!!!

Lynn

From: NIck Guthe <nickgutheyahoo (DOT) com>Subject: Re: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping QuestionTo: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comReceived: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 4:47 PM

Hi a,I've been a little out of the loop on the group lately, but I don't think powder is recommended, it can cake inside the cast. However, we have never had a waterproof cast- I'm assuming that's what you're getting? You might need to get some cream for any cast rubbing, something like Aquaphor or another thick cream near the hips- we use calendula cream by Weleda baby at Target. Our stroller is almost always angled up for our son, sitting more upright seems more comfortable to him. A lot of these things are on an individual basis...you may not need a new car seat if the straps fit.We cut our son's hair in the cast at home, we just use a bib and wash over the kitchen sink right after. Have you already read the what to expect on the first casting day tips on the website, with bathing and diapering tips? On the left, near the top of the blue

list...click on that link. Cetaphil cleanser or the generic brand and diaper wipes are very useful. We've had rocks down the cast, no kidding!!! They came out of the bottom!!! Yikes.I apologize if I'm repeating, I've been having trouble with my posts going to spam...I would wait on the orthopedic shoes, unless your doctor has prescribed them. We don't need any special shoes for our boy in casts.Most importantly, I wanted to say I think you are amazing. I am working on dealing with the stress of this condition now for over a year, and my best advice is to be good to yourself, take care of yourself and pace yourself one day at a time. It is a process that sometimes can wear you down when combined with all of the other life stressors, and it sounds like you have a lot of them on your plate. Life is not cured, life is managed, as someone wise once said. I'm trying to learn to manage each new thing as it comes and not look too far in

the future. You can do this casting thing, for sure, you are doing an awesome job being a great advocate for your children!!!

Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)

From: a <danceswiththesun@ yahoo.com>To: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comSent: Thu, March 11, 2010 8:02:39 AMSubject: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?So far, on my list, I have:-a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)-Pocket bibs-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast

is gonna get hot this summer!)-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder? Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)------------ --------- -------Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure

of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".a

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[Guest guest]

Lynn,I hear you, Bex eats crackers, too, but the dirt and rocks are the worst! He likes to toss them up in the air and they go down his neck. It happens so fast! We turn him upside down and shake it out, then floss the sweater to get it to fall out. I couldn't believe a jagged rock made its way all the way down, but he seems fine, now. We have the kind of cast where we can pull the sweater up to reveal the cut-outs and wipe down sand or dirt stuck in his belly button with a baby wipe.It is always a challenge, isn't it? We went to a birthday party for a 3 year old today, and they of course had a running water fountain- guess who wanted to spend all of his time there? : ) Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners,

currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)To: infantile_scoliosis Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010 9:13:05 AMSubject: Re: Small Update and a Shopping Question

Wow Heidi, rocks in the cast, you must have been freaking. It reminded me of when I took Peyton to the mall this week. It wasnt as serious as rocks but I gave Peyton some crackers to snack on while I tried to get some shopping done but little did I know that the shirt he was wearing did not come right up to his chin so wouldnt you know it CRACKERS all down the inside of the cast at the front! I managed to slip my hand up under the chest area through the front cut out but I dont know if I got them all out. I guess I will just have to watch and see if he is suddenly really itchy there....... what a little turkey!!

Oh and a, definately not talcum powder, it balls up under the cast and can become quite uncomfortable. Good luck, you will do great and so will Doc!!!!

Lynn

From: NIck Guthe <nickgutheyahoo (DOT) com>Subject: Re: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping QuestionTo: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comReceived: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 4:47 PM

Hi a,I've been a little out of the loop on the group lately, but I don't think powder is recommended, it can cake inside the cast. However, we have never had a waterproof cast- I'm assuming that's what you're getting? You might need to get some cream for any cast rubbing, something like Aquaphor or another thick cream near the hips- we use calendula cream by Weleda baby at Target. Our stroller is almost always angled up for our son, sitting more upright seems more comfortable to him. A lot of these things are on an individual basis...you may not need a new car seat if the straps fit.We cut our son's hair in the cast at home, we just use a bib and wash over the kitchen sink right after. Have you already read the what to expect on the first casting day tips on the website, with bathing and diapering tips? On the left, near the top of the blue

list...click on that link. Cetaphil cleanser or the generic brand and diaper wipes are very useful. We've had rocks down the cast, no kidding!!! They came out of the bottom!!! Yikes.I apologize if I'm repeating, I've been having trouble with my posts going to spam...I would wait on the orthopedic shoes, unless your doctor has prescribed them. We don't need any special shoes for our boy in casts.Most importantly, I wanted to say I think you are amazing. I am working on dealing with the stress of this condition now for over a year, and my best advice is to be good to yourself, take care of yourself and pace yourself one day at a time. It is a process that sometimes can wear you down when combined with all of the other life stressors, and it sounds like you have a lot of them on your plate. Life is not cured, life is managed, as someone wise once said. I'm trying to learn to manage each new thing as it comes and not look too far in

the future. You can do this casting thing, for sure, you are doing an awesome job being a great advocate for your children!!!

Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)

From: a <danceswiththesun@ yahoo.com>To: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comSent: Thu, March 11, 2010 8:02:39 AMSubject: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?So far, on my list, I have:-a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)-Pocket bibs-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast

is gonna get hot this summer!)-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder? Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)------------ --------- -------Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure

of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".a

The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free!

