Re: Re: Update: Purvi vs. Ansie

[Guest guest]

I personally would have Ansie do the first cut and then see Purvi for all the follow up appointments if you want to stick with going next week. If you wait the week go with Purvi. I am speaking from personal experience at this facility. We loved Purvi and when she was away saw Ansie and she was good too. However, the first cut is the most important as anyone can tell you. If they take off too much band lets say over a bulging forhead area, it will not correct properly. If it is cut too low in the back the baby will have a red neck and need to go back to have it recut. Around the ears is also a delicate cut ans you want just enough space for the ears and not too large of a hole around the ears.

They are going to have the band and shave it to fit the babies heads. I would personally wait the week and go with Purvi for both the casting, and the first fitting. Our band even came in early and we were fitted within a week of casting so I believe it could go fast for you as well so mabye you are not even delaying the babies more than a few days.

I am sorry this is so long but I feel strongly about this and other mothers here have gone to Ct and loved Purvi so I would stick with a known thing. Take care and good luck with everything. Tammy

From: christineashok <christineashok@...>Subject: Re: Update: Purvi vs. AnsiePlagiocephaly Date: Saturday, June 7, 2008, 10:00 AM

I didn't go to CT, but I really believe all their staff is welltrained. There might be a problem here and there with individualbands, but it doesn't make sense to me that there is only one personworth seeing in the NJ office. I'm sure they work as a team and ifthey have questions they consult with each other. I think getting theband in a timely matter is important, and I wouldn't worry aboutseeing a specific ortho. If you find there is someone you don't likeyou can request someone else in the future. I know I've seen a fewposts which are very pro-Purvi, and I'm sure she's good, but I haven'treally heard that the others are not. Also in the rare event that youhave a problem with your band CT will make you a new one at no costso it isn't that risky (this has been their approach from what I'veseen in the past).-christinesydney 2 yrs starband grad> > & gt; & gt; & gt;> > & gt; & gt; & gt; -> > & gt; & gt; & gt; OMG, how cute is Isaac's hair when it's all dry and> fluffy! It's > > & gt; & gt; & gt; adorable! > > & gt; & gt; & gt; > > & gt; & gt; & gt; I do see more flatness from the

side on both of them.> The starscans > > & gt; & gt; & gt; only show the shape of the head from the top, and I> don't think> > it's > > & gt; & gt; & gt; as noticable from that angle, so maybe Joe is> depending too much on > > & gt; & gt; & gt; the report and not enough on the head itself? I don't> know. Was > > & gt; & gt; & gt; their hair slicked down or held down with a stocking> cap for the > > & gt; & gt; & gt; scan? I agree, that from the scan alone, it looks> like Garrick's > > & gt; & gt; & gt; head is completely symmetrical. But from the side> angle, it looks > > & gt; & gt; & gt; like his flatness is slightly worse than Isaac's.Weird. > > & gt; & gt; & gt; > > & gt; & gt; & gt; I don't know of one baby who ended

up with a worse> shaped head that > > & gt; & gt; & gt; went to CT. The worst stories I've heard have come> from Danmar and > > & gt; & gt; & gt; Hanger helmets, where some of those babies ended up> with heads in > > & gt; & gt; & gt; worse shape than they started (plagio when they> started with> > brachy, > > & gt; & gt; & gt; heads growing out the top of the band because they> had nowhere else > > & gt; & gt; & gt; to grow), or just no change at all and a lot of time> and money > > & gt; & gt; & gt; wasted. I personally think you couldn't go wrong with> CT, but if> > you > > & gt; & gt; & gt; feel more comfortable going with the STARBand, I> still think it > > & gt; & gt; & gt; would be worth a shot. Oh by the way, how

much> experience does Joe > > & gt; & gt; & gt; have with the STARBand? > > & gt; & gt; & gt; > > & gt; & gt; & gt; CT was out of network for us, but insurance still> covered 75% of> > the > > & gt; & gt; & gt; cost. We haven't heard back about the second claim> yet, but I was > > & gt; & gt; & gt; told it would be covered as well at the same amount. > > & gt; & gt; & gt; > > & gt; & gt; & gt; > > & gt; & gt; & gt; Jake-20m (tort resolved/rt plagio/2nd DOCBand-Day 2)> > & gt;> >>

[Guest guest]

,

I know we haven't "met" but I wanted give you some advice since I'm sure you have double the stress with having to band 2!! I definitely wouldn't wait for that first fitting. Once the casting or scan is done, get the first fitting done as soon as it's available because heads grow fast this young and you want the fitting done as close to the casting as you can. I don't think I remember a mom having a fit problem after the first fit as far as shaving too much out with the DOB band. I've heard of shaving too much out with the other bands and them using mole skin or something to pad but I think CT is more conservative with their shaves, at least in the beginning.

The first few days in the band are critical because there's a chance for skin breakdown, but just make sure you're diligent with checks and keep in touch with your therapist and it shouldn't get to the point of breakdown. Kat was great with the adjustments for red spots. Caleb had red spots in the beginning and every day she wanted an update on how they'd fade and she was also very good about altering her advice to us because she knew it was a 2.5 hour drive for us and she didn't want us to make unnecessary or extra trips. She gave us the perfect advice for preventing open sores yet avoiding extra trips. We've had Kat for 2 bands and she never shaved out too much. I think it was even a little of the opposite. She is newer so she's more conservative which I like (I work in healthcare and see how more aggressive and overzealous more experienced healthcare workers can get). She would take the band, make the adjustment and then see how it fit and then take it off and then shave some more and then come back and check the fit again. It makes for a longer appointment sometimes but it doesn't bother me in the least bit because I liked that she wanted the adjustment to be just right. Plus we were driving a total of 5 hours for appointments so I wanted it to be longer than 3 minutes!

Also if you can, try and stick with the same therapist throughout the process especially in the beginning. That's when the adjustments are most frequent and when you're calling the most about potential problems of red spots, sweating, sleep issues etc. It's best to see the person who knows your babies head the best. Who did your babies initial consultation?

I think all the therapists are great in that office. You really can't go wrong. And if you have a problem with one for some reason you can always switch. Try not to stress so much over which therapist to choose but rather if they're doing what's best for your each individual baby and you can do that by staying informed and asking questions. Best of luck.

We actually have an appointment on the 23rd so maybe we'll see you there!

Lea

mom to Caleb 15 months

DOB band 1/14/08 and 4/7/08

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