Need to vent!

July 24, 2002

I am soo upset. Today at the CT clinic they told me they hadnt hear

anything from Tricare. SO we couldnt proceed to casting withtout

hearing from them which I knew that. They also told me they were

graduating Mya from band #1 because the pressure points are gone and

its pointless for her to wear it. It would only be good as a crash

helmet. So I left out of there frustrated because my baby is now

bandless. So on my 3 hour drive home I decided to call Tricare while

I was driving. WEll to my suprise the phone call lasted only 15

minutes and I found out Tricare approved Band #2 yesterday and faxed

over the auth # to CT. So I called CT to tell them but they were

closed for lunch so I left a message leaving my cell phone #. ANyway

I get home and I call them again only the person I need to talk to is

busy. So I wait and I just got a call back and she said yes she just

recieved the fax from Tricare and they are saying they will be paying

100 % which is great Im so happy we wont have to fight this time. But

here comes the bad part. The lab is closed for two weeks so Mya cant

get her casting till Aug 6 ! All that calling Tricare and trying to

hurry it along for NOTHING! That wont put Myas fitting till Aug 20.

Well my husband gets home Aug 19th! And Im going to have to go do an

overnighter from the 20-21. Hes not going to be able to go with me I

just know it. Theres no way they are going to let him off right after

that. Plus his Special Forces dinner and the graduation is on the 22

and 23. UGhhhh Im so upset. Mya is going to be bandless for a whole

month and I feel like time is just ticking away on her little head

and Im so upset right now and my husbands not here to calm me down

and anyone I talk to besides him is not really going to get it! They

wont understand what the big deal is. Even if I try to explain. Help

I need some words of encouragement fast before I have a melt down!

Christi mom to MYa (DOC band#1 3/6/02 - 7/24/02 #2 8/20/02)

July 25, 2002

First I want to say way to go getting Tricare to approve number 2 band - this

is outstanding news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so paving the way for future

Tricare people - I am so happy for you!

It is unfortunate that there will be such a big gap, but I really think it

will be okay. I totally understand your frustration and I sure wish I lived

close by because I would gladly watch your children for you! Still, it is

going to be okay - she will not lose any ground because you will be the

mother hawk guarding her young! :-) Try whatever you can to keep her off the

flat spot and focus on a much deserved break from the band!!!

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

July 25, 2002

Debbie

Yes that too is my worry that Mya wont re adjust to the band again.

Im glad to hear Abby did and Im sure Mya will to Im just worrying too

much. Do you know of any ones babies heads getting flat again if they

had a break for a month like Mya will. Im so afraid her head will get

flat again. I also worry because Mya is getting older she will be

almost 14 months by the time she gets band #2. I know many older

babies have gotten good correction I just hope Mya does too. Her ears

are soo off!

Yes I didnt think of a vacation from the band.I ve been complaing

about Mya not being able to get in our pool as much as Id like

because I dont want her to loose band time and now she can for a

month. Maybe its a blessing in disguise. Maybe we all will feel

revived after the month break and be ready to go another 4 1/2

months! Thanks for the positive thinking!

And yes great news about TRicare they have really shocked me! I was

ready to FIGHT yet again but releived that I wont have to Whewww!

Christi mom toMYA

> > I am soo upset. Today at the CT clinic they told me they hadnt

hear

> > anything from Tricare. SO we couldnt proceed to casting withtout

> > hearing from them which I knew that. They also told me they were

> > graduating Mya from band #1 because the pressure points are gone

> and

> > its pointless for her to wear it. It would only be good as a

crash

> > helmet. So I left out of there frustrated because my baby is now

> > bandless. So on my 3 hour drive home I decided to call Tricare

> while

> > I was driving. WEll to my suprise the phone call lasted only 15

> > minutes and I found out Tricare approved Band #2 yesterday and

> faxed

> > over the auth # to CT. So I called CT to tell them but they were

> > closed for lunch so I left a message leaving my cell phone #.

> ANyway

> > I get home and I call them again only the person I need to talk

to

> is

> > busy. So I wait and I just got a call back and she said yes she

> just

> > recieved the fax from Tricare and they are saying they will be

> paying

> > 100 % which is great Im so happy we wont have to fight this time.

