Re: New member- I need help!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Rach,

Welcome to the group. I hate to say this but I don't think we've ever

had a member be happy with Gillettes. From what I understand they

really aren't all that good. Sorry!

I don't think all cases of plagio are cosmetic. Is your son's face

asymmetrical? Are his ears aligned?

Do you know if your near a DOC band clinic or a STAR band place?

You can find out more about the DOCband at http://www.cranialtech.com

and you can find out more about the STARband here:

http://www.orthomerica.com

Cranial tech offers free evaluations.

Also you can type Gillette in the search box to see what some members

that have used them have said.

Good luck and please keep us posted.

> Hi- My name is Rach, I have a 7 month old boy JT. He has

> plagiocephaly due to his torticollis. The good news is his PT for

> the tort is helping out alot!! I am not sure what to do. He has

> what I would say a moderate case of plagio, which has improved with

> positioning somewhat. But he is getting older and it is harder to

> keep him off that " sweet spot " at night. I had a consult with a

> craniofacial plastic surgeon who was absolutly no help at all. He

> basically told me that it was my choice (which it is) and that if

> it's going to bother " me " when he is 4 years old and has a flat

spot

> on his head then I should think about the band. I felt like if I

> put my son thru all this hardship by having a band, it would only

> benefit myself. He also said that the band is strictly for

cosmetic

> purposes only, which everything I have read about has been for

> restructural purposes. This doctor works for Children's Gillette

> Hospital here in St. , MN which is where we live. They make

the

> craniocaps there. I am very confused, JT is already getting to the

> point where we don't want to put this off any longer, I feel as if

> we got a 2nd opinion, it would be getting too late. Does anyone

> have any advise they could send my way?? I would really appreciate

> it. Thank you very much in advance for helping me out.

> Rach

[Guest guest]

Hi Rach, Im a new member as well so I wont have all the answers for

you but the laddies in this group are verry knoledgable and im sure

they can answer most of your questions, as for me I can tell you that

we were in the same boat as you and the choice is yours and only you

can decide which is the right one, we chose to get our daughter her

helmet and she has had it about a week now and she has made the

transition verry well. she is wearing it all day and night, we only

take it off to wash it and she is a verry happy little girl. she only

fussed at first and now she is all smiles. for us we decided that it

was not for us but for her, I thought " what if she comes to me at 18

or 20 and says why didnt you try to fix this? " or if it effected her

confidence in a negative way, I felt it was worth whatever it takes

to try to " fix " (for lack of a better word) it now.What ever you

choose to do it will be the right choice for you and your family, I

wish you all the best,please keep us posted, Kris. -- In

Plagiocephaly , " rachcma " <rachcma@y...> wrote:

> Hi- My name is Rach, I have a 7 month old boy JT. He has

> plagiocephaly due to his torticollis. The good news is his PT for

> the tort is helping out alot!! I am not sure what to do. He has

> what I would say a moderate case of plagio, which has improved with

> positioning somewhat. But he is getting older and it is harder to

> keep him off that " sweet spot " at night. I had a consult with a

> craniofacial plastic surgeon who was absolutly no help at all. He

> basically told me that it was my choice (which it is) and that if

> it's going to bother " me " when he is 4 years old and has a flat

spot

> on his head then I should think about the band. I felt like if I

> put my son thru all this hardship by having a band, it would only

> benefit myself. He also said that the band is strictly for

cosmetic

> purposes only, which everything I have read about has been for

> restructural purposes. This doctor works for Children's Gillette

> Hospital here in St. , MN which is where we live. They make

the

> craniocaps there. I am very confused, JT is already getting to the

> point where we don't want to put this off any longer, I feel as if

> we got a 2nd opinion, it would be getting too late. Does anyone

> have any advise they could send my way?? I would really appreciate

> it. Thank you very much in advance for helping me out.

> Rach

[Guest guest]

Hi Rach, welcome to the group. I'm glad to hear that JT's tort is

getting better. I dont' think anyone wants to have to band their

baby, but I honestly have never heard anyone say that they regret

it. We have had great results with our helmet (progress photos in

the " Hannah B " folder) and are now working on getting a second

helmet b/c Hannah started out with severe plagio. Getting the

second has been a harder decision for me than getting the first, but

I really don't want to have any regrets when she gets older. I need

to know that I did everything that I could. I would definitely do

your homework though before you decide which kind after reading the

other responses about the craniocap. If you're going to do it, you

certainly don't want to waste any precious growing time. Hannah will

be casted for her second band next week and have it by the time she

is 7.5 mos and Cranial Tech said she should still get excellent

correction. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

, mom to Hannah (7 mos today!) DOCbanded 5/12 and ??

Cape Cod, Ma

> Hi- My name is Rach, I have a 7 month old boy JT. He has

> plagiocephaly due to his torticollis. The good news is his PT for

> the tort is helping out alot!! I am not sure what to do. He has

> what I would say a moderate case of plagio, which has improved

with

> positioning somewhat. But he is getting older and it is harder to

> keep him off that " sweet spot " at night. I had a consult with a

> craniofacial plastic surgeon who was absolutly no help at all. He

> basically told me that it was my choice (which it is) and that if

> it's going to bother " me " when he is 4 years old and has a flat

spot

> on his head then I should think about the band. I felt like if I

> put my son thru all this hardship by having a band, it would only

> benefit myself. He also said that the band is strictly for

cosmetic

> purposes only, which everything I have read about has been for

> restructural purposes. This doctor works for Children's Gillette

> Hospital here in St. , MN which is where we live. They make

the

> craniocaps there. I am very confused, JT is already getting to

the

> point where we don't want to put this off any longer, I feel as if

> we got a 2nd opinion, it would be getting too late. Does anyone

> have any advise they could send my way?? I would really

appreciate

> it. Thank you very much in advance for helping me out.

> Rach

[Guest guest]

Good morning Rach,

My son had tort and severe plagio. We banded Drew at 5 months and he

graduated on Monday after wearing his band for 12 weeks. It was the

best decision we made. He adjusted very well and was constantly

smiles and giggles. As for cosmetic, changing the shape of a child's

head so his ears, checks, and eyes line up is not cosmetic along with

the effects that it could have later in life if not taken care of. I

know that some insurance companies consider it cosmetic...but

geez..we only want the best for our children. Do you have a cranial

technologies facility near you? You can go for a free evaluation.

JT is at the optimal age of getting banded. Good luck with your

decision.

Take care,

Randi

mom to Drew 8 months DOC graduate 7-21-2003

> Hi- My name is Rach, I have a 7 month old boy JT. He has

> plagiocephaly due to his torticollis. The good news is his PT for

> the tort is helping out alot!! I am not sure what to do. He has

> what I would say a moderate case of plagio, which has improved with

> positioning somewhat. But he is getting older and it is harder to

> keep him off that " sweet spot " at night. I had a consult with a

> craniofacial plastic surgeon who was absolutly no help at all. He

> basically told me that it was my choice (which it is) and that if

> it's going to bother " me " when he is 4 years old and has a flat

spot

> on his head then I should think about the band. I felt like if I

> put my son thru all this hardship by having a band, it would only

> benefit myself. He also said that the band is strictly for

cosmetic

> purposes only, which everything I have read about has been for

> restructural purposes. This doctor works for Children's Gillette

> Hospital here in St. , MN which is where we live. They make

the

> craniocaps there. I am very confused, JT is already getting to the

> point where we don't want to put this off any longer, I feel as if

> we got a 2nd opinion, it would be getting too late. Does anyone

> have any advise they could send my way?? I would really appreciate

> it. Thank you very much in advance for helping me out.

> Rach