Guest guest Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 we had our consultation at cranial technologies in charlotte today and were very impressed. they evaluated alex's head ... his asymmetry is 15mm and his ears are offset by 8mm, what they called a severe case of classic plagiocephaly. if we choose to go with the docband, they'll want to see alex weekly and think his treatment will be about 8-10 weeks. they also evaluated his ill-fitting starband. the therapist that looked it over wouldn't say if it was " bad " but did mention that she did not understand why they were shaving off the points of contact, which she thought should remain consistent. it seemed counter-intuitive to her. alex's helmet is still pushing his ear forward, but after an adjustment last week is no longer covering up his eye. anyway, we have a decision to make. do we scrap the ill-fitting starband and drive from atlanta to charlotte and back each week (about four hours each way)? do we give his helmet a chance to fit better (we have only had it since the tuesday before thanksgiving and have gone in for three adjustments so far. also, the ortho at children's healthcare of atlanta is willing to get a new helmet if they can't get this one to fit properly)? i feel like time is not on our side here. there's also the question of cost. it doesn't look like the helmet we currently have or the new docband will be covered. that will be a big hit, but totally worth it to fix my little pumpkin's head. right now my heart is leaning toward the docband. it seems like the funny shape will be a better fit for alex. i'm waffling though. for some strange reason, i feel like i'm cheating on the starband. does that make sense? i just want to do what's right! what would you do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 I think if you were hoping for more improvement, then go that extra month. You never know when they could hit a big spurt. Good luck with your decision. Angie Jenna STARgrad 2003 and Ky repo What would you do? Today was our 3 month check up and scan. Our son Ben (9 months nextweek) has been in a Starband since Oct 2. He is now at 4mm and thetech gave us the option of being done. While his head is not totallyround, it's a big improvement and is now within normal limits. Ben isalso more mobile now (crawling, standing, doesn't sleep on his back atall), so the tech feels the part that is still a little flat willround out on it's own. He said we could do one more month if wewanted. It was up to us. I feel torn on what to do!! He did not havemuch growth from last month to this month. The tech said he likelywouldn't grow much this next month either. We love our tech and thinkhe's great... very honest, etc. I just wish he had made the decisionand not left it up to us!! LOL Here's a link to his scan - the red line is his first scan, the blueline is today's. His ears are still a little off, but the tech saidthat may not correct anyways. He said the ears are usually last tocorrect and often they don't correct much if at all at this point. http://health.ph./group/Plagiocephaly/photos/view/e176?b=96Thanks for your opinions!! --CareyStarband, Nor. California Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 It is a tough decision!! I couldn't see the pics either!! However, it the band doesn't bother him and still fits well then I may keep it on. It couldn't hurt. My daughter was in the same boat- my ortho said she is down to less than 3mm asym from 14mm and said she was in normal limits. However, I wished we had some more improvement so we decided to leave it on for 3 more weeks since it still fits well! We will see, January 1st will be 3 weeks! Good Luck!! Mom to McKenna almost 9 months band for 11 weeks > > From: Carey <careyryan@...> > Subject: What would you do? > Plagiocephaly > Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 6:01 PM > > > > > > > Today was our 3 month check up and scan. Our son Ben (9 > months next > week) has been in a Starband since Oct 2. He is now at 4mm > and the > tech gave us the option of being done. While his head is > not totally > round, it's a big improvement and is now within normal > limits. Ben is > also more mobile now (crawling, standing, doesn't sleep > on his back at > all), so the tech feels the part that is still a little > flat will > round out on it's own. He said we could do one more > month if we > wanted. It was up to us. I feel torn on what to do!! He did > not have > much growth from last month to this month. The tech said he > likely > wouldn't grow much this next month either. We love our > tech and think > he's great... very honest, etc. I just wish he had made > the decision > and not left it up to us!! LOL > > Here's a link to his scan - the red line is his first > scan, the blue > line is today's. His ears are still a little off, but > the tech said > that may not correct anyways. He said the ears are usually > last to > correct and often they don't correct much if at all at > this point. > > http://health. ph.groups. / group/Plagioceph > aly/photos/ view/e176? b=96 > > Thanks for your opinions!! > > --Carey > Starband, Nor. California Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 The old “the head will round out by itself” comments that are made my various types of medical professionals always puzzles me. Has anyone ever experienced, or even heard of a child with plagio/brachy, where the head just gradually corrects on its own? I sure haven’t! I think that over time, the shape variances stay the same – but as the head grows larger the differences just APPEAR to be correcting. Added to the fact that substantial hair comes in, etc. To me it’s a total no-brainer to leave the band on for the extra time. You never know when you might get a nice growth spurt. If you don’t, what is lost? It’s already paid for. A few extra velcro burns and a head butt or two for Mom & Dad trying to get hugs? Everyone have a great Christmas, or whatever holiday season that you might celebrate! From: Plagiocephaly [mailto:Plagiocephaly ] On Behalf Of Carey Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 4:01 PM Plagiocephaly Subject: What would you do? Today was our 3 month check up and scan. Our son Ben (9 months next week) has been in a Starband since Oct 2. He is now at 4mm and the tech gave us the option of being done. While his head is not totally round, it's a big improvement and is now within normal limits. Ben is also more mobile now (crawling, standing, doesn't sleep on his back at all), so the tech feels the part that is still a little flat will round out on it's own. He said we could do one more month if we wanted. It was up to us. I feel torn on what to do!! He did not have much growth from last month to this month. The tech said he likely wouldn't grow much this next month either. We love our tech and think he's great... very honest, etc. I just wish he had made the decision and not left it up to us!! LOL Here's a link to his scan - the red line is his first scan, the blue line is today's. His ears are still a little off, but the tech said that may not correct anyways. He said the ears are usually last to correct and often they don't correct much if at all at this point. http://health.ph./group/Plagiocephaly/photos/view/e176?b=96 Thanks for your opinions!! --Carey Starband, Nor. California Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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