Guest guest Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 Howdy- new to the group...Noticed that my daughter () started having what I now know to be Right-Plagiocephaly at about 2.5 to 3 months old. Mentioned it to the Pediatrician, and she blew me off. Mentioned it at EVERY appt thereafter, and she didn't acknowledge that I actually had something of a point until she had barely started sitting up. At that point she told me to wait, since she was starting to sit up and it should " round out " on it's own. I knew about the condition of plagiocephaly, but figured that I would listen to the ped. at this point; she probably knows more about it and how to correct it than I do. However, at her five month, six month AND nine month appts, I mentioned again that it wasn't completely rounded out, and again my comment got passed over. I figured that I HAD to trust my pediatrician at SOME point (after all, she IS a doctor) and it didn't look to me as if was suffering from any kind of developmental delays, so I didn't push it more than that. At her 12 mo appt in the third week of July, the pediatrician magically " noticed " that he right side of her head was slightly mis-shapen. I looked at her and kind of got miffed, because I knew where she was going with this comment, and thought to myself, " I've told you about this since she was three months old and NOW you decide to take it seriously???!?! " Either way went to Cranial Technologies yesterday and they did diagnose her as a moderate right-plagiocephalic, and recommended the DOC band. We are now waiting to see if insurance will approve (will get the DOC even if they don't); then we start to fit her. I have two questions: One, what are the opinions of anyone else in regards to this pediatrician (I'm in San , TX) and two, anyone have any ideas on decorating the DOC band? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 Hi! Our daughter was banded a couple of weeks ago. We were the ones that pursued it with our doctor. She was born with torticollis but they didn't think it was a problem. Well, it is! She tilts to the left and favored her right side while sleeping her first two months. It bothered me to no end, so I kept going back to the doctor with my worries. My pediatrician thought that it would round out, too, but I didn't want to wait for that. We got her banded and have started physical therapy. I think that a lot of pediatricians feel that the head grows so much during the first year, that once they are sitting up and not on their heads so much the heads will round out. But I've read a lot of stories of that just not happening. My daughter hasn't been sleeping on her back for two months now, and she still is mildly flat on her right side, which we hope will be corrected by her band. We owe it to our children to band them to help, and it is a shame that your pediatrician didn't listen to you. Does he/she listen otherwise? As for decorating - that is the fun part. We got stickers at Target and the band looks a lot less medical now! Take a look: http://www.flickr.com/photos/littleadehla. Good luck! > > Howdy- new to the group...Noticed that my daughter () started having what I now know to be Right-Plagiocephaly at about 2.5 to 3 months old. Mentioned it to the Pediatrician, and she blew me off. Mentioned it at EVERY appt thereafter, and she didn't acknowledge that I actually had something of a point until she had barely started sitting up. At that point she told me to wait, since she was starting to sit up and it should " round out " on it's own. I knew about the condition of plagiocephaly, but figured that I would listen to the ped. at this point; she probably knows more about it and how to correct it than I do. > > However, at her five month, six month AND nine month appts, I mentioned again that it wasn't completely rounded out, and again my comment got passed over. I figured that I HAD to trust my pediatrician at SOME point (after all, she IS a doctor) and it didn't look to me as if was suffering from any kind of developmental delays, so I didn't push it more than that. > > At her 12 mo appt in the third week of July, the pediatrician magically " noticed " that he right side of her head was slightly mis-shapen. I looked at her and kind of got miffed, because I knew where she was going with this comment, and thought to myself, " I've told you about this since she was three months old and NOW you decide to take it seriously???!?! " > > Either way went to Cranial Technologies yesterday and they did diagnose her as a moderate right-plagiocephalic, and recommended the DOC band. We are now waiting to see if insurance will approve (will get the DOC even if they don't); then we start to fit her. > > I have two questions: One, what are the opinions of anyone else in regards to this pediatrician (I'm in San , TX) and two, anyone have any ideas on decorating the DOC band? