Re: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned

[Guest guest]

Did you already get Cranial Tech to do their evaluaton/consultation? What did they say about the severity. Did they do measurements?

My daughter has brachy so I'm more familiar with that and the heads of babies seem to be a little rounder (wider) when their younger, but I definitely think that there is both brachy and plagio in this case. I'm guessing that you're in the moderate to severe category.

Can you let your ped know that you'd like a second opinion and get a referral to a cranial facial specialist? They'd be likely to write a letter of medical necessity for you. It might mean waiting a little while to get in, but your baby is still young so you probably wouldn't be giving up full correction (although he might have to be in the band slightly longer).

We paid for our band out of pocket and got credit through care credit with Capital One. It's an interest free loan designed for paying for health costs. It might be an option for you if you want to skip trying to get the insurance to pay or while waiting for reimbursement.

, mom to , 20.5 months

24.5 weeks in STARband plus CST

land

Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned

I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a "moderate" case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with "mild" torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet. When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How would you classify this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.http://s559.photobucket.com/albums/ss34/angelaforry/?albumview=slideshowThanks for your insight and opinions!!!Sincerely,

[Guest guest]

I would say go ahead and do the banding. Looks like a moderate case of plagio., kind of like my little guy.Be still and know I am God PsalmsPlagiocephaly From: angelaforry@...Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 19:41:29 +0000Subject: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned

I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a "moderate" case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with "mild" torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet. When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).

Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How would you classify this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.

http://s559.photobucket.com/albums/ss34/angelaforry/?albumview=slideshow

Thanks for your insight and opinions!!!

Sincerely,

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[Guest guest]

,

Maxson's head reminds me a lot of one of Maysa's pictures back when she was 3.5 months old. Her head was starting to grow above the ears on the sides and her ears were starting to stick out and her headshape overall was starting to look like a V. We saw several peds who all said that she didn't need a helmet and that her case wasn' t severe. We saw 4 specialists who all said that her brachy was severe and her plagio mild to moderate.

We ended up getting her a passive helmet. She wore it for 3.5 months with absolutely no positive results (according to reports from Orthomerica and Cranial Technologies). In fact, her head looked wider than ever at 9 months. At 9.5 months, she received her first DOC band and changes started happening right away, yet, even with a second DOC band, given her age now (she is 15.5 months old) we will never see full correction. Her head will always look a bit wider and not as long in the back.

I looked at Maxson's pictures and although I am not a specialist, he looks to me like he has both plagio and brachy (like Maysa). I wouldn't wait to band. You do not want his head to grow any wider or his plagio to get worse.

I've attached a pic of Maxson and Maysa side by side so you can see what I was referring to earlier although I would add that Maxson's head looks a little wider on his left side than Maysa's.

I also highly recommend the DOC band. If I were to do it all over again, I would never have picked the passive helmet and wasted precious time, great growth and possibility for full correction. I would have gone with the DOC band or even a STARband.

Good luck,

Leila

Maysa, 15.5 months old, 3 weeks left in DOC band 2

www.mymaysa.wordpress.com

From: angelaforry <angelaforry@...>Subject: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concernedPlagiocephaly Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 3:41 PM

I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a "moderate" case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with "mild" torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet. When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How

would you classify this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.http://s559. photobucket. com/albums/ ss34/angelaforry /?albumview= slideshowThanks for your insight and opinions!!!Sincerely,

[Guest guest]

Hi Leila,

Thanks so much for responding.

I cannot see the picture....where should I be looking?

Thank you,

>

>

> From: angelaforry <angelaforry@...>

> Subject: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned

> Plagiocephaly

> Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 3:41 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks

via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our

concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a

" moderate " case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with " mild "

torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with

positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few

days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet.

When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic

issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion

to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance

wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).

>

> Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon and

please let me know what your honest opinions are. How would you classify this

case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of

pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per

our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and

it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong

deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.

>

> http://s559. photobucket. com/albums/ ss34/angelaforry /?albumview= slideshow

>

> Thanks for your insight and opinions!!!

>

> Sincerely,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I attached the picture to the reply to you email. It should be at the top of my previous email under the title. Let me know if you still can find it and I'll find another way to post it.

Leila

Maysa, 15.5 months, 3 weeks left in DOC band 2

www.mymaysa.wordpress.com

From: angelaforry <angelaforry@...>Subject: Re: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concernedPlagiocephaly Date: Friday, May 8, 2009, 5:20 AM

Hi Leila,Thanks so much for responding.I cannot see the picture....where should I be looking?Thank you, > > > From: angelaforry <angelaforry@ ...>> Subject: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned> Plagiocephaly> Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 3:41 PM> > >

> > > > > > I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a "moderate" case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with "mild" torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet. When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).> > Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this

afternoon and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How would you classify this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.> > http://s559. photobucket. com/albums/ ss34/angelaforry /?albumview= slideshow> > Thanks for your insight and opinions!!!> > Sincerely,> > >

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry...but no, I can't see anything. It's an empty box that says " Image " ...

