New here from Connecticut (sorry it got long)

[Guest guest]

Hi! I subscribed to this list last week but haven't had a chance to introduce myself yet. I'm and I have two sons, (2 1/2) and Timmy (8 months).

I've been worried about Timmy's flat head since he was about 1 month old, but the doctors kept telling me not to worry about it, that it would round out on its own. Last Tuesday I took him in for a visit specifically to address the issue of his head. The doctor was very abrupt and told me that if it was his kid he wouldn't do anything about it. He also said, "So what if his head is a bit flat." Well that made me pretty angry and I insisted on the name of someone to take him to. He gave the name and number of Cranial Technologies and said, "you're obviously going to do whatever you want, so here."

Anyway, to make a long story short, I spent many days on the phone last week. I have an appointment on Friday to take Timmy to see Dr. Shin at Yale in New Haven. It's an hour drive, which (of course) is the furthest of all our options, but it was the soonest appointment I could get. I also spoke to various people about the DOC band, the STAR band, and locally made helmets. If Timmy needs something, I think we will go with the DOC band, which (of course) is the most expensive. I didn't get a good feel from the STARband guy...he seemed too much like a salesman. And the price only included 6 visits...the first 2 or 3 all related to consultations and fitting.

Anyway, last week was a big shock for me. Even though I knew that Timmy's head was flat, I somehow kept believing my doctor that everything was going to be all right. But after the research I've been doing, I realize that his head most likely will stay this way unless we do something about it now. I've calmed down now, but I was so angry and frustrated and I felt so guilty about it all. I knew that Timmy always looked to his right (just like my older son Mike did), so I just did the stretching exercises the doctor showed me how to do with Mike. But Mike's head only got a little flat and it did round out. He also was very physically advanced for his age and rolled over early, scooted and sat early and walked at 11 months.

Timmy is just the opposite and is so content just to stay put. I think that's why his head got so flat. I did try everything to keep him on his tummy, but he was even very late in just picking up his head. That was a concern at his 4 month appointment, but by 6 months he was doing it pretty well and had just learned to roll over. Since then he spends most of his waking hours on his stomach playing on the floor and rolling around. He also sleeps on his stomach. So that is why I've been especially worried lately. For two months he's barely been laying on his back and his head is looking worse than ever.

Well, I'm sorry this got so long. I'm glad I found this group and just reading the messages the past week has made me feel so much better and I'm not so worried after all that it's too late to do anything.

~

[Guest guest]

welcome to our little group here..after reading your post i felt i had to respond.your little boy sounds just like mine and your dr is just like ours was..my ds didn't get his doc band until i pushed and pushed for it. he finally recieved it at 8 1/2 months old...i'm not sure if you have seen the recent post of mine with tuckers noggin, but i will paste just one pic for you to look at..don't worry about the age..he is still at a good age for the band to work and as for just feeling guilty.that is only normal. i think if you didn't feel bad you should worry!! you are doing the right thing for sticking up for you boy..the days will be tough at the begining but in no time at all you will be looking at your little man and not even noticing that band on his noggin. and trust me.when he graduates..it'll be a shock again to not see the band!! good luck with your journey (sp) and keep us all posted..if you have any questions about anything..or just need to talk..or vent!! let us know..you may also email me at ruby1@...

brenda

mom of tucker

banded 8/23/01

graduated 3/6/02

wisconsin

New here from Connecticut (sorry it got long)

Hi! I subscribed to this list last week but haven't had a chance to introduce myself yet. I'm and I have two sons, (2 1/2) and Timmy (8 months).

I've been worried about Timmy's flat head since he was about 1 month old, but the doctors kept telling me not to worry about it, that it would round out on its own. Last Tuesday I took him in for a visit specifically to address the issue of his head. The doctor was very abrupt and told me that if it was his kid he wouldn't do anything about it. He also said, "So what if his head is a bit flat." Well that made me pretty angry and I insisted on the name of someone to take him to. He gave the name and number of Cranial Technologies and said, "you're obviously going to do whatever you want, so here."

Anyway, to make a long story short, I spent many days on the phone last week. I have an appointment on Friday to take Timmy to see Dr. Shin at Yale in New Haven. It's an hour drive, which (of course) is the furthest of all our options, but it was the soonest appointment I could get. I also spoke to various people about the DOC band, the STAR band, and locally made helmets. If Timmy needs something, I think we will go with the DOC band, which (of course) is the most expensive. I didn't get a good feel from the STARband guy...he seemed too much like a salesman. And the price only included 6 visits...the first 2 or 3 all related to consultations and fitting.

Anyway, last week was a big shock for me. Even though I knew that Timmy's head was flat, I somehow kept believing my doctor that everything was going to be all right. But after the research I've been doing, I realize that his head most likely will stay this way unless we do something about it now. I've calmed down now, but I was so angry and frustrated and I felt so guilty about it all. I knew that Timmy always looked to his right (just like my older son Mike did), so I just did the stretching exercises the doctor showed me how to do with Mike. But Mike's head only got a little flat and it did round out. He also was very physically advanced for his age and rolled over early, scooted and sat early and walked at 11 months.

Timmy is just the opposite and is so content just to stay put. I think that's why his head got so flat. I did try everything to keep him on his tummy, but he was even very late in just picking up his head. That was a concern at his 4 month appointment, but by 6 months he was doing it pretty well and had just learned to roll over. Since then he spends most of his waking hours on his stomach playing on the floor and rolling around. He also sleeps on his stomach. So that is why I've been especially worried lately. For two months he's barely been laying on his back and his head is looking worse than ever.

