Fitting Problems

[Guest guest]

If they band isn't fitting well I would ask for a new band, especially since

they didn't fit you within 14 days. According to Orthomerica's website:

Ideally, your child will be fit with an Orthomerica cranial remolding

orthosis within 14 days of the casting/scanning date to assure proper fit

and function.

If the ortho won't help you out then contact Orthomerica directly.

It sounds like some of the redness your are experience might be heat rash.

You can try putting on some hydrocortisone cream to see if that helps.

Molly

Novato, California

Nicolas, 2.5, tort & plagio, STARband (CIRS Oakland) 4/24/06-9/12/06,

Graduate!

, 5

, 8.5

Fitting Problems

Hi my name is Amy. I'm new to the group and to the StarBand helmet. My son

Bryson is six months old now and we started the process of getting him the

helmet about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I've read everybody's testomonies to having a

great experience with the helmet, which I have not. He was fitted for his

helmet on a Tuesday. With all of the reading I had done prior to and from

what the Orotho told me is that the helmet should be on within 14 days of

being casted because their little heads grow so fast. Well he didn't get

his helmet for 17 days which was a Thursday! I could tell right away that

the helmet was way too tight. Poor Bryson's forhead was scrunched down over

his eyes and his cheeks where pushed forward. By Friday afternoon he had

some really bad red marks on the sides of his head that would not go away

for hours. So I kept his helmet off for the weekend and went back in on

Monday. They shaved a couple of spots on the helmet and said that

would do the trick. By that next Thursday he had blisters in those same

spots on the sides of his head. Once again I brought him back in the next

day and they ended up shaving the whole inside, which made a world of

difference, his forhead and cheeks weren't squished anymore. However, he

still has these really read oval spots on the sides of his head. I took it

off for a whole day to see if the red would go away and it hadn't. So know

my husband is taking him in tomorrow to find out why we are having so many

problems. Am I just being an overprotective mother or are these red spots

normal?

Bryson's mom

6 months old

------------------------------------

For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy-

I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time getting a good fit with

Bryson's helmet. I can assure you, you are not being overprotective,

blisters and bad red spots are NOT normal. Waiting more than 2 weeks

to get the band is most likely the culprit (that has been happening

quite a bit lately and I don't understand why), though it might be

combined with an inexperienced ortho. Do you know how long the ortho

you are seeing has worked with StarBands? Where are you located,

maybe someone's been to the same ortho and can off some advice. One

or two adjustments in the beginning is normal, but not to the extent

that you are experiencing them. I would definitely ask for a new

band to be made and make sure you receive it within 2 weeks. I hope

your husband's appointment with the ortho goes well. Please keep us

posted.

Good luck!

Jake-21m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand #2 3 weeks)

Jordan-4

>

> Hi my name is Amy. I'm new to the group and to the StarBand

helmet. My son Bryson is six months old now and we started the

process of getting him the helmet about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I've read

everybody's testomonies to having a great experience with the

helmet, which I have not. He was fitted for his helmet on a

Tuesday. With all of the reading I had done prior to and from what

the Orotho told me is that the helmet should be on within 14 days of

being casted because their little heads grow so fast. Well he

didn't get his helmet for 17 days which was a Thursday! I could

tell right away that the helmet was way too tight. Poor Bryson's

forhead was scrunched down over his eyes and his cheeks where pushed

forward. By Friday afternoon he had some really bad red marks on

the sides of his head that would not go away for hours. So I kept

his helmet off for the weekend and went back in on Monday. They

shaved a couple of spots on the helmet and said that

> would do the trick. By that next Thursday he had blisters in

those same spots on the sides of his head. Once again I brought him

back in the next day and they ended up shaving the whole inside,

which made a world of difference, his forhead and cheeks weren't

squished anymore. However, he still has these really read oval

spots on the sides of his head. I took it off for a whole day to

see if the red would go away and it hadn't. So know my husband is

taking him in tomorrow to find out why we are having so many

problems. Am I just being an overprotective mother or are these red

spots normal?

