Guest guest Posted December 31, 2005 Report Share Posted December 31, 2005 Hi all, My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. Jen Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 31, 2005 Report Share Posted December 31, 2005 Hi all, My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. Jen Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Jen- DOn't let your family make you feel bad for taking care of your son!! If a plastic surgeon believes it to be in the best interest of your child to have the band, then you should be following his advice! Also, my son's plagio doesn't " look " bad, but that doesn't mean his head is the way it should be. He has more of the scaphocephaly (elongated, rather than lopsided) and his ears are definitely off but you have to be LOOKING really close. Anyway, your family's untrained eyes probably can't see the true problem. Know that he'll be SO glad later in life when his head is normal looking, all thanks to you being his ONLY advocate!!! And get a new pediatrician too .... mommy to Rhys, getting DocBand 1/13 --- In Plagiocephaly , " swthrtjen " <swthrtjen@y...> wrote: > > Hi all, > My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his > peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and > my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our > son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did > not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and > consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star > Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our > insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults > from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat > such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from > others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about > wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps > terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he > will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight > becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. > > Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case > is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. > > Jen > Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Jen- DOn't let your family make you feel bad for taking care of your son!! If a plastic surgeon believes it to be in the best interest of your child to have the band, then you should be following his advice! Also, my son's plagio doesn't " look " bad, but that doesn't mean his head is the way it should be. He has more of the scaphocephaly (elongated, rather than lopsided) and his ears are definitely off but you have to be LOOKING really close. Anyway, your family's untrained eyes probably can't see the true problem. Know that he'll be SO glad later in life when his head is normal looking, all thanks to you being his ONLY advocate!!! And get a new pediatrician too .... mommy to Rhys, getting DocBand 1/13 --- In Plagiocephaly , " swthrtjen " <swthrtjen@y...> wrote: > > Hi all, > My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his > peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and > my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our > son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did > not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and > consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star > Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our > insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults > from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat > such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from > others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about > wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps > terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he > will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight > becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. > > Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case > is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. > > Jen > Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 I'm so sorry that you are having such a rough time and getting greif from others. Insurance often denies the bands as " cosmetic " but that is something that can be appealed and those appeals are often WON! Please check out our files sections for sample appeals letter and also for articles etc to support your reason to appeal the denial. You are NOT being superficial at all! If you were unhappy with his head shape, then you did the RIGHT thing by banding him. It is often hard for people to understand when they are uneducated about plagiocephaly. Try to educate your family and friends about it through articles and medical information. Banding your Son will be VERY worth it! You should be proud that you are doing this for him. Hold your head high and don't let others comments affect you. Oh, and the sleeping will get better as he gets more used to the band. It often takes about a week or so for babies to get used to wearing them. Good luck and keep us updated. Jen (17 mo), tort resolved, Hanger Band Grad (almost 4 yrs) --- In Plagiocephaly , " swthrtjen " <swthrtjen@y...> wrote: > > Hi all, > My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his > peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and > my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our > son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did > not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and > consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star > Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our > insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults > from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat > such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from > others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about > wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps > terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he > will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight > becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. > > Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case > is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. > > Jen > Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 I'm so sorry that you are having such a rough time and getting greif from others. Insurance often denies the bands as " cosmetic " but that is something that can be appealed and those appeals are often WON! Please check out our files sections for sample appeals letter and also for articles etc to support your reason to appeal the denial. You are NOT being superficial at all! If you were unhappy with his head shape, then you did the RIGHT thing by banding him. It is often hard for people to understand when they are uneducated about plagiocephaly. Try to educate your family and friends about it through articles and medical information. Banding your Son will be VERY worth it! You should be proud that you are doing this for him. Hold your head high and don't let others comments affect you. Oh, and the sleeping will get better as he gets more used to the band. It often takes about a week or so for babies to get used to wearing them. Good luck and keep us updated. Jen (17 mo), tort resolved, Hanger Band Grad (almost 4 yrs) --- In Plagiocephaly , " swthrtjen " <swthrtjen@y...> wrote: > > Hi all, > My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his > peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and > my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our > son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did > not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and > consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star > Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our > insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults > from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat > such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from > others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about > wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps > terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he > will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight > becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. > > Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case > is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. > > Jen > Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Just go look in the before and after files or read any post from a graduates mom. My Dominick had to wear three bands over a seven month period and I would do it again tomorrow. You know what you are doing is right and just because some old school uneducated doc says he wouldn't treat it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be done. You are giving your child the best start to life you can and avoiding the associated risks that go with untreated plagiocephaly, so why is that something to be ashamed of? Would you cast a broken arm or put braces on thier teeth? Good Luck and keep your head high and just try to educate people on your outings. CAROLG --- In Plagiocephaly , " swthrtjen " <swthrtjen@y...> wrote: > > Hi all, > My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his > peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and > my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our > son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did > not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and > consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star > Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our > insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults > from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat > such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from > others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about > wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps > terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he > will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight > becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. > > Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case > is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. > > Jen > Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 Just go look in the before and after files or read any post from a graduates mom. My Dominick had to wear three bands over a seven month period and I would do it again tomorrow. You know what you are doing is right and just because some old school uneducated doc says he wouldn't treat it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be done. You are giving your child the best start to life you can and avoiding the associated risks that go with untreated plagiocephaly, so why is that something to be ashamed of? Would you cast a broken arm or put braces on thier teeth? Good Luck and keep your head high and just try to educate people on your outings. CAROLG --- In Plagiocephaly , " swthrtjen " <swthrtjen@y...> wrote: > > Hi all, > My son was dignosed with plagio and tort at about 4 months by his > peditrician only after I brought him in. I live in Boise Idaho and > my doctor is very old school and suggested that we not treat our > son. I went ahead and got the advice of a plastic surgeon who did > not agree with our ped and did suggest a helmet. We went ahead and > consulted with an orthotic specialist who fitted Nate with a Star > Band helmet. It is considered " Cosmetic " and not covered by our > insurance and cost 2000.00. recently I have gotten a lot of insults > from extended family and friends about how superficial I am to treat > such a " Minor " problem. Has anyone else ever gotten such grief from > others. It is hard enough to see your little baby unhappy about > wearing a helmet. It is hard to get it on him and he sleeps > terribly with it on. I am hoping that now that we are in day 5 he > will start to sleep better. I had to keep the helmet off tonight > becasue he developed a rash that did not go away. > > Please tell me that it is worth it to wear a helmet. My sons case > is very mild and I want to feel like I made the right decision. > > Jen > Nate 7 months Starband (on 5th day) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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