[Guest guest]

Lynn,I hear you, Bex eats crackers, too, but the dirt and rocks are the worst! He likes to toss them up in the air and they go down his neck. It happens so fast! We turn him upside down and shake it out, then floss the sweater to get it to fall out. I couldn't believe a jagged rock made its way all the way down, but he seems fine, now. We have the kind of cast where we can pull the sweater up to reveal the cut-outs and wipe down sand or dirt stuck in his belly button with a baby wipe.It is always a challenge, isn't it? We went to a birthday party for a 3 year old today, and they of course had a running water fountain- guess who wanted to spend all of his time there? : ) Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners,

currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)To: infantile_scoliosis Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010 9:13:05 AMSubject: Re: Small Update and a Shopping Question

Wow Heidi, rocks in the cast, you must have been freaking. It reminded me of when I took Peyton to the mall this week. It wasnt as serious as rocks but I gave Peyton some crackers to snack on while I tried to get some shopping done but little did I know that the shirt he was wearing did not come right up to his chin so wouldnt you know it CRACKERS all down the inside of the cast at the front! I managed to slip my hand up under the chest area through the front cut out but I dont know if I got them all out. I guess I will just have to watch and see if he is suddenly really itchy there....... what a little turkey!!

Oh and a, definately not talcum powder, it balls up under the cast and can become quite uncomfortable. Good luck, you will do great and so will Doc!!!!

Lynn

From: NIck Guthe <nickgutheyahoo (DOT) com>Subject: Re: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping QuestionTo: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comReceived: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 4:47 PM

Hi a,I've been a little out of the loop on the group lately, but I don't think powder is recommended, it can cake inside the cast. However, we have never had a waterproof cast- I'm assuming that's what you're getting? You might need to get some cream for any cast rubbing, something like Aquaphor or another thick cream near the hips- we use calendula cream by Weleda baby at Target. Our stroller is almost always angled up for our son, sitting more upright seems more comfortable to him. A lot of these things are on an individual basis...you may not need a new car seat if the straps fit.We cut our son's hair in the cast at home, we just use a bib and wash over the kitchen sink right after. Have you already read the what to expect on the first casting day tips on the website, with bathing and diapering tips? On the left, near the top of the blue

list...click on that link. Cetaphil cleanser or the generic brand and diaper wipes are very useful. We've had rocks down the cast, no kidding!!! They came out of the bottom!!! Yikes.I apologize if I'm repeating, I've been having trouble with my posts going to spam...I would wait on the orthopedic shoes, unless your doctor has prescribed them. We don't need any special shoes for our boy in casts.Most importantly, I wanted to say I think you are amazing. I am working on dealing with the stress of this condition now for over a year, and my best advice is to be good to yourself, take care of yourself and pace yourself one day at a time. It is a process that sometimes can wear you down when combined with all of the other life stressors, and it sounds like you have a lot of them on your plate. Life is not cured, life is managed, as someone wise once said. I'm trying to learn to manage each new thing as it comes and not look too far in

the future. You can do this casting thing, for sure, you are doing an awesome job being a great advocate for your children!!!

Heidi, Bexon's Mommy, (2 and a half years old, in 6th cast from Salt Lake City Shriners, currently down from 61 degrees to 25 in cast)

From: a <danceswiththesun@ yahoo.com>To: infantile_scoliosis @yahoogroups. comSent: Thu, March 11, 2010 8:02:39 AMSubject: [infantile_scoliosi s] Small Update and a Shopping Question

The doctor's office just called back and said the Mehta is the same as the Risser as far as technique he's planning on using. That doesn't sound right at all to me, so I'll be taking some information in to him at our consult on the 22nd.I'm going to start doing my shopping for Doc's new needs in a few days.Our car seat has an adjustable sweep on it, so I can change the angle as needed. I'm kind of worried about his comfort in our stroller, it only has two positions and both of them are pretty straight-angled. Should I buy him a new stroller?So far, on my list, I have:-a hair dryer with a "cool" setting for blowing down the inside of his cast after bathing/swimming.-Pampers Easy Ups. (I remember these from the other 3 kids, and since he's already having "rise" issues on diapers vs. crotch length, it's probably time to swap to these.)-Pocket bibs-a dedicated fan for his play area (we don't have a/c and that cast

is gonna get hot this summer!)-larger sized clothes. He's in an 18 month now for shirts, so I'm thinking a 2 or 3 T. I might have to temporarily hem the lengths, though.-swimming lessons so that he can get away from the weight of the cast once in a while.-extra juice glasses... sigh. My six year old just broke one while jumping on the furniture. That puts me down to two.Is there anything else I should add to that list? Orthopedic shoes? Talcum powder? Should I go ahead and get his first hair cut BEFORE the cast goes on? (Shudder--- I can just imagine a stray hair getting in there.)------------ --------- -------Also, how do you all manage? I feel like I'm being stretched in all directions at once. I have fibromyalgia, my husband is scheduled for gastric bypass soon, my six year old has learning disabilities from lead poisoning, and now my infant needs serial casting. I'm ready to scream from the sheer pressure

of it all. The only thing keeping me focused is my determination to be pragmatic about the whole situation--- you know, "roll up my sleeves and dive in to work".a

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