New to the group:looking for advice! :) Long letter!

[Guest guest]

Hi! My name is Mandy and I have a long story. Logan was 8 pounds when he was born and of course I didn't notice anything wrong with his head. A little while later my husband asked me what I thougnt about his head. We have a friend whose daugter wore a band and he wanted to make sure that Logan didn't need one. We asked our ped. at our two month appt. and she said to lay him on his other side and it would round out. Later at the five month visit we saw another dr. because ours was on maternity leave. He immediately noticed his head and referred us to a plastic surgeon. It took weeks to see him and he said that it was very minor and the decision was up to us. However, we have a place right in town that does the banding so he told us to see them so we could get his opinion. He said the same thing that it was minor, but up to us. We had an appt. with the second ped. ( I switched after he noticed his head right off) so we waited to see what he thought. He said that Logan's head had gotten better and that if this was the first time he was seeing us he would not refer us. So now I am really torn. At first I said no way, but after hearing all of your stories, I keep thinking why not if it will help him. Also, when I look down on his head I can tell that it is not rounded. The ped. referred us because of the bossing forehead. Now that is almost corrected! I am so sorry this is long. I just really needed to talk to some people who are going through the same thing. I am just really scared for Logan and the whole process. Thank you so much!

Mandy

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandi! My son is going through the same thing. The bossing of his forhead is much better but sometimes I think Im just getting used to it. I like to get peoples opinions who dont know use. Parents at the park are great to talk to. Also take pictures or look at his reflection in the mirror. I seem to notice it more when I do that. Well anyway... we finally decided to go along with the band. In the long run hes young enough to adjust to the band and not even remember wearing it when hes older. But kids can be unmerciful when they tease other kids. I know I dont want my kid to have to go through that if I could have done something to fix it. I dont think theres even a way to fix it except through surgery when the get older. Anyway. Gotta go

[Guest guest]

Mandy,

Welcome to the group!!! Niki gave you some really great advice, and we were

in the same situation with , who developed plagio inutero, but it

worsened due to torticollis (tight neck muscle). My Doctor(s) did not

recommend getting the helmet, and they felt my son was a mild case. However,

I knew by analyzing him everyday, that there was a significant flat spot, his

ears were misaligned and his facial features seemed more pronounced on one

side. My Doctor told me that his ear misalignment was an optical illusion,

but I knew this was not the case. And that it would round out over time. You

really do have to trust your own judgement- there are so many of us here that

have had to go against the grain and do what as a parent felt like the right

thing to do- and now have no regrets by trusting that intuition. Many

Doctors make light of this condition because they feel its just cosmetic, and

with them seeing kids far worse than your child, they want you to count your

blessings and be happy that plagio is the least of your problems- half of

this I think comes from being uneducated about plagio, and the other just to

make parents feel better. I didn't want to feel better, I wanted whatever it

took to get my son rounded out!

Repositioning has helped already, so I know its a tough call whether to wait

it out or just get the band. I know I had such grief over making the darn

decision, that once we decided to do it, it was a huge relief just to get to

that point! Part of our reasoning to do it was that repositioning was not

working (he squirmed to much), and the facial asymmetry was quite noticeable,

and only getting worse, not to mention a very flat and high point on the

right back and ear misalignement. Other factors that were of less

importance, but still considered, were insurance coverage and travel

distance. Many have traveled far and wide, and have paid out of pocket, and

I'm sure they will tell you that they would do it again if they had to. If

your instincts are telling you to go this route, you have nothing to lose.

If your instincts are telling you that you've already seen great results and

can wait it out, we have had parents talk about total success with

repositioning- although I think the majority had a tough time with it.

Either way, I felt so much pressure to make the decision quickly because the

more time you wait to start the process, the older the child gets with less

chance of total correction or close to it.

Each case is so different and only you can really weigh all the facts, pros

and cons, and make an educated decision based on your circumstances- just

don't be afraid to make that decision on your own without the support of your

Doctor if you feel that strongly about it. Good luck to you all in this

process and please keep us posted on whatever decision you come to!

