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

[Guest guest]

Hi Francine,

I think the sideburns are for holding the band on better. The reason I

think it may be passive is that it doesn't look like it has foam

inside (or does it?). How is it adjusted? The doc, star, hanger bands

are adjusted by removing foam. The starlight is adjusted by heating

and reshaping. I'm not really sure if adjustment is a requirement for

active vs. passive, but seems common. Also you said she had very

little correction in 6 mo. Even starting at 11 mo old most people do

see good correction. I know every baby is different, but still you

would expect something.

There is another mom on the board who had a hanger band with minimal

correction, then started with a docband after 1 year old and saw some

good improvement. Both are considered active bands, so it isn't always

a difference between active and passive. (I'm not saying that hanger

isn't good, just that every doesn't have the same experience).

If you do get a chance to ask the ortho about active vs. passive on

your next visit I would be interested to know.

-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.

> > > > >