Re: Whether to get 2nd helmet (m)

[Guest guest]

Hi Holly:

What a tough decision this must be for you & your husband. Did your

insurance cover the 1st DOCband? If so, would they cover a 2nd band?

is still good & young, so if you were to get a 2nd band, he

would most likely achieve even more correction. If you & your husband

have doubts about his head shape still, I would say go for a 2nd

band, especially if ins. will pay for it. Of course I have no idea

what 's handsome head looks like right now, so take my advice

with a grain of salt! But most parents who have opted for the 2nd

band have not regretted it and have been thrilled with their decision!

Good luck, whatever you decide will be correct.

Please let us know.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

MI

> graduated from his DOC-Band a couple of weeks ago, after

only 8

> weeks in the band. (He is now 7 mos. old.) At his last appt.,

there

> was no discussion of him needing a second band. In the interim

> between that appt. and his exit casting today, my husband

repeatedly

> voiced his concern to me that 's head isn't perfectly round

in

> the back. We asked the PT about this at the exit casting today.

She

> kind of beat around the bush until I flat out asked her, " would you

> recommend a second band? " Although never directly answering that

> question, she said that falls in a grey area where 60% of

the

> kids wouldn't get a second band (but then, 40% would). Right now,

I'm

> of the opinion that, if really " needed " the second band, CT

> would have told us that when he graduated. Our pediatrician

referred

> us to CT, so I guess we could seek an opinion from him. For those

of

> you who went with a second band, did you affirmatively " opt " for it

or

> was it just expected or recommended that a second band was needed

to

> complete the treatment? Thanks in advance!

>

> Holly & (DOC-Band graduate?)

[Guest guest]

My son wore his first band from 9 and 1/2 months to 14 months and

his second band from 14 to 17 months. was in the grey area for

a second band. He got about 60 percent correction with his first

band. His plastic surgeon said he looked good enough after the first

band but I opted for the second band for further correction. I

figured we might as well go for it, it was only another 3 or 4

months. And compared to dental work, these bands are cheap, let me

tell you. CT said he would benefit from the second band but it was

our decision. I am happy I went for it. My son got a total

correction in the two bands of about 95 percent and after all was

said and done, the craniofacial plastic surgeon said it was a good

choice on our part to go for the second band. Hope this helps.

Candy, mom to (DOC band grad 6/3/02)

land

> graduated from his DOC-Band a couple of weeks ago, after

only 8

> weeks in the band. (He is now 7 mos. old.) At his last appt.,

there

> was no discussion of him needing a second band. In the interim

> between that appt. and his exit casting today, my husband

repeatedly

> voiced his concern to me that 's head isn't perfectly round

in

> the back. We asked the PT about this at the exit casting today.

She

> kind of beat around the bush until I flat out asked her, " would

you

> recommend a second band? " Although never directly answering that

> question, she said that falls in a grey area where 60% of

the

> kids wouldn't get a second band (but then, 40% would). Right now,

I'm

> of the opinion that, if really " needed " the second band, CT

> would have told us that when he graduated. Our pediatrician

referred

> us to CT, so I guess we could seek an opinion from him. For those

of

> you who went with a second band, did you affirmatively " opt " for

it or

> was it just expected or recommended that a second band was needed

to

> complete the treatment? Thanks in advance!

>

> Holly & (DOC-Band graduate?)

[Guest guest]

I don't think CT techs will suggest a second band. (Apparently

they've gotten some heat in the past from the medical community b/c

of the number of second bands being recommended.) And, your

peditrician might not have the expertise to determine whether a

second band is needed. Maybe see a specialist? CT can recommend one.

We got varied recommendations on the 1st & 2nd bands, with no advice

from CT at graduation. After a long (3 month) hiatus we're starting

a second band at 16 months (ugh!). My daughter still has eye & ear

asymmetry. My general feeling is that if there is no facial/ear

asymmetry, then a first/second band is not warrented. A little bit

of flattening really will be covered by hair eventually. Plus, since

your son is young, he can still get rounding if he's spending more

time off his should back.

It may come down to a 'go-with-your-gut' decision.

-

> graduated from his DOC-Band a couple of weeks ago, after

only 8

> weeks in the band. (He is now 7 mos. old.) At his last appt.,

there

> was no discussion of him needing a second band. In the interim

> between that appt. and his exit casting today, my husband

repeatedly

> voiced his concern to me that 's head isn't perfectly round

in

> the back. We asked the PT about this at the exit casting today.

