Re: New to group...anyone from Vancouver, BC?

[Guest guest]

hi Everyone

My son had his appts. at Children's Hospital and Valley

Orthocare today and everything went smoothly. The occupational

therapists were almost going to not recommend banding, because the

bossing/assymetry he has is minimal, but because his head is soo

flat and the sides of his head bulge, they said that we could go

ahead if we wanted. I think that they mainly focus on facial

misalignment to judge the severity. I wasn't given any numbers or

percentages. I know that his head is wider than it is long.

We had to go to see a neurosurgeon also, just because they weren't

sure if the bulging was typical. Everything was fine and the

neurosurgeon even recommended banding.

The casting was good, Lou was very good with and he liked

her a lot.

It definitely is an active band, as Maureen stated - I was sure to

check with them for my own peace of mind. We are going to buy some

camoflouge fabric to cover his helmet with also. How cute!

I am relieved that today is over.

Marcy

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Hi Jenn

> > > > > >

> > > > > > This is basically how our situation came about:

> > > > > > Around 6 weeks old I noticed the flatness of my son's

head

> > and

> > > > > tried

> > > > > > my own repoing without success..

> > > > > > At his 3 month appt. my family doctor noted the

flatness, and

> > > > said

> > > > > > to continue with repoing and see how his head looked at

6

> > months.

> > > > > > At about 18 weeks old I took him back very concerned

because

> > > > > despite

> > > > > > repoing his head seemed to look even worse, and I did

not

> > want to

> > > > > > wait until his 6 month appt.

> > > > > > My doctor said that my concerns were cosmetic, but

knowing

> > how

> > > > > > concerned I was he said he would have my son referred to

> > > > Children's

> > > > > > Hospital for further diagnosis.

> > > > > > I waited a couple weeks, had no call from Children's,

called

> > my

> > > > > > doctor's office, and they said if I hadn't neard in one

month

> > > > from

> > > > > > when they had sent in the request, then I should check

back.

> > > > > > Of course a month went by with no call, so I checked

with my

> > > > > > doctor's office and they looked into it and I finally

> > received a

> > > > > > call from Children's the following week. Whew.

> > > > > > When the lady from Children's Hospital called she set up

an

> > appt.

> > > > > > for about 1 1/2 months later - Nov.19- and also gave me

the

> > > > number

> > > > > > for Valley Orthocare. She told me to call them and set

up for

> > my

> > > > > son

> > > > > > to have a casting of his head after we left our appt. at

> > > > > Children's,

> > > > > > on the same day.

> > > > > > So these steps were done without any sort of specialist

or

> > anyone

> > > > > > besides my family doctor looking at my son's head.

> > > > > > I called Valley Orthocare and they basically set up

> > everything as

> > > > > if

> > > > > > my son for sure was getting a helmet, and if for some

reason

> > we

> > > > > > didn't need one we were to cancel everything.

> > > > > > When she told me the cost I was surprised, and I started

> > looking

> > > > > > into our extended healthcare plan. I called them and

they

> > said

> > > > they

> > > > > > needed a doctor's note, or referral for the cranial

orthotic,

> > and

> > > > a

> > > > > > quote of what material was used to make it. They

considered

> > it a

> > > > > > brace if it was made out of metal or rigid plastic, and

it

> > would

> > > > be

> > > > > > covered if it was medically necessary.

> > > > > > I called Valley Orthocare, and the lady there very

graciously

> > > > faxed

> > > > > > over an estimate letter for the helmet-it is a standard

> > letter

> > > > they

> > > > > > use and just put in your info.

> > > > > > It explains the procedure, what it is made of, and the

cost

> > of

> > > > > > providing the helmet.

> > > > > > I then made another appt. with my family doctor, and

asked

> > him to

> > > > > > write a prescription or note saying that the helmet was

> > medically

> > > > > > necessary. I think at this point he agreed that this was

> > beyond

> > > > > > cosmetic because the severity of my son's brachy makes

his

> > head

> > > > > > really bulge at the sides, and that is what concerns me

the

> > most.

> > > > > > I sent everything into our insurance company, along with

a

> > letter

> > > > > > from myself, and just found out that it was approved.

Our

> > work

> > > > plan

> > > > > > is really good, and covers 100% with no deductible. I

have to

> > pay

> > > > > up

> > > > > > front when we take the helmet, and then the plan

reimburses

> > me.

> > > > > > I hope our situation helps you. Every case is different

I

> > > > > > understand, but it is nice to know that there are others

> > close to

> > > > > > home who are going through the same thing. I feel very

> > > > optimitstic

> > > > > > about everything because I know a helmet will definitely

help

> > my

> > > > > > son, and I now that as a parent I did everything I was

> > supposed

> > > > to,

> > > > > > he just has a soft skull, more so than most babies.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I now sit in limbo awaiting our appt. at Children's

Hospital.

> > I

> > > > > will

> > > > > > let you know more once we go.

> > > > > >