Guest guest Posted January 27, 2002 Report Share Posted January 27, 2002 Thanks for the advice Lori! What kind of helmet do your sons have? If I drive an hour south, I can get a helmet for $600-$700. I am going to investigate the effectiveness with Pediatricians in the area first, obviously. Should I feel bad about not getting one of the super expensive ones, or can they be just as effective - like buying a generic drug? I like the idea of the savings, but I fear having poor results because I was trying to save money. We live in Cleveland, probably not too far from you. Thanks, > , > > I just took a peek at Dane's pictures and they look very similiar to both of my son's heads at that age. Tucker is now 5 months old and has been in his helmet for almost two months and will probably only have to wear it for another month or so. He has tolerated it very well and never cries or wants it off his head. His head is rounding out beautifully and I really feel that because we caught it early (unlike my older son who didn't go into his helmet until 14 months) that we will hopefully get 100% correction. In my case though, I and some doctors think my son's had plagio from the womb because no matter what I did to their position, it didn't help. I never got very big with my pregnancies but had good size babies...Trevor was over 8 lbs and Tucker was over two weeks early and almost 7so I think they might have been crowded for whatever reason. I have read alot about plagio and they do say the best time to get them into a helmet is 4-6 months. I am concerned as well that when I remove the helmet, will the head go back? I am going to keep Tucker in the helmet especially when he sleeps for at least two more months. Also, Trevor went into his helmet late and but he tolerated it very well. He had a chin strap with his (unlike Tucker) and he wore it for 5 months through the hot summer. Good luck and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. I'm just so happy to have found a support group of mothers going through what I'm going through. > > Lori in Michigan > Re: New to Group - Son Just Diagnosed > > > Hello! I am also in the same type of predicament. My son,Dane,is 4 > months old. He has reflux and we were told by the doctors and > nurses at the hospital to only lay him on his right side. 8 weeks > later, we found out what bad advice we received. He has gone to pt > for torticollis for 2 months. We didn't see any improvement until > the last couple of weeks. He really likes being in his Supersaucer > and it takes the pressure off the flat spot. He doesn't have > torticollis anymore, but still prefers the right side. Our doctor > said if we want the helmet now, she will refer us, but she > recommends waiting at least until 6 months (she has 5 patients with > helmets currently so she does agree with the effectiveness). If he > continues to prefer the right side, if we get a helmet and he stills > sleeps like that, will his head go back? His head still looks > pretty crooked from the top and the back, but the symmetry of his > face has improved significantly since his diagnosis. > I am also concerned about waiting. I don't want to wait too long if > he will end up needing it anyhow. Everything I read tells me the > best time is 4-6 months. I am afraid if we wait, he will be stuck > in the helmet for a long time. Do they try to pull them off? I > have a 2 year old and I could see trying to take it off him. > I posted pictures of his lopsided noggin. If anyone had any advice, > I would appreciate it! > > Dane's Momma > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2002 Report Share Posted January 27, 2002 Hey - any helmet can be effective with the right orthotists. If it is more convenient for you and the ortho managing the helmet has experience and you re comfortable then go for it and don't feel guilty at all. Many parents can tell you how pleased they have been with their locally made helmets. Here is a link of questions that might behelpful for you to ask. Let us know how it goes! Beck link......... Click here: Questions for the Doctor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 , I was referred to the Prosthetics and Orthotics department at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I live in Troy about 45 minutes from there. They are the only people around this area that make these helmets or at least make the "good" ones so I'm told. Trevor's helmets (he had two total) cost about $1200 each in the spring and summer of 2000 and our insurance covered them. Tucker's helmet is $1500 and our insurance is pending but should cover it. I'm sure that you can find places that make them cheaper, but just check them out and make sure that they are good. The trip to Ann Arbor would be a hike for you. I lived in Cleveland for a brief period in 1997...isn't there a great hospital there called The Cleveland Clinic...maybe they would know? Hope that you find the right place and feel free to ask me any other questions. Lori in Michigan mom to Trevor & Tucker Re: New to Group - Son Just Diagnosed> > > Hello! I am also in the same type of predicament. My son,Dane,is 4 > months old. He has reflux and we were told by the doctors and > nurses at the hospital to only lay him on his right side. 8 weeks > later, we found out what bad advice we received. He has gone to pt > for torticollis for 2 months. We didn't see any improvement until > the last couple of weeks. He really likes being in his Supersaucer > and it takes the pressure off the flat spot. He doesn't have > torticollis anymore, but still prefers the right side. Our doctor > said if we want the helmet now, she will refer us, but she > recommends waiting at least until 6 months (she has 5 patients with > helmets currently so she does agree with the effectiveness). If he > continues to prefer the right side, if we get a helmet and he stills > sleeps like that, will his head go back? His head still looks > pretty crooked from the top and the back, but the symmetry of his > face has improved significantly since his diagnosis. > I am also concerned about waiting. I don't want to wait too long if > he will end up needing it anyhow. Everything I read tells me the > best time is 4-6 months. I am afraid if we wait, he will be stuck > in the helmet for a long time. Do they try to pull them off? I > have a 2 year old and I could see trying to take it off him. > I posted pictures of his lopsided noggin. If anyone had any advice, > I would appreciate it!