>

> Bryson's mom

> 6 months old

>

[Guest guest]

That's definitely not normal and not right Amy. Stick to your guns and get them to fix it. I went in for 12 adjustments on a custom helmet before I gave up completely. Red spots should disappear an hour at most after taking off the helmet. Blisters should never form. My son had bruises. That's not right either. They tried to placate me and say it was ok and I knew better from reading what the wonderful people here post. I'm taking him somewhere else that doesn't look at him as a dollar sign and does look at him as my sweet little boy.lawoman1729@...Lou Ann Fugate

[Guest guest]

I was referred to Winkley Orthotics in Eau WI by a neurologist. My neurologist said that he has referred patients to this facility before. I'm hoping that we get a new band but at the same time do not want to put my son through the casting process again (he wasn't a really big fan!) Although, through all the blisters and red spots Bryson has been such a trooper, I'm lucky he is such a good natured baby or this could really be difficult. I quess we'll find out tomorrow what are next options are. Thanks for reassuring me that I should be over cautious with his poor little head.

From: <nwilkens2275@...>Subject: Re: Fitting ProblemsPlagiocephaly Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 2:50 PM

Hi Amy-I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time getting a good fit with Bryson's helmet. I can assure you, you are not being overprotective, blisters and bad red spots are NOT normal. Waiting more than 2 weeks to get the band is most likely the culprit (that has been happening quite a bit lately and I don't understand why), though it might be combined with an inexperienced ortho. Do you know how long the ortho you are seeing has worked with StarBands? Where are you located, maybe someone's been to the same ortho and can off some advice. One or two adjustments in the beginning is normal, but not to the extent that you are experiencing them. I would definitely ask for a new band to be made and make sure you receive it within 2 weeks. I hope your husband's appointment with the ortho goes well. Please keep us posted.Good luck!Jake-21m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand #2 3

weeks)Jordan-4>> Hi my name is Amy. I'm new to the group and to the StarBand helmet. My son Bryson is six months old now and we started the process of getting him the helmet about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I've read everybody's testomonies to having a great experience with the helmet, which I have not. He was fitted for his helmet on a Tuesday. With all of the reading I had done prior to and from what the Orotho told me is that the helmet should be on within 14 days of being casted because their little heads grow so fast. Well he didn't get his helmet for 17 days which was a Thursday! I could tell right away that the helmet was way too tight. Poor Bryson's forhead was scrunched down over his eyes and his cheeks where pushed

forward. By Friday afternoon he had some really bad red marks on the sides of his head that would not go away for hours. So I kept his helmet off for the weekend and went back in on Monday. They shaved a couple of spots on the helmet and said that> would do the trick. By that next Thursday he had blisters in those same spots on the sides of his head. Once again I brought him back in the next day and they ended up shaving the whole inside, which made a world of difference, his forhead and cheeks weren't squished anymore. However, he still has these really read oval spots on the sides of his head. I took it off for a whole day to see if the red would go away and it hadn't. So know my husband is taking him in tomorrow to find out why we are having so many problems. Am I just being an overprotective mother or are these red spots normal?> > Bryson's mom> 6 months

old>

[Guest guest]

My son Bryson is on his second Starband helmet as of yesterday. He got his

original helmet about 5 weeks ago with many fitting problems, deep red spots,

blistering, and tightness. After 6 appointments the ortho was able to shave the

orginal one down to fit ok in the mean time until his second helmet was made

(which we had to beg and request for). The ortho put the new one on and made

some adjustments After leaving,my son was a little fussy but I figured that it

was him just getting used to the way the new one felt. When I took it off at

bath time he had large pressure marks where the closure of the helmet is. It

looks like it was pinching the skin together. But the rest of the helmet is

really loose on him. Is this normal to have the helmet really loose to where it

moves around on his head. His orginal one never did that so I don't know which

one " fits " better. The ortho said that OrthoAmerica makes the helmets loose so

that there is growing

room, it that true? I thought that there was supposed to be pressure on the

spots that buldged out on the sides and loose in the back where the flat spot

is. Any suggestions?

Amy

Bryson's mom-6 1/2 months old

Eau , WI

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

The band shouldn't leave a large pressure mark where it opens. Is it

possible it wasn't put on right (that somehow you pinched the skin)?

It should put some pressure on the prominent areas, and have room

where the flat spot is. My daughter had brachy (flat in back). She had

extra width, so her starband put some pressure on the widest part of

her head. The spots were always red when we took the band off, but

faded and the skin always looked healthy there. At first the band may

be a little loose, but should still fit well enough that it isn't

shifting all over the place.

Are you following the break in schedule for the new band? Did the red

spot fade? Unless it faded within an hour you should go back to your

ortho and see if they can adjust it. However it must be frustrating

for you to have to deal with so many helmet problems. You may want to

see if there are other starband providers or helmet options in your

area. Even if your ortho gets this band to fit, I would take pics

every week or two and make sure you are seeing progress with this helmet.

