Re: Hi I am new...South Dakota TO MONICA

[Guest guest]

Hi :

We live in the Twin Cities and drove 5 hours one way to Madison, WI

for the DOC band - and we are thrilled that we did it! I just wanted

to quick mention that in the even that you feel you need a helmet,

there is a service in our area called Angel Flight that can fly you

and your child to your Dr. Appt. I think you take a smaller plane.

Anyway, the DOC Band clinic in Madison WI has info on it, if that

should make any difference in your decision-making. We tried the DOC

Band, but in our daughter's case she was too severe for an acceptable

outcome, so we opted for the DOC Band (active band instead of the

passive helmet). The cost was actually cheaper, and we did have the

option of flying, although I just drove.

Good luck - it will all work out fine - you just have to take one day

at a time and trust your instincts.

Kind regards,

, Rhiannon's mom

> > > My daughter is 10 weeks old now and we have just noticed over

> the

> > > weekend that her ears are not aligned. She has the bulging of

> her

> > > forehead on the flat side of her head as well. I am calling my

> > > doctor tomorrow as he has been out of town mon and tues this

> week.

> > I

> > > really don't know what to think about all of this. I want to

> help

> > my

> > > baby and we have started to reposition her and she is doing

> great

> > > with that so far. I can only hope we can get our insurance to

> pay

> > > for what we need them to if and when it comes down to it. Does

> > > anyone know of any doctors near me? We are in the s-e corner of

> > > South Dakota. We were thinking the closest doctor would be in

> the

> > > Twin cities, which is 4-5 hours away. We will gladly drive that

> far

> > > if need be, but I was just wondering if there was anyone

closer.

> > > Another question I have is when do the doctors typically decide

> to

> > > band the babies if they need it? I am sure I will have many

more

> > > questions in the future. Thanks in advance!

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Oops - I obviously meant to write " we tried the CranioCap, but my

daughter's condition was too severe for an acceptable outcome, so we

opted for the DOC Band in Madison, WI, even though the CranioCap was

5 miles away from our house. "

Sorry for any confusion,

, Rhiannon's mom

> > > > My daughter is 10 weeks old now and we have just noticed over

> > the

> > > > weekend that her ears are not aligned. She has the bulging of

> > her

> > > > forehead on the flat side of her head as well. I am calling

my

> > > > doctor tomorrow as he has been out of town mon and tues this

> > week.

> > > I

> > > > really don't know what to think about all of this. I want to

> > help

> > > my

> > > > baby and we have started to reposition her and she is doing

> > great

> > > > with that so far. I can only hope we can get our insurance to

> > pay

> > > > for what we need them to if and when it comes down to it.

Does

> > > > anyone know of any doctors near me? We are in the s-e corner

of

> > > > South Dakota. We were thinking the closest doctor would be in

> > the

> > > > Twin cities, which is 4-5 hours away. We will gladly drive

that

> > far

> > > > if need be, but I was just wondering if there was anyone

> closer.

> > > > Another question I have is when do the doctors typically

decide

> > to

> > > > band the babies if they need it? I am sure I will have many

> more

> > > > questions in the future. Thanks in advance!

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It depends on how severe your daughter's plagio is in order to

determine whether you should use a passive band (CranioCap) or

active band (DOC Band). Can you post pics for us to look at? It

would he us give you an opinion, plus hopefully your pede can offer

you some insight. Yes, in my opinion, if your daughter " allows " you

to repo her, you should definately see some improvement in 6 weeks

for sure. You can take pics of her little noggin week after week to

give you the proof. Sometime's it's harder to tell when you've been

looking at her little head every day, but like they say, a picture

is really worth a thousand words. There is also a tool on this site

to help you determine the severity yourself. I think it's in the

Files. Please look. Or look at some of the pics of the Plagio kids

and point someone out that is a close example for us to look at if

you can't post pics. While you are repo'ing her, you can STILL set

up an appt for her to be seen by a craniofacial and say a week prior

you can decide to either go ahead and have her seen or cancel the

appt, depending on the results you are getting from repo. Sometimes

the wait is long to be seen, so I'd suggest getting that appt even

if you cancel it when it gets closer.