> > Dane's Momma> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 , Forgot to answer your question about what kind of helmet that Tucker wears. There is a picture of him in the photos in a blue molding helmet...check it out! Lori Re: New to Group - Son Just Diagnosed> > > Hello! I am also in the same type of predicament. My son,Dane,is 4 > months old. He has reflux and we were told by the doctors and > nurses at the hospital to only lay him on his right side. 8 weeks > later, we found out what bad advice we received. He has gone to pt > for torticollis for 2 months. We didn't see any improvement until > the last couple of weeks. He really likes being in his Supersaucer > and it takes the pressure off the flat spot. He doesn't have > torticollis anymore, but still prefers the right side. Our doctor > said if we want the helmet now, she will refer us, but she > recommends waiting at least until 6 months (she has 5 patients with > helmets currently so she does agree with the effectiveness). If he > continues to prefer the right side, if we get a helmet and he stills > sleeps like that, will his head go back? His head still looks > pretty crooked from the top and the back, but the symmetry of his > face has improved significantly since his diagnosis. > I am also concerned about waiting. I don't want to wait too long if > he will end up needing it anyhow. Everything I read tells me the > best time is 4-6 months. I am afraid if we wait, he will be stuck > in the helmet for a long time. Do they try to pull them off? I > have a 2 year old and I could see trying to take it off him. > I posted pictures of his lopsided noggin. If anyone had any advice, > I would appreciate it!> > Dane's Momma> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2002 Report Share Posted January 28, 2002 Dane was born at the Cleveland Clinic. We have decided not to pursue anymore of his treatments there. I'll just go to the company my doctor recommends. I'm sure she will send me to someone at Rainbow's Children's and Babies Hospital. My insurance supposedly covers, 80/20, but I'm sure I will be a nightmare to get it through, so we weren't even planning on pursuing that. They are dening $21k from Dane's stay in the NICU. Thanks, Dane's Momma > > , > > > > I just took a peek at Dane's pictures and they look very similiar > to both of my son's heads at that age. Tucker is now 5 months old > and has been in his helmet for almost two months and will probably > only have to wear it for another month or so. He has tolerated it > very well and never cries or wants it off his head. His head is > rounding out beautifully and I really feel that because we caught it > early (unlike my older son who didn't go into his helmet until 14 > months) that we will hopefully get 100% correction. In my case > though, I and some doctors think my son's had plagio from the womb > because no matter what I did to their position, it didn't help. I > never got very big with my pregnancies but had good size > babies...Trevor was over 8 lbs and Tucker was over two weeks early > and almost 7so I think they might have been crowded for whatever > reason. I have read alot about plagio and they do say the best > time to get them into a helmet is 4-6 months. I am concerned as > well that when I remove the helmet, will the head go back? I am > going to keep Tucker in the helmet especially when he sleeps for at > least two more months. Also, Trevor went into his helmet late and > but he tolerated it very well. He had a chin strap with his (unlike > Tucker) and he wore it for 5 months through the hot summer. Good > luck and if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. > I'm just so happy to have found a support group of mothers going > through what I'm going through. > > > > Lori in Michigan > > Re: New to Group - Son Just Diagnosed > > > > > > Hello! I am also in the same type of predicament. My > son,Dane,is 4 > > months old. He has reflux and we were told by the doctors and > > nurses at the hospital to only lay him on his right side. 8 > weeks > > later, we found out what bad advice we received. He has gone to > pt > > for torticollis for 2 months. We didn't see any improvement > until > > the last couple of weeks. He really likes being in his > Supersaucer > > and it takes the pressure off the flat spot. He doesn't have > > torticollis anymore, but still prefers the right side. Our > doctor > > said if we want the helmet now, she will refer us, but she > > recommends waiting at least until 6 months (she has 5 patients > with > > helmets currently so she does agree with the effectiveness). If > he > > continues to prefer the right side, if we get a helmet and he > stills > > sleeps like that, will his head go back? His head still looks > > pretty crooked from the top and the back, but the symmetry of > his > > face has improved significantly since his diagnosis. > > I am also concerned about waiting. I don't want to wait too > long if > > he will end up needing it anyhow. Everything I read tells me > the > > best time is 4-6 months. I am afraid if we wait, he will be > stuck > > in the helmet for a long time. Do they try to pull them off? I > > have a 2 year old and I could see trying to take it off him. > > I posted pictures of his lopsided noggin. If anyone had any > advice, > > I would appreciate it! > > > > Dane's Momma > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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