-christine

sydney 2.5 yrs starband grad

>

> My son Bryson is on his second Starband helmet as of yesterday. He

got his original helmet about 5 weeks ago with many fitting problems,

deep red spots, blistering, and tightness. After 6 appointments the

ortho was able to shave the orginal one down to fit ok in the mean

time until his second helmet was made (which we had to beg and request

for). The ortho put the new one on and made some adjustments After

leaving,my son was a little fussy but I figured that it was him just

getting used to the way the new one felt. When I took it off at bath

time he had large pressure marks where the closure of the helmet is.

It looks like it was pinching the skin together. But the rest of the

helmet is really loose on him. Is this normal to have the helmet

really loose to where it moves around on his head. His orginal one

never did that so I don't know which one " fits " better. The ortho

said that OrthoAmerica makes the helmets loose so that there is growing

> room, it that true? I thought that there was supposed to be

pressure on the spots that buldged out on the sides and loose in the

back where the flat spot is. Any suggestions?

>

> Amy

> Bryson's mom-6 1/2 months old

> Eau , WI

>

[Guest guest]

The red spots do fade. It takes a longer than an hour to fade but they do. The ortho never told me to follow the orginal schedule as I did with the original helmet with 1 hour on 1 hour off and so on. So I have had it on him full time as ussual.

He has been in the band for about 5 weeks and the sides of his head above the ears has gone down by about 1/4 of an inch and the back has come out about 1/4 of an inch. The ortho says that this is good growth. But it makes me wonder if there could be better results if the orginal band would have fit better in the beginning or now if this 2nd band doesn't fit as well if we will slow the progress down with it being too loose. There is such a small window of time to have this all corrected that I don't want to miss it. Thank god that babies are so resilent. I don't know who it is harder on, me or him. I think I'm going to take him back this week to have the new and old helmet adjusted so that I have two options of which one fits the best.

Amy

Bryson's mom-6 1/2 months old

Eau WI

From: christineashok <christineashok@...>Subject: Re: Fitting ProblemsPlagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 10:37 AM

Hi Amy,The band shouldn't leave a large pressure mark where it opens. Is itpossible it wasn't put on right (that somehow you pinched the skin)?It should put some pressure on the prominent areas, and have roomwhere the flat spot is. My daughter had brachy (flat in back). She hadextra width, so her starband put some pressure on the widest part ofher head. The spots were always red when we took the band off, butfaded and the skin always looked healthy there. At first the band maybe a little loose, but should still fit well enough that it isn'tshifting all over the place. Are you following the break in schedule for the new band? Did the redspot fade? Unless it faded within an hour you should go back to yourortho and see if they can adjust it. However it must be frustrating for you to have to deal with so many helmet problems. You may want tosee if there are other starband providers or helmet

options in yourarea. Even if your ortho gets this band to fit, I would take picsevery week or two and make sure you are seeing progress with this helmet.-christinesydney 2.5 yrs starband grad>> My son Bryson is on his second Starband helmet as of yesterday. Hegot his original helmet about 5 weeks ago with many fitting problems,deep red spots, blistering, and tightness. After 6 appointments theortho was able to shave the orginal one down to fit ok in the meantime until his second helmet was made (which we had to beg and requestfor). The ortho put the new one on and made some adjustments Afterleaving,my son was a little fussy but I figured that it was him justgetting used to the way the new one felt. When I took it off at

bathtime he had large pressure marks where the closure of the helmet is. It looks like it was pinching the skin together. But the rest of thehelmet is really loose on him. Is this normal to have the helmetreally loose to where it moves around on his head. His orginal onenever did that so I don't know which one "fits" better. The orthosaid that OrthoAmerica makes the helmets loose so that there is growing> room, it that true? I thought that there was supposed to bepressure on the spots that buldged out on the sides and loose in theback where the flat spot is. Any suggestions?> > Amy> Bryson's mom-6 1/2 months old> Eau , WI>

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I am reading your post and I didn't know that the helmet could actually push the sides of the head in so that, like you said, the measurements would actually go down in that area. I always thought that what is out will remain out and all the helmet could do is redirect the growth to the areas that are flat.

Anybody, correct me if I am wrong?