' mom

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandy, and welcome to the group!

First I want to say congrats on receiving the correction that you

did, all on your own with the repositioning!! Great job!

I know how you feel about whether or not to band Logan. My twins

both had plagio. My daughter had a very mild case, whereas my son

had a more mild to moderate case. So I knew without a doubt that I

was going to have my son banded, but I was torn on whether or not to

have my daughter banded. Especially since my neuro really didn't

think that she needed it at all. When you have a borderline case, it

really is a difficult decision to make.

We finally did decide to band my daughter right along with her twin.

I wanted to be able to do everything that I could to help her round

out. I really was afraid to take the wait and see approach. What if

it didn't round out? What was I going to say to her 15 years down

the road, " Sorry that your head's a bit flat, but doesn't your

brother's head look great? " I just felt that what I did for one, I

was going to do for the other. And I have never regretted that

decision. I followed my 'Mommy Insticnts' and they took me down the

right path. And that's what you have to do, listen to what your gut

is telling you to do. It hardly ever steers you wrong!

Mandy, good luck to you and Logan. Please keep us posted on what it

is that you decide to do. This is a wonderful support group, and

we're behind you no matter what it is you decide! And again, welcome

to the group!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA

> Hi! My name is Mandy and I have a long story. Logan was 8 pounds

when he

> was born and of course I didn't notice anything wrong with his

head. A

> little while later my husband asked me what I thougnt about his

head. We have

> a friend whose daugter wore a band and he wanted to make sure that

Logan

> didn't need one. We asked our ped. at our two month appt. and she

said to

> lay him on his other side and it would round out. Later at the

five month

> visit we saw another dr. because ours was on maternity leave. He

immediately

> noticed his head and referred us to a plastic surgeon. It took

weeks to see

> him and he said that it was very minor and the decision was up to

us.

> However, we have a place right in town that does the banding so he

told us to

> see them so we could get his opinion. He said the same thing that

it was

> minor, but up to us. We had an appt. with the second ped. ( I

switched after

> he noticed his head right off) so we waited to see what he

thought. He said

> that Logan's head had gotten better and that if this was the first

time he

> was seeing us he would not refer us. So now I am really torn. At

first I

> said no way, but after hearing all of your stories, I keep thinking

why not

> if it will help him. Also, when I look down on his head I can tell

that it

> is not rounded. The ped. referred us because of the bossing

forehead. Now

> that is almost corrected! I am so sorry this is long. I just

really needed

> to talk to some people who are going through the same thing. I am

just

> really scared for Logan and the whole process. Thank you so much!

> Mandy

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandy & welcome to our group!

You defintely have come to the right place with people who know

exactly what you are going thru!

I read Niki's great reply to you and would 2nd what she said. My

daughter's plagio was severe so the decision to band was relatively

easy for us.

Congrats on the success you've already had just with repositioning!

That's terrific. Repositioning can be a cumbersome process, but it

definitely can help & the rewards are terrific.

Are you near a Cranial Technologies office (the DOCband)? Or near a

STARband provider? That's terrific you are close by IF you decide to

band.

Of course the decision whether or not to band Logan is entirely up to

yuo & your family. I'm sure you'll make the best decision for Logan

no matter what. Do what your gut tells you to do & go from there.

Welcome again to our group. Please let us know whatever you decide &

keep us updated on Logan.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

MI

>

> > Hi! My name is Mandy and I have a long story. Logan was 8

pounds

> when he

> > was born and of course I didn't notice anything wrong with his

> head. A

> > little while later my husband asked me what I thougnt about his

> head. We have

> > a friend whose daugter wore a band and he wanted to make sure

that

> Logan

> > didn't need one. We asked our ped. at our two month appt. and

she

> said to

> > lay him on his other side and it would round out. Later at the

> five month

> > visit we saw another dr. because ours was on maternity leave. He

> immediately

> > noticed his head and referred us to a plastic surgeon. It took

> weeks to see

> > him and he said that it was very minor and the decision was up to

> us.

