Re: regret of early helmet removal

[Guest guest]

I " m so sorry to hear of your distress and frustration. Can you post

some photos of your son at graduation and today? Maybe some

objective second opinions would help.

My son was banded at 17 months old and his head shape has changed,

so I believe if you wanted to pursue a second helmet, it would

beneficial, assuming he continues to grow at a decent rate.

Good luck!

Jake-22m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand #2 5 weeks)

Jordan-4

>

> I thought I would share my experience as it may help others in the

> decision-making process as to whether to remove a helmet early

(also

> looking to see if anyone has NOT had success at banding at 11

> months). I have been utterly tortured by helmets and head shapes

for

> most of my son's life, and I am so sick of it. History: Early on,

I

> wasted a lot of time with aggressive repositioning (his head

actually

> got worse!). I very reluctantly started my son in a helmet at 6

1/2

> months (12 mm) and at 8 months (against the advice of orthotist,

but

> with agreement of PT), we chose to take him out of helmet (2 mm).

> The reason we removed it is because 1. at the time his head looked

> good - really, it did then; and 2. it seemed like it was putting

so

> much pressure on my little baby's head (I was vehemently anti-

helmet

> so the whole thing was hard for me and I felt like 2 mm was close

> enough). Anyway, I write this note now to warn others about the

> regret one may feel if you take the helmet off early; regret I

live

> with every second of every day. Ever since its removal, I have

> agonized over repositioning my son (some 3 months now of sleepless

> nights) and am convinced it has regressed. I stare and touch and

> photograph his head all day. I dread giving him a bath as it only

> encourages me to stare at his head wet, when it looks its worse.

In

> short, I am obsessed. I went back to the PT after one month of

this

> and he had increased to 3 mm. Now, 2 months since last

measurement

> at 11 months old, I KNOW that his head is jutting out even more in

> places where it never did before. The original orthotist will not

> put on new helmet ( " too old " ), refused to remeasure or assess him,

> and emphatically told me that regression is impossible. PT is

also

> done with me ( " sutures close at 12 months " ). In desperation, I am

> seeing two other orthotists for other opinions. My doctor never

> noticed the problem to begin with, so haven't even discussed this

> with him. I have come to terms with the fact that another helmet

is

> likely (if I can find someone to do it). Although the hair covers

> the flat spot and the jutting fairly well, I feel I must re-helmet

> him ... What if he becomes bald one day or what if he wants to

wear a

> buzz-cut? I only hope that 11 months is not too late to fix

this?

> Am I a perfectionist? As he gets older, will this get more

> noticeable or less? When will I ever stop looking at his head? I

> told my husband that I just can't take it anymore. As much as I

hate

> the helmet, I am going to force myself (my son, rather) back into

> it. These are just thoughts for someone out there who may be

> struggling down the same path. Wait until you are " done " -

otherwise

> you may really regret it. I feel bad writing all this too because

I

> know there are far, far worse things that could happen to my son;

I

> just really hate this so much. -Thanks.

>