Was I right to fuss ?

[Guest guest]

had great difficulty with the DBB, and it was because his

heel could not go down into the shoe. Our doctor felt it was

necessary to do another tenotomy, this time under general

anaesthetic. I agreed that it was probably the best decision.

However, I wanted a second opinion, so I emailed photos of his feet

to Dr. Ponseti. He replied first thing the next day, and said that

's feet were not yet fully corrected. Now I don't know if

this was because 's feet had been out of the cast and boots

for a few days already, and he had lost correction, or if the casts

had come off too early. However, based on this, I fussed over whether

or not to go ahead with the surgery. I just kept seeing the last line

of Dr. Ponseti's reply " definitely should not have another

tenotomy until the components of the clubfoot, except for the

equinus, are fully corrected. " I therefore called and spoke to the

nurse at Dr. F's surgery. Based on my fussing, we have decided to do

another cast tomorrow, instead of the tenotomy, which was scheduled

for Wednesday.

I still doubt myself though, and feel that my doc is a good one, and

would not make a decision that is not the best for .

has had a really tough time with the casts. He never cried

during the first week, prior to casting. Once the casts were on, he

seemed to cry, or rather scream, every waking moment. Cast after cast

he was the same, and I put it down to colic. Well since the casts

came off (he has had free feet and legs for nearly 2 weeks now) he

has been a different baby, smiling and cooing, crying only when tired

or hungry. The change has been dramatic. I simply can't bare to think

that he may go through more trauma. I know casts are not supposed to

be difficult for the baby, but he has definitely found it difficult.

I feel like I've been a pain in the neck to our doctor, and that he

is totally annoyed with me. Was I right to make a fuss, or should I

have trusted him and his experience?

and 06/24/04 bc