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 My ped was a little better, but not perfect. I asked about my daughter's head at 2 mo, and she said " don't worry " . At 4 mo she said " looks pretty bad, probably okay, but go see a specialist " . It was pretty bad, and I hadn't done anything to avoid it getting worse. At 6 mo I gave here a brochure on repositioning, and told her I needed that info at 2 mo. She was pretty good about it. I find that many/most doctors don't take plagio seriously. I guess you need to see how your ped listens to your concerns in general, and how she reacts when you're in the helmet and seeing progress. If she was just ignorant, but begins to see the light I would stick with her. If she's arrogant or in denial, I would change. -christine sydney, 3.5 yrs, starband grad > > Howdy- new to the group...Noticed that my daughter () started having what I now know to be Right-Plagiocephaly at about 2.5 to 3 months old. Mentioned it to the Pediatrician, and she blew me off. Mentioned it at EVERY appt thereafter, and she didn't acknowledge that I actually had something of a point until she had barely started sitting up. At that point she told me to wait, since she was starting to sit up and it should " round out " on it's own. I knew about the condition of plagiocephaly, but figured that I would listen to the ped. at this point; she probably knows more about it and how to correct it than I do. > > However, at her five month, six month AND nine month appts, I mentioned again that it wasn't completely rounded out, and again my comment got passed over. I figured that I HAD to trust my pediatrician at SOME point (after all, she IS a doctor) and it didn't look to me as if was suffering from any kind of developmental delays, so I didn't push it more than that. > > At her 12 mo appt in the third week of July, the pediatrician magically " noticed " that he right side of her head was slightly mis-shapen. I looked at her and kind of got miffed, because I knew where she was going with this comment, and thought to myself, " I've told you about this since she was three months old and NOW you decide to take it seriously???!?! " > > Either way went to Cranial Technologies yesterday and they did diagnose her as a moderate right-plagiocephalic, and recommended the DOC band. We are now waiting to see if insurance will approve (will get the DOC even if they don't); then we start to fit her. > > I have two questions: One, what are the opinions of anyone else in regards to this pediatrician (I'm in San , TX) and two, anyone have any ideas on decorating the DOC band? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 It was our third pediatrician who finally agreed with us on the plagio and need for the DOC Band. We were concerned about the flatness as soon as we noticed it (at 7 weeks) and the pediatrician wasn't concerned. So we started doing our research...on plagio, on bands/helmets, on pediatricians. We also had a specialist tell us his plagio was only mild/moderate (and only moderate b/c the ears were misaligned). That still didn't sit well with us, so we continued our doctor search and went ahead and made our consultation appt at Cranial Tech. By that time, we had already decided he needed a band so we kept looking for a doctor who would listen. We love the pediatrician we found...she listens well and doesn't dismiss our concerns and questions. As soon as she saw our son, she said he was a good candidate for the band and that we'd be glad we did it for him. In the process of researching plagio, we looked at lots of before/after pictures of babies with plagio who were treated with bands/helmets and our son looked just like many of them. We didn't think he had a " mild " case at all, even though that's what 2 doctors were telling us. His starting cranial vault asymmetry was 17mm...pretty significant plagio. Our advice would be to trust your instincts until you find someone who will listen. Jill Cade's mom, 7 mo., DOC Band 6/18/09 Austin TX > > > > Howdy- new to the group...Noticed that my daughter () started having what I now know to be Right-Plagiocephaly at about 2.5 to 3 months old. Mentioned it to the Pediatrician, and she blew me off. Mentioned it at EVERY appt thereafter, and she didn't acknowledge that I actually had something of a point until she had barely started sitting up. At that point she told me to wait, since she was starting to sit up and it should " round out " on it's own. I knew about the condition of plagiocephaly, but figured that I would listen to the ped. at this point; she probably knows more about it and how to correct it than I do. > > > > However, at her five month, six month AND nine month appts, I mentioned again that it wasn't completely rounded out, and again my comment got passed over. I figured that I HAD to trust my pediatrician at SOME point (after all, she IS a doctor) and it didn't look to me as if was suffering from any kind of developmental delays, so I didn't push it more than that. > > > > At her 12 mo appt in the third week of July, the pediatrician magically " noticed " that he right side of her head was slightly mis-shapen. I looked at her and kind of got miffed, because I knew where she was going with this comment, and thought to myself, " I've told you about this since she was three months old and NOW you decide to take it seriously???!?! " > > > > Either way went to Cranial Technologies yesterday and they did diagnose her as a moderate right-plagiocephalic, and recommended the DOC band. We are now waiting to see if insurance will approve (will get the DOC even if they don't); then we start to fit her. > > > > I have two questions: One, what are the opinions of anyone else in regards to this pediatrician (I'm in San , TX) and two, anyone have any ideas on decorating the DOC band? