Re: Worried I made this decision too fast.....

[Guest guest]

{{{Abbeysmama}}}

I am so sorry that you feel this way! I think it sounds like this

ortho. has good experience and the fact that he sees her at least

every 2 weeks is really good. I think it is understandable for you

to question things bcz you are a good mommy. I would just take it

week by week and see how Abbey is progressing. Are you taking

pictures every now and then? Is her skin fine? That is really

important. If you keep a close watch on her progress and she seems

to be improving then everything will be just fine. You will know if

it is time to make a change or not. But I think you're doing great!

I'm sure that others will have great advice for you.

Guess what??? Colin's birthday is Sept. 24th!! So they are really

close in age!! I will keep an even *closer* eye on your updates

now. :-)

Sue and

Colin F. 9 mos. brachy, rt plag, STARband 6/29/04

Buffalo, NY

> HI everyone! I am so thankful for these boards I tell you, you all

> are so helpful. After all the post I read, I'm getting a little

> worried that I didn't do MY proper research in finding the right

> orthotist, We moved from WA state and from Dianne's story about

> Alyssa there wasn't many options in that state. I think God was

> looking out for us getting us these orders to VA because they have

a

> Hanger clinic and this orthotist that does use the Star Band. We

> were oringinally going to go with Hanger b/c it was a 1000 dollars

> cheaper than Coastal Prosthetics and Orthodics, (thats where we go)

> but when I called to make an appt. they said there is one orthotist

> that travels to all three Hanger locations and he is out b/c of

> Hodgkins disease, he won't be back until maybe Sept, ok well that

> would have been way too late for us, DOC band is 4 hours up near

> D.C. and that travel was just not possible, we only have one car

> right now too. So anyway Harry Bright is our orthotist, I feel

> though that we were rushing because of Abbey's age, (9mo.) when

> casted and he actually put a rush on the band. He likes to see her

> once a week for adjustments right now and then it will go to two

> weeks, he thinks she'll have to wear it til at least her first

> birthday Sept. 25., Now here is why I am a little concerned....

(took

> me long enough to get to this point, lol)

> When I asked how many kids he does, the receptionist said 10-20 a

> month! I have been to the office 3 times now and have yet to see

> another baby with a band. Now Harry has gotten all of the sick

> orthotist's work b/c they are the only two in the area, when we

> asked him about Hanger and why they are so much cheaper, he

> proceeded to really dis the guy, said he was a good young kid but

> wasn't trained well, his exact words were incompetent idiot, way to

> talk about a guy that might die! I just kind of thought that was

> unprofessional to talk bad about other orthotists, he said the guy

> would put the bands on and not adjust them for like a month and the

> babies would come back with sores and blisters, he kind or scared

me

> b/c we were going to go with this guy b/c it was so much cheaper! I

> mean she is doing fine and gets adjusted again Tuesday, it's just

> that he doesn't " specailize " in these bands, he also make other

> orthodic devices, and prosthetics, and supposedly rolling in the

> dough from this guy being out of commission. I just had a lot of

> concerns coming to him and he joked them off like " c'mon she's

great

> she do fine with this, they don't care or know it's on " , he just

> sort of made me feel like a nervous nelly. It's a little too late

to

> change now, and we really can't. Is this a competitive business?

> Sorry this is so long, I just feel like everyone here REALLY had

> done their research and I was just in a panic to get her in a band

> to fix this before it was too late, and really didn't have a choice

> on where to take her. I guess I am just scared that this band won't

> work or something or what if he screws up her head even more? And

> all this money we paid, we are barely making ends meet. I just wish

> I knew a little more sometimes. Thanks for listening everyone.

> Abbeysmama

[Guest guest]

Abbysmamma,

The only band maker that " specializes " in bands only, is Cranial

Tech. All others do other work. I'm sorry you didn't know this in

the beginning. I want to tell you this, hopefully it will make you

feel better. My daughter went to CTI in Dallas, when she was going

for treatment, they CASTED on average 100 babies a month. CASTED!!

I only saw 1 other baby in there during the 12.5 weeks of

treatment. If he is doing 10-20 a month along with other things, he

is probably all booked up. The good thing is he is wanting to see

her every week, which will keep her treatment on the up and up. I

am one that doesn't care your personality when treating my children,

just be a WONDERFUL " whatever " dr, ortho, hairstylist, etc. It's

not very professional to talk of others in the business, but I'm

sure he is just getting greety with all the " dough " coming in by

someone elses ill fortune. I hope this helps you.

Dustie

> HI everyone! I am so thankful for these boards I tell you, you all

> are so helpful. After all the post I read, I'm getting a little

> worried that I didn't do MY proper research in finding the right

> orthotist, We moved from WA state and from Dianne's story about

> Alyssa there wasn't many options in that state. I think God was

> looking out for us getting us these orders to VA because they have

a

> Hanger clinic and this orthotist that does use the Star Band. We

> were oringinally going to go with Hanger b/c it was a 1000 dollars

> cheaper than Coastal Prosthetics and Orthodics, (thats where we

go)

> but when I called to make an appt. they said there is one

orthotist

> that travels to all three Hanger locations and he is out b/c of

> Hodgkins disease, he won't be back until maybe Sept, ok well that

> would have been way too late for us, DOC band is 4 hours up near

> D.C. and that travel was just not possible, we only have one car

> right now too. So anyway Harry Bright is our orthotist, I feel

> though that we were rushing because of Abbey's age, (9mo.) when

> casted and he actually put a rush on the band. He likes to see her

> once a week for adjustments right now and then it will go to two

> weeks, he thinks she'll have to wear it til at least her first

> birthday Sept. 25., Now here is why I am a little concerned....