Thank you!

> >

> >

> > From: angelaforry <angelaforry@ ...>

> > Subject: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned

> > Plagiocephaly

> > Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 3:41 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34

weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced

our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a

" moderate " case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with " mild "

torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with

positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few

days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet.

When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic

issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion

to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance

wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).

> >

> > Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon

and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How would you classify

this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out

of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per

our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and

it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong

deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.

> >

> > http://s559. photobucket. com/albums/ ss34/angelaforry /?albumview=

slideshow

> >

> > Thanks for your insight and opinions!!!

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I definatley see the plagio from the birds eye view.

Sounds like you need to see a new ped... one that is banding friendly. FOr a dr to say that it is only cosmetic and that he would say as much just so that you WOULDN"T get coverage is totally appauling!!!!!!!

You should check and see if you even have DME or P & O coverage.

OK - Now, do you have a Cranial Tech nearby? They do free evals and can tell you just how severe the plagio is and is a band would help. You can then take that info to your ped... or to a new ped. I would definatley try and get help for my baby. There are more issues other than cosmetic when treating plagio. The TMJ joint gets pushed and causes malocclusion of the jaw. just to name one.

HTH!

Jen

Mom to Luli - 3 yrs old

Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia

Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned

I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a "moderate" case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with "mild" torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet. When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).

Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How would you classify this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.

http://s559.photobucket.com/albums/ss34/angelaforry/?albumview=slideshow

Thanks for your insight and opinions!!!

Sincerely,

A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

[Guest guest]

,

Your son's head is almost identically the same shape as my daughter's. We are getting her band on the 15th, the day before she turns 4 months old. I would respectfully ask to get a second opinion from another pediatrician, and move on from there. From what CT explained to us, a child's head is pretty much the shape it is going to be at 4 months without intervention. We do not have United Healthcare, but our pediatrician specifically named them as an insurance company that does not pay whether you have a referral from your ped. Check into care credit, it is interest free for the first year, but if you need lower payments they will stretch out the terms.

Hope that helps,

Belton, TX

From: angelaforry <angelaforry@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2009 2:41:29 PMSubject: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned

I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a "moderate" case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with "mild" torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet. When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his opinion to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How

would you classify this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.http://s559. photobucket. com/albums/ ss34/angelaforry /?albumview= slideshowThanks for your insight and opinions!!!Sincerely,

[Guest guest]

,

I just sent you a personal email with a password to the temp post on Maysa's blog that shows the pictures. Let me know.

Leila

From: angelaforry <angelaforry@...>Subject: Re: Advice and opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concernedPlagiocephaly Date: Friday, May 8, 2009, 11:16 AM

I'm sorry...but no, I can't see anything. It's an empty box that says "Image"...Thank you!> > > > > > From: angelaforry <angelaforry@ ...>> > Subject: Advice and

opinions on son's Plagio - Dr not concerned> > Plagiocephaly> > Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 3:41 PM> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I am very concerned about my son's head. Our son, Maxson, was born at 34 weeks via C-section due to severe Pre-E. He is now 5 months old and we've voiced our concerns about his head to his pediatrician, and though he agrees he has a "moderate" case of positional Plagio (and I think some Brachy too) with "mild" torticollis on the right side, he thinks it'll go back to being round with positioning changes. I disagree. From all the research I've done in the last few days, I think the Plagio/Brachy is too advanced and that he will need a helmet. When I voiced these concerns to his Ped today, he said it's merely a cosmetic issue and if we chose to go the helmet route, he would have to issue his

opinion to the insurance that it is merely a cosmetic issue alone and thus insurance wouldn't cover it (United Healthcare).> > > > Please take a look at these 4 pictures I've taken of my son this afternoon and please let me know what your honest opinions are. How would you classify this case of Plagio? Mild, Moderate, Severe? The helmet will cost us $2520 out of pocket initially and then it'll be up to us to fight the insurance on it (per our Cranial Tech provider). We don't have $2520 laying around right now and it'll be tough for us, but we also don't want our son to have a lifelong deformity, so if it's needed, we'll finance it somehow.> > > > http://s559. photobucket. com/albums/ ss34/angelaforry /?albumview= slideshow> > > > Thanks for your insight and opinions!!!> > > > Sincerely,> > > >

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