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

[Guest guest]

Hi Marcy,

I'm glad things went smoothly. If your child's head is wider than it

is long then the baby has severe brachy. I'm not sure why they

wouldn't want to treat this. My daughter had severe brachy too and

wore a starband. Since the head is extra wide if left untreated you

would likely have problems fitting glasses, bike helmets etc later. I

know our ortho said his nephew was about 10 and couldn't keep a scuba

mask on his face because his head was flat in back and it kept

slipping off. Even if the face is symmetric, you would want to correct

the shape as much as possible.

Anyway I think you are definitely making the right decision going

ahead with a band. Let us know how it goes and post a pic when you get it.

Take care. -christine

sydney 22 mo starband grad

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > 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.

> > > > > > >