Well, I'm sorry this got so long. I'm glad I found this group and just reading the messages the past week has made me feel so much better and I'm not so worried after all that it's too late to do anything.

~For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group !! You are such a great Mommy to keep following your gut after all the doctor has told you! Great job, and keep up the good work! )

Kendra

New here from Connecticut (sorry it got long)

Hi! I subscribed to this list last week but haven't had a chance to introduce myself yet. I'm and I have two sons, (2 1/2) and Timmy (8 months).

I've been worried about Timmy's flat head since he was about 1 month old, but the doctors kept telling me not to worry about it, that it would round out on its own. Last Tuesday I took him in for a visit specifically to address the issue of his head. The doctor was very abrupt and told me that if it was his kid he wouldn't do anything about it. He also said, "So what if his head is a bit flat." Well that made me pretty angry and I insisted on the name of someone to take him to. He gave the name and number of Cranial Technologies and said, "you're obviously going to do whatever you want, so here."

Anyway, to make a long story short, I spent many days on the phone last week. I have an appointment on Friday to take Timmy to see Dr. Shin at Yale in New Haven. It's an hour drive, which (of course) is the furthest of all our options, but it was the soonest appointment I could get. I also spoke to various people about the DOC band, the STAR band, and locally made helmets. If Timmy needs something, I think we will go with the DOC band, which (of course) is the most expensive. I didn't get a good feel from the STARband guy...he seemed too much like a salesman. And the price only included 6 visits...the first 2 or 3 all related to consultations and fitting.

Anyway, last week was a big shock for me. Even though I knew that Timmy's head was flat, I somehow kept believing my doctor that everything was going to be all right. But after the research I've been doing, I realize that his head most likely will stay this way unless we do something about it now. I've calmed down now, but I was so angry and frustrated and I felt so guilty about it all. I knew that Timmy always looked to his right (just like my older son Mike did), so I just did the stretching exercises the doctor showed me how to do with Mike. But Mike's head only got a little flat and it did round out. He also was very physically advanced for his age and rolled over early, scooted and sat early and walked at 11 months.

Timmy is just the opposite and is so content just to stay put. I think that's why his head got so flat. I did try everything to keep him on his tummy, but he was even very late in just picking up his head. That was a concern at his 4 month appointment, but by 6 months he was doing it pretty well and had just learned to roll over. Since then he spends most of his waking hours on his stomach playing on the floor and rolling around. He also sleeps on his stomach. So that is why I've been especially worried lately. For two months he's barely been laying on his back and his head is looking worse than ever.

Well, I'm sorry this got so long. I'm glad I found this group and just reading the messages the past week has made me feel so much better and I'm not so worried after all that it's too late to do anything.

~For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome. I cannot believe how snooty your ped was about

giving you a referral! What a goober!! It sounds like you have done your

homework though and are right on track now - good for you! That's a lot of

hard work!

It's great that Timmy likes tummy time now. Combine that with the band and

Timmy should have a great looking head in no time. Please let us know what

you find out from your specialist!

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Thank you ! Tucker's head looks so much better. I am a little worried that Timmy is too old to see good results. But since I've been reading all these posts about older kids getting banded and having good correction I am pretty encouraged. Actually, I am still holding out hope that Dr. Shin will say to me tomorrow, ", you are being a worrywart. Your son is fine!"

Thanks for the warm welcome.

~

Re: New here from Connecticut (sorry it got long)

welcome to our little group here..after reading your post i felt i had to respond.your little boy sounds just like mine and your dr is just like ours was..my ds didn't get his doc band until i pushed and pushed for it. he finally recieved it at 8 1/2 months old...i'm not sure if you have seen the recent post of mine with tuckers noggin, but i will paste just one pic for you to look at..don't worry about the age..he is still at a good age for the band to work and as for just feeling guilty.that is only normal. i think if you didn't feel bad you should worry!! you are doing the right thing for sticking up for you boy..the days will be tough at the begining but in no time at all you will be looking at your little man and not even noticing that band on his noggin. and trust me.when he graduates..it'll be a shock again to not see the band!! good luck with your journey (sp) and keep us all posted..if you have any questions about anything..or just need to talk..or vent!! let us know..you may also email me at ruby1@...

brenda

mom of tucker

banded 8/23/01

graduated 3/6/02

wisconsin

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

[Guest guest]

Thank you Kendra. It is so hard to go against a doctor, because we are conditioned to believe that they are right and will take care of you. Also, it is my personality to avoid conflicts, but in this case I just couldn't let it go.

~

Re: New here from Connecticut (sorry it got long)

Welcome to the group !! You are such a great Mommy to keep following your gut after all the doctor has told you! Great job, and keep up the good work! )

Kendra

[Guest guest]

Thank you Marci! We go to Dr. Shin tomorrow. I will let you all know what he says.

~

Re: New here from Connecticut (sorry it got long)

Hello and welcome. I cannot believe how snooty your ped was about giving you a referral! What a goober!! It sounds like you have done your homework though and are right on track now - good for you! That's a lot of hard work!It's great that Timmy likes tummy time now. Combine that with the band and Timmy should have a great looking head in no time. Please let us know what you find out from your specialist!Marci (Mom to )Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

,

What an arrogant Doctor! My ped I think is still a little peeved that I went

against her advice, because she is forever telling me how great his head

looks and all that he went through, blah blah, don't know if this is

sarcastic or just genuine sometimes. I really don't care- sometimes its good

to be called & %$#@- not that anyone called us that- but you know they are

thinking it! Hey, a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do! Great to hear

how wonderful your son is doing! My son hated tummy time also, but he

started getting used to it and eventually it was somewhat fun for him.

Thanks for sharing!

' Mom