> But

> > here comes the bad part. The lab is closed for two weeks so Mya

> cant

> > get her casting till Aug 6 ! All that calling Tricare and trying

to

> > hurry it along for NOTHING! That wont put Myas fitting till Aug

> 20.

> > Well my husband gets home Aug 19th! And Im going to have to go do

> an

> > overnighter from the 20-21. Hes not going to be able to go with

me

> I

> > just know it. Theres no way they are going to let him off right

> after

> > that. Plus his Special Forces dinner and the graduation is on the

> 22

> > and 23. UGhhhh Im so upset. Mya is going to be bandless for a

whole

> > month and I feel like time is just ticking away on her little

head

> > and Im so upset right now and my husbands not here to calm me

down

> > and anyone I talk to besides him is not really going to get it!

> They

> > wont understand what the big deal is. Even if I try to explain.

> Help

> > I need some words of encouragement fast before I have a melt down!

> > Christi mom to MYa (DOC band#1 3/6/02 - 7/24/02 #2 8/20/02)

July 25, 2002

Christi,

How frustrating for you. This has to be doubly hard with your husband not being available for support right now. I hope you get to spend at least a little time with him while he is home. I may be completely out of the loop, but is he in the military? My dad was in the navy when I was an infant/toddler, and I don't know how my mom managed. I have so much respect for military spouses!

Meanwhile, take Debbie's advice and try to enjoy some bandless time with your little one in this hot summer weather. I wouldn't think that Mya's head would flatten again... the growth and improvement she has had in the band will stay there. And with her age, she is surely spending lots of time up and around, which has to help. Also, since she's not as flat as she was, hopefully she won't tend to lay on that flat area when she sleeps... so future growth won't be inhibited there like it was in the pre-band days.

Kia (mom of Cole, STARBand 6/18/02, born 11/20/01)

-----Original Message-----From: CMZ1242 [mailto:christiz75@...]Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 5:34 PMPlagiocephaly Subject: Need to vent!I am soo upset. Today at the CT clinic they told me they hadnt hear anything from Tricare. SO we couldnt proceed to casting withtout hearing from them which I knew that. They also told me they were graduating Mya from band #1 because the pressure points are gone and its pointless for her to wear it. It would only be good as a crash helmet. So I left out of there frustrated because my baby is now bandless. So on my 3 hour drive home I decided to call Tricare while I was driving. WEll to my suprise the phone call lasted only 15 minutes and I found out Tricare approved Band #2 yesterday and faxed over the auth # to CT. So I called CT to tell them but they were closed for lunch so I left a message leaving my cell phone #. ANyway I get home and I call them again only the person I need to talk to is busy. So I wait and I just got a call back and she said yes she just recieved the fax from Tricare and they are saying they will be paying 100 % which is great Im so happy we wont have to fight this time. But here comes the bad part. The lab is closed for two weeks so Mya cant get her casting till Aug 6 ! All that calling Tricare and trying to hurry it along for NOTHING! That wont put Myas fitting till Aug 20. Well my husband gets home Aug 19th! And Im going to have to go do an overnighter from the 20-21. Hes not going to be able to go with me I just know it. Theres no way they are going to let him off right after that. Plus his Special Forces dinner and the graduation is on the 22 and 23. UGhhhh Im so upset. Mya is going to be bandless for a whole month and I feel like time is just ticking away on her little head and Im so upset right now and my husbands not here to calm me down and anyone I talk to besides him is not really going to get it! They wont understand what the big deal is. Even if I try to explain. Help I need some words of encouragement fast before I have a melt down!Christi mom to MYa (DOC band#1 3/6/02 - 7/24/02 #2 8/20/02)For more plagio info

July 25, 2002

Kia

Yes my husband is in the Army training for Special Forces. I usually

do really well with him gone except for times like these when I

really need my best friend to talk to but hes unavailable and I cant

even talk to him on the phone or anything.

Yes I will be enjoying this bandless time. Mya will be able to go

outside now without sweating to death. Although playing in the grass

is out because the fire ants will eat her alive! (darn things I cant

seem to get rid of them Ugh) But she will be able to enjoy our pool

and her baby swing I put up out there but shes only used maybe 4

times because its hot in the morning its hot at night its hot all day

and every day.

