Re: To Band or Not. Please advise!

[Guest guest]

Lily,

Our daughter is just about 7 months old and received the helmet 1 1/2 weeks. She is one of the few it seems that didn't adjust easily. When we went to the neurosurgeon we were told that the helmet seems to speed up the process of rounding out the head. She said that there haven't been studies of groups who were the helmet and those who didn't, so there is no hard evidence between those who wore it and those who did not. People have told me that they know children whose heads did not round out (without the helmet) and I have heard of those children who did.

Since our daughter isn't adjusting easily, we struggled with whether to proceed. Right now I feel that I have to try because once she reaches one year, it is starting to get too late to mold the head. I don't want to have any regrets when she is a teenager and is upset with the shape of her head. I have been told that her hair will cover it and it wont be noticable anyway.

Whatever you decide, don't second guess yourself. Talk to a few doctors, research the issue (as you are by asking for advice here) and make your decision. There is really no way to tell what to do and in the long run I'm sure these kids will all grow up and be active, intelligent teenagers and adults. Good luck! Laurie

Hello,

Our son is almost 7 months old and was recently diagnosed with plagiocephaly by a neurosurgeon. We were told his case is borderline, any worse and he would recommend DOC treatment, any less and he would not recommend treatment. The Dr. didn't mention torticollis although our son does favor turning towards the right.

We received a prescription and made an appointment with Cranial Therapies for Thurs for casting.

We're leaning towards treatment but are still struggling with it. My son has some flattening on the back right side of his head and from the top view it looks like his right ear is slightly in front of his left. The right side of his head bulges a little more than the left side. I think his head tends to be a little more elongated as well. There are no noticeable facial asymetries. He also has a large head (98%) so I think the abnormalities are more noticeable. I wish I could be more certain if his case was mild or moderate. I was the first person to notice and have been concerned for a couple of months. My mother/sisters don't seem to think there's a problem and think it will fix itself.

I would be distraught if we didn't do the treatment and his head stayed the same/got worse. But, I don't know if his condition is severe enough to warrent putting him through the treatment and I'm also worried about the $3400 cost. We have United Health Care out of California and I haven't heard good things about their covering DOC, especially if his case is borderline.

I'm pretty sure we'll go with the treatment, but I just wanted to see if anyone else went through a similar struggle and how you came about your final decision. Thanks very much for any advice or thoughts you may have.

Lily

[Guest guest]

Lily -

I will tell you this much - there probably isn't a person in this group that

hasn't heard " it will round out on its own " and that did not happen for us.

My ped told me that and my family told me not to worry. I pursued it anyways

and got the helmet. Now my family thinks I have done a great thing since her

head is improving and she doesn't seem to mind the treatment in the least!!

Go with your gut feeling. If your gut feeling says - " my baby needs a

helmet/band " then do it. Nobody knows your baby like you do!!

Keep us posted!

Marci (Mom to )

[Guest guest]

Lily,

My husband and I struggled with the exact same issues and concerns.

has torticollis, has been treated since 8 weeks and we waited to

see if his plagio would correct itself until 7 months. now 9

months got his band on Dec 26. We had been seeing a cranial facial plast

surg. Our cranial facial recommended at 7mos that there was no guarantee

that Nicks head would correct itself to our liking without therapy. Upon

the decision to band we sought a second opinion. The neurosurg said that

his brain was fine and in time the plagio would correct itself. Nick also

had a mild case with noticable assymentries. After a lot of research and

reading we felt that the band was not detrimental to his well being and that

it may only help. My mother and family was also skeptical but after seeing

his helmet they are very supportive. has had no trouble with the

band and actually looks for it when it is off. Our biggest fear was not

doing something if we could, and getting over our fear of the helmet. I am

now glad that we did pursue the helmet and feel it was the right decision

for our family.

Good luck to you, and your decision.

Polly

----- Original Message -----

From: <gpfeiff@...>

<Plagiocephalyegroups>

Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 3:45 PM

Subject: To Band or Not. Please advise!

> Hello,

> Our son is almost 7 months old and was recently diagnosed with

> plagiocephaly by a neurosurgeon. We were told his case is

> borderline, any worse and he would recommend DOC treatment, any less

> and he would not recommend treatment. The Dr. didn't mention

> torticollis although our son does favor turning towards the right.

> We received a prescription and made an appointment with Cranial

> Therapies for Thurs for casting.

> We're leaning towards treatment but are still struggling with it. My

> son has some flattening on the back right side of his head and from

> the top view it looks like his right ear is slightly in front of his

> left. The right side of his head bulges a little more than the left

> side. I think his head tends to be a little more elongated as well.

> There are no noticeable facial asymetries. He also has a large head

> (98%) so I think the abnormalities are more noticeable. I wish I

> could be more certain if his case was mild or moderate.

> I was the first person to notice and have been concerned for a couple

> of months. My mother/sisters don't seem to think there's a problem

> and think it will fix itself.

> I would be distraught if we didn't do the treatment and his head

> stayed the same/got worse. But, I don't know if his condition is

> severe enough to warrent putting him through the treatment and I'm

> also worried about the $3400 cost. We have United Health Care out of

> California and I haven't heard good things about their covering DOC,

> especially if his case is borderline.

> I'm pretty sure we'll go with the treatment, but I just wanted to see

> if anyone else went through a similar struggle and how you came about

> your final decision. Thanks very much for any advice or thoughts you

> may have.

> Lily

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/31/00 12:57:41 PM Pacific Standard Time, gpfeiff@... writes:

$3400 cost. We have United Health Care out of California and I haven't heard good things about their covering DOC, especially if his case is borderline.

Lily - Have you looked into someone who deals with the STAR Band. Very, Very similar product and a lot less money. Please don't feel like the DOC Band is the ONLY thing! We've had both and my insurance covered 100% of both bands. I can say not driving 360 miles each week in the middle of the winter is priceless not to mention the STAR Band being $1,500 less.

Tammy & 12/8/99