(took

> me long enough to get to this point, lol)

> When I asked how many kids he does, the receptionist said 10-20 a

> month! I have been to the office 3 times now and have yet to see

> another baby with a band. Now Harry has gotten all of the sick

> orthotist's work b/c they are the only two in the area, when we

> asked him about Hanger and why they are so much cheaper, he

> proceeded to really dis the guy, said he was a good young kid but

> wasn't trained well, his exact words were incompetent idiot, way

to

> talk about a guy that might die! I just kind of thought that was

> unprofessional to talk bad about other orthotists, he said the guy

> would put the bands on and not adjust them for like a month and

the

> babies would come back with sores and blisters, he kind or scared

me

> b/c we were going to go with this guy b/c it was so much cheaper!

I

> mean she is doing fine and gets adjusted again Tuesday, it's just

> that he doesn't " specailize " in these bands, he also make other

> orthodic devices, and prosthetics, and supposedly rolling in the

> dough from this guy being out of commission. I just had a lot of

> concerns coming to him and he joked them off like " c'mon she's

great

> she do fine with this, they don't care or know it's on " , he just

> sort of made me feel like a nervous nelly. It's a little too late

to

> change now, and we really can't. Is this a competitive business?

> Sorry this is so long, I just feel like everyone here REALLY had

> done their research and I was just in a panic to get her in a band

> to fix this before it was too late, and really didn't have a

choice

> on where to take her. I guess I am just scared that this band

won't

> work or something or what if he screws up her head even more? And

> all this money we paid, we are barely making ends meet. I just

wish

> I knew a little more sometimes. Thanks for listening everyone.

> Abbeysmama

[Guest guest]

Abbeysmama

Hello there.

I just wanted to add as well that I think it's great he is seeing

Abbey every 2wks, and I agree that your ortho was not professional

in talking about another caregiver like that, but don't we all have

bad days??? Maybe he had to catch the slack from the other guy. Oh

and also our Doc here in Germany does countless bands, and I haven't

seen too many there. Trust your instincts and watch Abbey closely,

but it sounds as if you are in good hands.

Sandy Willow's Mom

Germany

> HI everyone! I am so thankful for these boards I tell you, you all

> are so helpful. After all the post I read, I'm getting a little

> worried that I didn't do MY proper research in finding the right

> orthotist, We moved from WA state and from Dianne's story about

> Alyssa there wasn't many options in that state. I think God was

> looking out for us getting us these orders to VA because they have

a

> Hanger clinic and this orthotist that does use the Star Band. We

> were oringinally going to go with Hanger b/c it was a 1000 dollars

> cheaper than Coastal Prosthetics and Orthodics, (thats where we

go)

> but when I called to make an appt. they said there is one

orthotist

> that travels to all three Hanger locations and he is out b/c of

> Hodgkins disease, he won't be back until maybe Sept, ok well that

> would have been way too late for us, DOC band is 4 hours up near

> D.C. and that travel was just not possible, we only have one car

> right now too. So anyway Harry Bright is our orthotist, I feel

> though that we were rushing because of Abbey's age, (9mo.) when

> casted and he actually put a rush on the band. He likes to see her

> once a week for adjustments right now and then it will go to two

> weeks, he thinks she'll have to wear it til at least her first

> birthday Sept. 25., Now here is why I am a little concerned....

(took

> me long enough to get to this point, lol)

> When I asked how many kids he does, the receptionist said 10-20 a

> month! I have been to the office 3 times now and have yet to see

> another baby with a band. Now Harry has gotten all of the sick

> orthotist's work b/c they are the only two in the area, when we

> asked him about Hanger and why they are so much cheaper, he

> proceeded to really dis the guy, said he was a good young kid but

> wasn't trained well, his exact words were incompetent idiot, way

to

> talk about a guy that might die! I just kind of thought that was

> unprofessional to talk bad about other orthotists, he said the guy

> would put the bands on and not adjust them for like a month and

the

> babies would come back with sores and blisters, he kind or scared

me

> b/c we were going to go with this guy b/c it was so much cheaper!

I

> mean she is doing fine and gets adjusted again Tuesday, it's just

> that he doesn't " specailize " in these bands, he also make other

> orthodic devices, and prosthetics, and supposedly rolling in the

> dough from this guy being out of commission. I just had a lot of

> concerns coming to him and he joked them off like " c'mon she's

great

> she do fine with this, they don't care or know it's on " , he just

> sort of made me feel like a nervous nelly. It's a little too late

to

> change now, and we really can't. Is this a competitive business?

> Sorry this is so long, I just feel like everyone here REALLY had

> done their research and I was just in a panic to get her in a band

> to fix this before it was too late, and really didn't have a

choice

> on where to take her. I guess I am just scared that this band

won't

> work or something or what if he screws up her head even more? And

> all this money we paid, we are barely making ends meet. I just

wish

> I knew a little more sometimes. Thanks for listening everyone.

> Abbeysmama