Thanks,

Leila

From: christineashok <christineashok>Subject: Re: Fitting ProblemsPlagiocephalyDate: Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 10:37 AM

Hi Amy,The band shouldn't leave a large pressure mark where it opens. Is itpossible it wasn't put on right (that somehow you pinched the skin)?It should put some pressure on the prominent areas, and have roomwhere the flat spot is. My daughter had brachy (flat in back). She hadextra width, so her starband put some pressure on the widest part ofher head. The spots were always red when we took the band off, butfaded and the skin always looked healthy there. At first the band maybe a little loose, but should still fit well enough that it isn'tshifting all over the place. Are you following the break in schedule for the new band? Did the redspot fade? Unless it faded within an hour you should go back to yourortho and see if they can adjust it. However it must be frustrating for you to have to deal with so many helmet problems. You may want tosee if there are other starband providers or

helmet

options in yourarea. Even if your ortho gets this band to fit, I would take picsevery week or two and make sure you are seeing progress with this helmet.-christinesydney 2.5 yrs starband grad>> My son Bryson is on his second Starband helmet as of yesterday. Hegot his original helmet about 5 weeks ago with many fitting problems,deep red spots, blistering, and tightness. After 6 appointments theortho was able to shave the orginal one down to fit ok in the meantime until his second helmet was made (which we had to beg and requestfor). The ortho put the new one on and made some adjustments Afterleaving,my son was a little fussy but I figured that it was him justgetting used to the way the new one felt. When I took it off at

bathtime he had large pressure marks where the closure of the helmet is. It looks like it was pinching the skin together. But the rest of thehelmet is really loose on him. Is this normal to have the helmetreally loose to where it moves around on his head. His orginal onenever did that so I don't know which one " fits " better. The orthosaid that OrthoAmerica makes the helmets loose so that there is growing> room, it that true? I thought that there was supposed to bepressure on the spots that buldged out on the sides and loose in theback where the flat spot is. Any suggestions?> > Amy> Bryson's mom-6 1/2 months old> Eau , WI>

[Guest guest]

Oddly enough, his circumfernce has stayed the same. And thats what I asked the ortho, "how can the circumference be the same as it was 5 weeks ago if the back of his head has grown out?" He showed me the measurments and from front to back it went from 5" to 5 1/4 in and from side to side it went from 5 1/4 to 5 in. Which would make his circumference still 16. He told me that the sides flatened out a bit so they are not bossing out and the back of his head is filling out and that's what the helmet is intended for. I can really see a difference in Bryson's head both on the sides and the back.

I'm starting to get the feeling that I have an inexperienced ortho. I seem to always get wishy washy explanations from him. Of course this is the only ortho in a 100 mile radius of me that does these. Thank god for everyone here to give me great information and advice other wise I wouldn't know what is right and wrong. I think my ortho banks on the fact that his patients aren't reading up about these things so he can get away with wishy washy answers. I've gone round and round with him on other issues that I have actually printed material off and brought into him to read. I think he is getting the idea that you don't mess with mothers and their babies.

Amy

Bryson's mom-6 1/2 months

Eau , WI

From: <nwilkens2275@...>Subject: Re: Fitting ProblemsPlagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008, 12:26 PM

Hi Leila-You are correct, I forgot to comment on that when I responded to Amy's post. It has been explained to me that you cannot push the prominent areas of the head in, you can only hold them in place so that they cannot grow out any further. There have been many times that I've wished we could just push my son's forehead bulge back into place! But unfortunately, that's not possible. The only thing I can think of with Bryson is if his overall head circumference has grown, thereby making it appear that his width has improved by 1/4 inch. Is that possible, Amy?Jake-22m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand #2 6 weeks)Jordan-4> >> > My son Bryson is on his second Starband helmet as of yesterday. He> got his original helmet about 5 weeks ago with many fitting problems,> deep red spots, blistering, and tightness. After 6 appointments the> ortho was able to shave the orginal one down to fit ok in the mean> time until his second helmet was made (which we had to beg and request> for). The ortho put the new one on and made some adjustments After> leaving,my son was a little fussy but I figured that it was him just> getting used to the way the new one felt. When I took it off at> bath> time he had large pressure marks where the closure of the helmet is. > It looks like it was pinching the skin together. But the rest of the> helmet is really loose on him. Is this normal to have the helmet>

really loose to where it moves around on his head. His orginal one> never did that so I don't know which one "fits" better. The ortho> said that OrthoAmerica makes the helmets loose so that there is growing> > room, it that true? I thought that there was supposed to be> pressure on the spots that buldged out on the sides and loose in the> back where the flat spot is. Any suggestions?> > > > Amy> > Bryson's mom-6 1/2 months old> > Eau , WI> >>