She

> kind of beat around the bush until I flat out asked her, " would you

> recommend a second band? " Although never directly answering that

> question, she said that falls in a grey area where 60% of

the

> kids wouldn't get a second band (but then, 40% would). Right now,

I'm

> of the opinion that, if really " needed " the second band, CT

> would have told us that when he graduated. Our pediatrician

referred

> us to CT, so I guess we could seek an opinion from him. For those

of

> you who went with a second band, did you affirmatively " opt " for it

or

> was it just expected or recommended that a second band was needed

to

> complete the treatment? Thanks in advance!

>

> Holly & (DOC-Band graduate?)

[Guest guest]

Holly

Hi, My daughter Mya will be getting her second band on thursday. We

were told at the very beginning she would probably need 2 bands. in

July she went for a re eval with the same cranio facial plastic

surgeon that wrote the prescription for the first DOC band. He

recommended a second band because Mya still has some flattening and

her ears are still mis aligned. When I went to my next CT appt they

graduated her from her first band and she asked me so will you be

getting a second band. And I said well the doctor said she had to

right? and she said well its a recommendation you are the one that

chooses to continue or not. She said if your satisfied we can stop.

And although I didnt want to put her in another band I knew in my

heart she needed the second band. Mya was 9 months when she started

and is 13 1/2 months now and will be getting the 2nd band in 2 days.

Your son is still so young that he would probably still get some good

correction with a second one and he might end up with a perfectly

round head. Im very optomistic with Mya and I dont expect her head to

be perfectly round because of her age and the fact that she still has

a ways to go. But Im sure shell still get a lot of correction with

this second band. If your husband and you think he needs a second one

id say go for it because only you can decide this. They can give

recommendations but ultimately its your call and your sons still so

young that if it were me I would go for a second one if i was still

seeing a flattened area.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Christi

> graduated from his DOC-Band a couple of weeks ago, after

only 8

> weeks in the band. (He is now 7 mos. old.) At his last appt.,

there

> was no discussion of him needing a second band. In the interim

> between that appt. and his exit casting today, my husband

repeatedly

> voiced his concern to me that 's head isn't perfectly round

in

> the back. We asked the PT about this at the exit casting today.

She

> kind of beat around the bush until I flat out asked her, " would you

> recommend a second band? " Although never directly answering that

> question, she said that falls in a grey area where 60% of

the

> kids wouldn't get a second band (but then, 40% would). Right now,

I'm

> of the opinion that, if really " needed " the second band, CT

> would have told us that when he graduated. Our pediatrician

referred

> us to CT, so I guess we could seek an opinion from him. For those

of

> you who went with a second band, did you affirmatively " opt " for it

or

> was it just expected or recommended that a second band was needed

to

> complete the treatment? Thanks in advance!

>

> Holly & (DOC-Band graduate?)

[Guest guest]

For those of

> you who went with a second band, did you affirmatively " opt " for it

or

> was it just expected or recommended that a second band was needed

to

> complete the treatment? Thanks in advance!

>

> Holly & (DOC-Band graduate?)

Hi Holly:

We went with a second band, and am I ever glad we did. Our case was

different, though, as we were told when we started with the first

band that we would likely need a second band for maximum correction.

My daughter had inter-uterine constraint and her little head was

pretty misshapen. Well, we graduate on Sept. 1, and her head looks

GREAT!!! We are just wearing this band to the bitter end just in

case the last millimeter of her ears come into alignment. Not that

it's a big deal, but we already have this band, so we will use it to

its fullest.

I think that if you and your husband feel a second band is what you

want to do to achieve maximum results, then that's the course I would

take. If you and your husband feel that it's close enough to perfect

that you feel comfortable, then I would let it go.

My daughter still has a little spot that's flat, and her head is

not " perfectly " round. But, I would not go through the trouble and

expense of a 3rd band for the small amount that she is off. However,

if her forehead were still pushed in, or her ears were still quite a

bit off to inhibit use of glasses, or whatever, I would consider

another band if CT thought they could get more.

Just my thoughts on what I would do. I hope it helps you in your

decision-making process...

Kind regards,

and Rhiannon (and almost-grad of DOC band herself!)