Yes she definetly is up and about everywhere not quite walking yet

but she is very busy so the only time shell be laying on her head is

when she sleeps or in the car so im hoping it wont regress.

christi

> Christi,

>

> How frustrating for you. This has to be doubly hard with your

husband not

> being available for support right now. I hope you get to spend at

least a

> little time with him while he is home. I may be completely out of

the loop,

> but is he in the military? My dad was in the navy when I was an

> infant/toddler, and I don't know how my mom managed. I have so

much respect

> for military spouses!

>

> Meanwhile, take Debbie's advice and try to enjoy some bandless time

with

> your little one in this hot summer weather. I wouldn't think that

Mya's

> head would flatten again... the growth and improvement she has had

in the

> band will stay there. And with her age, she is surely spending

lots of time

> up and around, which has to help. Also, since she's not as flat as

she was,

> hopefully she won't tend to lay on that flat area when she

sleeps... so

> future growth won't be inhibited there like it was in the pre-band

days.

>

> Kia (mom of Cole, STARBand 6/18/02, born 11/20/01)

>

> Need to vent!

>

> I am soo upset. Today at the CT clinic they told me they hadnt

hear

> anything from Tricare. SO we couldnt proceed to casting withtout

> hearing from them which I knew that. They also told me they were

> graduating Mya from band #1 because the pressure points are gone

and

> its pointless for her to wear it. It would only be good as a crash

> helmet. So I left out of there frustrated because my baby is now

> bandless. So on my 3 hour drive home I decided to call Tricare

while

> I was driving. WEll to my suprise the phone call lasted only 15

> minutes and I found out Tricare approved Band #2 yesterday and

faxed

> over the auth # to CT. So I called CT to tell them but they were

> closed for lunch so I left a message leaving my cell phone #.

ANyway

> I get home and I call them again only the person I need to talk

to is

> busy. So I wait and I just got a call back and she said yes she

just

> recieved the fax from Tricare and they are saying they will be

paying

> 100 % which is great Im so happy we wont have to fight this time.

But

> here comes the bad part. The lab is closed for two weeks so Mya

cant

> get her casting till Aug 6 ! All that calling Tricare and trying

to

> hurry it along for NOTHING! That wont put Myas fitting till Aug

20.

> Well my husband gets home Aug 19th! And Im going to have to go do

an

> overnighter from the 20-21. Hes not going to be able to go with

me I

> just know it. Theres no way they are going to let him off right

after

> that. Plus his Special Forces dinner and the graduation is on the

22

> and 23. UGhhhh Im so upset. Mya is going to be bandless for a

whole

> month and I feel like time is just ticking away on her little head

> and Im so upset right now and my husbands not here to calm me down

> and anyone I talk to besides him is not really going to get it!

They

> wont understand what the big deal is. Even if I try to explain.

Help

> I need some words of encouragement fast before I have a melt down!

> Christi mom to MYa (DOC band#1 3/6/02 - 7/24/02 #2 8/20/02)

>

July 25, 2002

playing in the grass

> is out because the fire ants will eat her alive! (darn things I cant

> seem to get rid of them Ugh)

Christi,

Where do you live again? Are you in Texas? Try using Amdro on the fire

ants. Its granules that the ants take down into their nest, so within a few

hours it's gone and the ants are starting to die. Because they carry it

away, as soon as you don't see it any more, it's safe for the kiddos to play

in the grass (as long as you don't see any residual ants). In 5 years of

living in fire ant territory, I have only been bitten once. This stuff

works great. You can get it at Home Depot and stores like that.

I would definitely enjoy the summer without the band. I don't think you

will see any regression and the new band will be here before you know it.

Gail, Sam and Sara's mom, DOC grads

July 25, 2002

Gail

We are in North Carolina. I am orriginally from land and we have

ants but not the biting ones Jeesh they hurt. Weve got them

everywhere. I have to spray my house daily and outside well weve

spent so much money and gotten no results. Last year and the year

before we had bought onon and Dursban and they seemed to work

great. It got rid of them for 3 months so every 3 months we spread

and it was great. But this year I cant find either of those anywhere.

So Ive tried other stuff and nothings worked yet. I will have to

check home depot for Amdro. thanks for the tip! Im tired of getting

bit about 10 times just walking from my house across the patio to the

pool! YIKES Painful!

