Geoffrey's head and impending battle with UHC...

[Guest guest]

:

I personally think that Geoffrey's head looks nice. I see some minor bossing of the forehead, but that's about it.

Of course I don't want to minimize you and your wife's concerns, but my daughter's head is no where near as round as your son's after spending 5 months in a DOC Band (we got about 85% correction). I think the possibility of future problems comes with the moderate to severe cases, and especially with noticeable facial asymmetry.

You and your wife need to decide what is right for you and your son, and I wish you all the best making your decision. Please let us know what you decide.

Best wishes,

Kendra in Canada

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

From: P....

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 8:42 PM

Subject: Geoffrey's head and impending battle with UHC...

I haven't posted in a long while... we've been repositioning Geoffrey now for two months with some success. Both our pediatrician and the plastic surgeon who saw him agree that we've improved the flat spot on the back of his head and have gotten it to round out some.But the doctor recommended we do a helmet because he wasn't seeing any improvement on the front of Geoffrey's head where one side protrudes a little more. I thought it was all getting better.So we went to the othotics department at Mt. Zion hospital in San Francisco yesterday and are now faced with the dreaded decision: To band or not to band. It would not be a DOC or STAR band -- but it looks very similar to both producst and works in the same manner. We had him take measurements of Geoffrey's head without doing a casting. Even the orthotics doctor said Geoffrey's case was borderline and it was our decision to make... We also face an uphill battle with United Healthcare -- although I pay for the most expensive plan my employer offers, the doctor said the company would probably deny it and we would be in for a battle. He's submitting a claim for it in advance to see what the initial response is BEFORE we have Geoffrey casted. We're supposed to hear back in a few days -- so we have a few more days to make our final decision...I'll be happy to join in any fight against UHC that someone wants help on... just let me know.My wife is hell bent on getting Geoffrey banded because she does not want to take the risk that even borderline/mild plagio case may not go away and could cause Geoffrey problems later.I guess I've seen enough material to believe that most of the borderline or mild cases actually do correct themselves over time and that banding is just a way to possibly accelerate the normal process. AND no one notices it when they see Geoffrey... his pictures are posted in the files section... does anyone see it from the front? Is is that noticable from the top?I would love any sage advice... if he had a more moderate case I would not hesitate for one minute. But he is borderline/mild.Any thoughts? (father of Geoffrey)paulbrunell @ home.com

[Guest guest]

,

How old is Geoffrey? I'm not sure I saw that in your post. If he is young

enough you may be able to wait awhile longer before making the final

decision. I think it is great that you have had some success with

repositioning. I'll bet that has been really hard work - maybe you'll be able

to help some of the people here with their questions about repositioning :-)

As far as the decision to band or not to band - I can only imagine how

difficult it must be to decide. Our neurosurgeon scared us right into our

helmet!! We didn't even think about it!! :-) Since you have some saying yes

and some saying maybe I think it would so very hard to decide. I will say

(and I am NOT trying to make anyone mad) that if your wife is as determined

as you say she is - I would say you should give banding some serious

consideration. She is likely thinking that if she doesn't do everything

possible now she will have regrets and guilt down the line. , I'm not

trying to say what's in your wife's head, but if you poll the other moms (and

dads) in this group they would probably say the same thing.

(and anyone else who reads this) I hope I didn't make you mad, but that

would be my advice. I know this kind of decision is not one to be taken

lightly - I will be thinking of you and your family as you try and decide

what to do.

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

- what state are you from? Just curious since we have United Health Care too. is 2 months and just diagnosed by his ped-we are waiting for the neurosurgeon consult Wed the 28th.

KAYCEE AND PAUL

Out of curiosity-did you choose to try repositioning first or did your physician recommend it? I know they wont treat with the DOC band until he is atleast 3 months but by the time we see them he will almost be 3 months. Like Maggie is already getting out of every positioning device I try- he is only 2 1/2 months but he can roll from his back to his side and can scoot down and in a circle in the crib so anything i put in there he either bangs his head on until it flattens or moves away or he scoots away from it or he throws his feet up in the air until he repositions himself away. It is crazy- I videotaped him last night for 40 minutes getting away from every wedge and towel roll I placed him on. Just so he can see what we went through and how determined he is not to cooperate:-) .

Given this I am wondering if I should push for the band earlier. I don't know maybe they can give me some tips that I am not trying. It is just despite my efforts he continues to face the right side. Hearing everyone's story has been so helpful to know I am not alone and not a bad Mom because I cant seem to get it right- so to speak. beck

[Guest guest]

We tried repositioning from 2 months to five months and then it was

useless becuase she could roll and get out of every contratption.

Maggie has mild/moderate plagio. Repositioning didn't work - it

didn't make the plagio better, but the plagio didn't get worse.

We went with the band and are really glad we did. Even the people

that said that they didn't see anything wrong with the shape of her

head notice the difference.

Just my 2 cents.

Kaycee in albany

>

> I haven't posted in a long while... we've been repositioning

Geoffrey

> now for two months with some success. Both our pediatrician and

the

> plastic surgeon who saw him agree that we've improved the flat spot

on

> the back of his head and have gotten it to round out some.

>

> But the doctor recommended we do a helmet because he wasn't seeing

any

> improvement on the front of Geoffrey's head where one side

protrudes a

> little more. I thought it was all getting better.

>

> So we went to the othotics department at Mt. Zion hospital in San

> Francisco yesterday and are now faced with the dreaded decision:

To

> band or not to band. It would not be a DOC or STAR band -- but it

> looks very similar to both producst and works in the same manner.

We

> had him take measurements of Geoffrey's head without doing a

casting.

> Even the orthotics doctor said Geoffrey's case was borderline and

it

> was our decision to make...

>

> We also face an uphill battle with United Healthcare -- although I

pay

> for the most expensive plan my employer offers, the doctor said the

> company would probably deny it and we would be in for a battle.

He's

> submitting a claim for it in advance to see what the initial

response

> is BEFORE we have Geoffrey casted. We're supposed to hear back in

a

> few days -- so we have a few more days to make our final decision...

> I'll be happy to join in any fight against UHC that someone wants

help

> on... just let me know.

>

> My wife is hell bent on getting Geoffrey banded because she does

not

> want to take the risk that even borderline/mild plagio case may not

go

> away and could cause Geoffrey problems later.

>

> I guess I've seen enough material to believe that most of the

> borderline or mild cases actually do correct themselves over time

and

> that banding is just a way to possibly accelerate the normal

process.

> AND no one notices it when they see Geoffrey... his pictures are

posted

> in the files section... does anyone see it from the front? Is is

that

> noticable from the top?

>

> I would love any sage advice... if he had a more moderate case I

would

> not hesitate for one minute. But he is borderline/mild.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

>

> (father of Geoffrey)

> paulbrunell @ home.com