~Amy, mommy to Jaden MN, plagio/mild tort, started CranioCap 4/23/04

> > > > > My daughter is 10 weeks old now and we have just noticed

> over

> > > the

> > > > > weekend that her ears are not aligned. She has the bulging

> of

> > > her

> > > > > forehead on the flat side of her head as well. I am

calling

> my

> > > > > doctor tomorrow as he has been out of town mon and tues

this

> > > week.

> > > > I

> > > > > really don't know what to think about all of this. I want

to

> > > help

> > > > my

> > > > > baby and we have started to reposition her and she is

doing

> > > great

> > > > > with that so far. I can only hope we can get our insurance

> to

> > > pay

> > > > > for what we need them to if and when it comes down to it.

> Does

> > > > > anyone know of any doctors near me? We are in the s-e

corner

> of

> > > > > South Dakota. We were thinking the closest doctor would be

> in

> > > the

> > > > > Twin cities, which is 4-5 hours away. We will gladly drive

> that

> > > far

> > > > > if need be, but I was just wondering if there was anyone

> > closer.

> > > > > Another question I have is when do the doctors typically

> decide

> > > to

> > > > > band the babies if they need it? I am sure I will have

many

> > more

> > > > > questions in the future. Thanks in advance!

> > > > >

> > > > >

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Sorry for the delay - I've been in school and busy at home.

I think repositioning until the 4 month appointment is a great idea.

4 months is when we started with the DOC band, and it was a good time

to do it. Plus, you can tell the Dr. that you ALREADY have been

repositioning, so if you're lucky, you might not need the band. If

the plagio is still severe enough, you still have plenty of time to

do it. I think you might see great changes in 6 weeks - I hope you

do! I know some moms on this board only did repo and it worked

beautifully for them - I hope you are one of them!

If not, then you've tried and you will feel better about your

decision to band. As far as which band to use, I must say that I am

partial to the DOC band because that is what worked for us. The

passive CranioCap did not work in my daughter's situation as she was

too severely affected. (Her ears were VERY mal-aligned and her

forehead was severely bossed on one side - poor baby). If you have

to travel anyway, I would recommend the DOC Band and use the

Angelflight. It is my unprofessional " mommy " opinion that the

CranioCap works better for flattening on one side only - no bossing.

That is my opinion only, based on my own experience. You can call

the DOC Band folks in Madison, WI and ask what to do/how to go about

this and see what they say. (Look under CranialTech.com) You also

can bring your daughter to Dr. Wood at Gillette Children's in St.

(you might want to make your apppointment now as you might not

get in for a few weeks), that way you can just ask for the referral

at your 4 month appoint. You can get info on Gillette Children's on

their website as well.

So, to reiterate, I would make appointments 7 or 8 weeks out with DOC

Band folks in Madison and Gillette Chilren's in St , just to have

them. You can always cancel. Then in the meantime you and your

husband can call, ask questions, do the research.

The CranioCap cost vs. the DOC band cost it the same, BUT - the DOC

Band INCLUDES the OT that you receive during fittings. The Cranio-

Cap PT costs extra and is required. Even if you have a copay, it

will add up.

So, check your insurance, see what's covered, check on Angelflight,

check with both places, have your appointments scheduled and do your

research on which is best for you.

I know that you will make the right decision for you and your family.

WIth kind regards and best wishes for complete recovery!

, Rhiannon's mom

> > > > > My daughter is 10 weeks old now and we have just noticed

> over

> > > the

> > > > > weekend that her ears are not aligned. She has the bulging

> of

> > > her

> > > > > forehead on the flat side of her head as well. I am calling

> my

> > > > > doctor tomorrow as he has been out of town mon and tues

this

> > > week.

> > > > I

> > > > > really don't know what to think about all of this. I want

to

> > > help

> > > > my

> > > > > baby and we have started to reposition her and she is doing

> > > great

> > > > > with that so far. I can only hope we can get our insurance

> to

> > > pay

> > > > > for what we need them to if and when it comes down to it.

> Does

> > > > > anyone know of any doctors near me? We are in the s-e

corner

> of

> > > > > South Dakota. We were thinking the closest doctor would be

> in

> > > the

> > > > > Twin cities, which is 4-5 hours away. We will gladly drive

> that

> > > far

> > > > > if need be, but I was just wondering if there was anyone

> > closer.

> > > > > Another question I have is when do the doctors typically

> decide

> > > to

> > > > > band the babies if they need it? I am sure I will have many

> > more

> > > > > questions in the future. Thanks in advance!

> > > > >

> > > > >