Christi mom to Mya

>

> playing in the grass

> > is out because the fire ants will eat her alive! (darn things I

cant

> > seem to get rid of them Ugh)

>

> Christi,

> Where do you live again? Are you in Texas? Try using Amdro on the

fire

> ants. Its granules that the ants take down into their nest, so

within a few

> hours it's gone and the ants are starting to die. Because they

carry it

> away, as soon as you don't see it any more, it's safe for the

kiddos to play

> in the grass (as long as you don't see any residual ants). In 5

years of

> living in fire ant territory, I have only been bitten once. This

stuff

> works great. You can get it at Home Depot and stores like that.

>

> I would definitely enjoy the summer without the band. I don't

think you

> will see any regression and the new band will be here before you

know it.

>

> Gail, Sam and Sara's mom, DOC grads

July 25, 2002

Christi,

That really does suck!!! Is there no way that CT can make it up to you

before they shut down, since they already had the fax after all? i would

guess that's the only CT clinic close to you? Could you schedule an earlier

cast somewhere else and use angel flight? I don't know- just throwing things

out there. Good luck!

' Mom

July 25, 2002

>Do you know of any ones babies heads getting flat again if they

had a break for a month like Mya will. Im so afraid her head will get

flat again. I also worry because Mya is getting older she will be

almost 14 months by the time she gets band #2. I know many older

babies have gotten good correction I just hope Mya does too

Christi:

The older the child is , the less chance you have of any regression

occuring, so I wouldn't worry much at all about Mya's head re-

flattening during her band vacation.

I'm sure she'll get addt'l correction with her 2nd band! She is a

smaller child, so I'm sure she'll hit some more growth spurts that

will hopefully straighten out her pretty lil ears some more.

In the mean time, go swimming & splash her all you & her siblings

want!!!!

Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

MI

July 25, 2002

In a message dated 7/25/2002 1:10:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, christiz75@... writes:

Its the lab in arizona that is shut down for 2 weeks

Christy-

Oh, ok, gotcha- well, I think Debbie gave you a great post that said, enjoy the summer- and you and Mya can go swimming galore! I was glad to see that Debbie's Abby didn't have much problem readjusting after that brief period out of it- so Mya should be a-ok! Go have fun!

' Mom

July 25, 2002

Its the lab in arizona that is shut down for 2 weeks. So anywhere Id

go would be the same problem I would guess.

I should call and find out definetly though because i think they just

opened one in Durham NC I could maybe go there.

Thanks for the tip

christi

> Christi,

> That really does suck!!! Is there no way that CT can make it up to

you

> before they shut down, since they already had the fax after all? i

would

> guess that's the only CT clinic close to you? Could you schedule

an earlier

> cast somewhere else and use angel flight? I don't know- just

throwing things

> out there. Good luck!

>

> ' Mom

December 30, 2002

Hi Genine,

Take heart! We started this journey when my dd Gracie was 4

months old, she is 7 mos old now and has just been in her DOC Band about a

week. She actually got it more than 2 weeks ago but was out of it for quite

a few days due to a red spot and then a fever. Her plagio is

moderate/severe, and i have already seen rounding on her noggin. if youi

check out her site, there is a pic of her flat head from the top. Keep in

mind, her flatness was actually worse than in the pic by the time we got her

into her band.

I totally understand the frustration. We are still fighting with our

insurance as a matter of fact. For the longest time, they kept " losing " our

claim, there was never any record of it. They just kept giving verbal

denials on the phone. I was like " what am i supposed to do with that? " lol.

I got a call from the yesterday, finally, and they said my claim is in

deferred status, that they are researching for more info. Whatever that

means. Anyway, i digress....

Keep your chin up, I know this waiting really stinks. If it makes you feel

any better, once Grace had her casting, she had her fitting less than a

week later. The people out in Phoenix who make the DOC Bands seem to be

pretty efficient, and for that i am glad. I have trouble waiting or

anything. I cant even send off my film. It has to be one hour lol.

Best of luck to you!

Kari, mom to Gracie, 7 mos (Doc Banded since 12/02 )and all her sisters.

North Carolina

Need to vent!

> I am so mad! I have been waiting for about three weeks for this

> entire process to get going. Our first visit with CT was on 12/6.