> > However, we have a place right in town that does the banding so

he

> told us to

> > see them so we could get his opinion. He said the same thing

that

> it was

> > minor, but up to us. We had an appt. with the second ped. ( I

> switched after

> > he noticed his head right off) so we waited to see what he

> thought. He said

> > that Logan's head had gotten better and that if this was the

first

> time he

> > was seeing us he would not refer us. So now I am really torn.

At

> first I

> > said no way, but after hearing all of your stories, I keep

thinking

> why not

> > if it will help him. Also, when I look down on his head I can

tell

> that it

> > is not rounded. The ped. referred us because of the bossing

> forehead. Now

> > that is almost corrected! I am so sorry this is long. I just

> really needed

> > to talk to some people who are going through the same thing. I

am

> just

> > really scared for Logan and the whole process. Thank you so much!

> > Mandy

[Guest guest]

Mandy,

Hello and welcome! I can certainly understand why you are unsure of what to

do next. So much information pulling you this way and that and then add to

that your heart pulling you this way and that!! I think it is interesting

that several people have told you it was mild and that it was up to you. Did

a DOCband office tell you this or was it a STARband maker?

Does Logan have any ear misalignment or facial assymetry (I think you

mentioned forehead bossing)? This would be a factor in making the decision

for me. I think it is when you have assymetries and misalignment that it

becomes more critical to treat. The decision is really ultimately up to you.

If you feel like you might question yourself over and over again in the

future if you don't band then you might want to seriously consider it.

Otherwise if his head has improved and you have had success with

repositioning then maybe you could just continue on that path.

Whatever you decide to do you will have the support of this group. Best

wishes to you and Logan - keep us posted!

Marci (mom to )

Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandy

I fully understand how you are feeling. Its a hard decision to make and also

time is a major factor. Growth spurst ect.. My second son Dylan has severe

plagio and i did not get any help until he was 8months old. He started the

DOCband and he is in a second one which is rare! I knew from the start that

Dylan would have 2 bands so that was not a shock. Dylan has had good

correction about 75% so far. I am very pleased with the correction so far. I

also think nobody would notice now apart from me and my husband. I just wish

that Dylan could have started the treatment sooner as i was brushed off with

" it will round out in time " which for Dylan that was never going to happen.

I wish you lots of luck by the way Dylan has tolerated the DOCband with no

problems at all he wears it 23 hours a day 7 days a week. He has been

fantastic with it.

Please keep us posted.

Kind regards

Kerry - Marcus (3) Dylan in second DOCband (16months)

Calgary,AB

>From: mklight699@...

>Reply-Plagiocephaly

>Plagiocephaly

>Subject: New to the group:looking for advice! Long letter!

>Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 12:22:41 EDT

>

>Hi! My name is Mandy and I have a long story. Logan was 8 pounds when he

>was born and of course I didn't notice anything wrong with his head. A

>little while later my husband asked me what I thougnt about his head. We

>have

>a friend whose daugter wore a band and he wanted to make sure that Logan

>didn't need one. We asked our ped. at our two month appt. and she said to

>lay him on his other side and it would round out. Later at the five month

>visit we saw another dr. because ours was on maternity leave. He

>immediately

>noticed his head and referred us to a plastic surgeon. It took weeks to

>see

>him and he said that it was very minor and the decision was up to us.

>However, we have a place right in town that does the banding so he told us

>to

>see them so we could get his opinion. He said the same thing that it was

>minor, but up to us. We had an appt. with the second ped. ( I switched

>after

>he noticed his head right off) so we waited to see what he thought. He

>said

>that Logan's head had gotten better and that if this was the first time he

>was seeing us he would not refer us. So now I am really torn. At first I

>said no way, but after hearing all of your stories, I keep thinking why not

>if it will help him. Also, when I look down on his head I can tell that it

>is not rounded. The ped. referred us because of the bossing forehead. Now

>that is almost corrected! I am so sorry this is long. I just really

>needed

>to talk to some people who are going through the same thing. I am just

>really scared for Logan and the whole process. Thank you so much!

>Mandy

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