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 My advice regarding pediatricians is to consider the whole picture. I could get really upset at mine for not suggesting a helmet until 12 months, but I've been generally happy with her handling of 's other issues (and she has had several). I also believe that if I had pushed for a referrall earlier, she probably would have at least suggested that I get a second opinion. I don't think that she would have written the prescription, but that's because she tends to like to leave those decisions to the specialists. She's good about not practing beyond her expertise and I respect that. In all, we've seen a pediatric GI, pediatric allergist, and a pediatric neurosurgean. When I wanted to delay 's shots because of her sensitive GI system, she didn't feel it was needed, but she did it. So, I guess I feel that she does listen and respect me as a parent. She's conservative and a little over cautious, but with most things, I feel that she doesn't miss anything. She's timely in returning my phone calls and consults with her colleagues when she's stumped. So, we didn't change pediatricians. Ask yourself how you feel otherwise. If you left feeling like you were being dismissed, then maybe you should change. If you disagree with the general treatment approach and care, then maybe you should change. The reason I say that is that many pediatiricians are just not informed. The mean well, but don't have the correct information. I really believe that mine thought that 's head would round out and was surprised when it didn't. Re: Change Pediatrician? It was our third pediatrician who finally agreed with us on the plagio and need for the DOC Band. We were concerned about the flatness as soon as we noticed it (at 7 weeks) and the pediatrician wasn't concerned. So we started doing our research...on plagio, on bands/helmets, on pediatricians. We also had a specialist tell us his plagio was only mild/moderate (and only moderate b/c the ears were misaligned). That still didn't sit well with us, so we continued our doctor search and went ahead and made our consultation appt at Cranial Tech. By that time, we had already decided he needed a band so we kept looking for a doctor who would listen. We love the pediatrician we found...she listens well and doesn't dismiss our concerns and questions. As soon as she saw our son, she said he was a good candidate for the band and that we'd be glad we did it for him. In the process of researching plagio, we looked at lots of before/after pictures of babies with plagio who were treated with bands/helmets and our son looked just like many of them. We didn't think he had a "mild" case at all, even though that's what 2 doctors were telling us. His starting cranial vault asymmetry was 17mm...pretty significant plagio. Our advice would be to trust your instincts until you find someone who will listen.JillCade's mom, 7 mo., DOC Band 6/18/09Austin TX > >> > Howdy- new to the group...Noticed that my daughter () started having what I now know to be Right-Plagiocephaly at about 2.5 to 3 months old. Mentioned it to the Pediatrician, and she blew me off. Mentioned it at EVERY appt thereafter, and she didn't acknowledge that I actually had something of a point until she had barely started sitting up. At that point she told me to wait, since she was starting to sit up and it should "round out" on it's own. I knew about the condition of plagiocephaly, but figured that I would listen to the ped. at this point; she probably knows more about it and how to correct it than I do. > > > > However, at her five month, six month AND nine month appts, I mentioned again that it wasn't completely rounded out, and again my comment got passed over. I figured that I HAD to trust my pediatrician at SOME point (after all, she IS a doctor) and it didn't look to me as if was suffering from any kind of developmental delays, so I didn't push it more than that. > > > > At her 12 mo appt in the third week of July, the pediatrician magically "noticed" that he right side of her head was slightly mis-shapen. I looked at her and kind of got miffed, because I knew where she was going with this comment, and thought to myself, "I've told you about this since she was three months old and NOW you decide to take it seriously???!?!"> > > > Either way went to Cranial Technologies yesterday and they did diagnose her as a moderate right-plagiocephalic, and recommended the DOC band. We are now waiting to see if insurance will approve (will get the DOC even if they don't); then we start to fit her. > > > > I have two questions: One, what are the opinions of anyone else in regards to this pediatrician (I'm in San , TX) and two, anyone have any ideas on decorating the DOC band?> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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