> By the time our Pedi got the referral to the Insurance Co., it was

> 12/16. Yesterday,(12/30) I called to check on the status of the

> referral and the Ins. Co told me that they just began to process the

> referral on 12/26! When I asked how long this usually takes to be

> approved, the Ins, person told me that at the most, it will be 30

> days. 30 DAYS!!!!! That is just for approval! Then we have to do

> the molding for the DOC Band and then it has to come back and get

> fitted! I can't believe that this process is soooo slow. For a

> condition that should be fixed at the youngest age possible, for the

> shortest treatment time, you would think that the Insurance Co would

> speed things up a bit!

>

> I am sure that you all can sympathize with this problem. I am sorry

> to complain but, Mackenzie is already 5 1/2 months old. I wanted to

> get this over with, while she was still fairly unaware of it all.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Genine & Mackenzie-5 1/2 months (still waiting to be " Banded " )

> Atlanta

>

> For more plagio info

December 31, 2002

Genine,

That stinks! I would keep on them for the entire 30 days, a call every 2 days might be just the irritation they need to get you out of their hair ) At least you have time still working on your side, even if she were to get the band 2 months from now, she's still at a great age for correction, but sooner is always better, I know. Hang in there and like Marci said, be a squeaky wheel, sometimes out of sight or earshot is out of mind too. Good luck!

' Mom

December 31, 2002

Hi Genie,

You have every right to complain. It's what we are here for. Vent

away. Hopefully it won't take your ins comp 30 days to decide.

I'm sure this delay won't cause a major difference in the amount of

correction she'll receive. She is still going to be " young " when she

does get banded. Please keep us posted!

Good luck,

> I am so mad! I have been waiting for about three weeks for this

> entire process to get going. Our first visit with CT was on 12/6.

> By the time our Pedi got the referral to the Insurance Co., it was

> 12/16. Yesterday,(12/30) I called to check on the status of the

> referral and the Ins. Co told me that they just began to process

the

> referral on 12/26! When I asked how long this usually takes to be

> approved, the Ins, person told me that at the most, it will be 30

> days. 30 DAYS!!!!! That is just for approval! Then we have to do

> the molding for the DOC Band and then it has to come back and get

> fitted! I can't believe that this process is soooo slow. For a

> condition that should be fixed at the youngest age possible, for

the

> shortest treatment time, you would think that the Insurance Co

would

> speed things up a bit!

>

> I am sure that you all can sympathize with this problem. I am

sorry

> to complain but, Mackenzie is already 5 1/2 months old. I wanted

to

> get this over with, while she was still fairly unaware of it all.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Genine & Mackenzie-5 1/2 months (still waiting to be " Banded " )

> Atlanta

December 31, 2002

Genine,

Jeez - I can really understand why you are mad. That is

ridiculous! The only good news is that Mackenzie is still plenty

young to get great correction even if she does have to wait a

month for approval. However, I would call the Ins Co OFTEN

during that 30 days so they know that you are tracking their

progress. After all, you know what they say about the squeaky

wheel! Squeak away!!

Keep us posted!

Marci (Mom to )

Oklahoma

> I am so mad! I have been waiting for about three weeks for

this

> entire process to get going. Our first visit with CT was on 12/6.

> By the time our Pedi got the referral to the Insurance Co., it was

> 12/16. Yesterday,(12/30) I called to check on the status of the

> referral and the Ins. Co told me that they just began to process

the

> referral on 12/26! When I asked how long this usually takes to

be

> approved, the Ins, person told me that at the most, it will be 30

> days. 30 DAYS!!!!! That is just for approval! Then we have to

do

> the molding for the DOC Band and then it has to come back

and get

> fitted! I can't believe that this process is soooo slow. For a

> condition that should be fixed at the youngest age possible, for

the

> shortest treatment time, you would think that the Insurance Co

would

> speed things up a bit!

>

> I am sure that you all can sympathize with this problem. I am

sorry

> to complain but, Mackenzie is already 5 1/2 months old. I

wanted to

> get this over with, while she was still fairly unaware of it all.

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Genine & Mackenzie-5 1/2 months (still waiting to be " Banded " )

> Atlanta

December 31, 2002

Genine:

Yep, isn't it sad how long insurance companies take to process

claims?? Argh, I'm so sorry things are going so slow for you.

Hopefully though your ins. will come thru with an approval to cover

her band. In the mean time, maybe calling them a couple times a week

might get them to move a little faster? They'd probably get sick of

hearing from you so process it a bit faster....sorry!

Have a Happy New Year!

Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad