Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have to agree that his head looks wonderful! I would be ecstatic

with those results. If I were you, I would keep him in the helmet the

total 6 months just in case you can get a little more results.

However, I would be very pleased even if there was no more improvement.

's head is now close to where you started, but we aren't seeing the

perfect growth pattern that you did.

Congratulations!

Kathy

L R wrote:

I think that his helmet is doing a very fine job. His

head is growing where it needs to be (front left and back right). It

has also rounded out in the back. Maysa's scan also showed how her

head rounded out in the back after being in the DOC band for about 2

months, so I don't think that there is a scanner error there. If you

look at his head circumference, it seems to me that he's grown more

than just 1mm, more like 3.6mm. Plus his plagio is now within normal

range and so is Cephalic Index. I wish Maysa's head was nice and long

like that of 's. From the scan, his head really looks great to

me!

How much longer will you keep him in the helmet?

Leila,

Maysa, 20.5 mo. DOC band Grad 5.26.09

www.mymaysa.wordpress.com

From: Lulei <clluleihotmail>

Subject: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo [2 Attachments]

plagiocephaly

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 9:34 PM

is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was

18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny

improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first

scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the

improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't

really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm.

I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations

would be greatly appreciated.

, tampa, Fl

, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Starband is here in Tampa, CT in Miami, 4 hrs drive, too far from me especially now that my husband is overseas. I just couldn't see myself drive all the way there. I talked to them on the phone and liked that they don't have a problem banding older babies. I thought about going at least for an eval but my husband was about to leave, really bad timing and I felt I really couldn't wait any more. Starband agreed to at least 6 mos, unless no improvement was noticed after 4 mos. the ortho has a very good reputation even though since they typically don't band late doesn't maybe have this kind of experience. And I am all alone in this, my husband has no problem with me doing this but definetly would not have done it.

Plagiocephaly From: kathylorajensen@...Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 06:52:56 -0700Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

,I'm curious. Why did you pick Starband instead of a Doc band? Thanks,Kathy Lulei wrote:

is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was 18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm. I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations would be greatly appreciated. , tampa, Fl, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,Thank you for taking the time. Why do you think the rounding in the back is measurment error? The numbers don't show that? Too much rounding to be true?

Thanks

Plagiocephaly From: kathylorajensen@...Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:13:22 -0700Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi,Thanks for sharing! I like what happened in the forehead and the drop in asymmetry. We're not seeing that. You didn't get much growth, but the forehead improvement was worth the helmet. The rounding out shown in the back may be scanner error. In the first scan the head may have been pushing against the table. Also, I think there is more potential for measurement error right in the back.We should ask our ortho why 's forehead is not improving. We see equal growth on both sides. :|( We have seen improvement in the back.-Kathy Lulei wrote:

is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was 18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm. I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations would be greatly appreciated. , tampa, Fl, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It may not be and I hope it isn't, but we've had scans with flatness in

the back after round ones. Then the next scan it is round again. This

happens especially at the higher levels. My husband has decided the

back is where you can potentially get the most error. Does your son's

head push against a hard surface when scanned? 's does.

- Kathy

Lulei wrote:

Hi Kathy,

Thank you for taking the time. Why do you think the rounding in the

back is measurment error? The numbers don't show that? Too much

rounding to be true?

Thanks

Plagiocephaly

From: kathylorajensengmail

Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:13:22 -0700

Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi,

Thanks for sharing! I like what happened in the forehead and the drop

in asymmetry. We're not seeing that. You didn't get much growth, but

the forehead improvement was worth the helmet. The rounding out shown

in the back may be scanner error. In the first scan the head may have

been pushing against the table. Also, I think there is more potential

for measurement error right in the back.

We should ask our ortho why 's forehead is not improving. We see

equal growth on both sides. :|( We have seen improvement in the back.

-Kathy

Lulei wrote:

is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was

18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny

improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first

scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the

improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't

really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm.

I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations

would be greatly appreciated.

, tampa, Fl

, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Thank you Leila and Molly, what a relief, so I'm right to be pleased. I also thought he grew 3.6mm. I'm sure the ortho said 1mm, I guess she meant something else. She definetly didn't seem very impressed, maybe my perception or she's just used to younger babies. When we started the ortho said we had to commit to at least 6 mos. Last week she didn't mention graduating, he's still pretty flat in the back, I guess it would be more evident in the section 5 scan she showed to me on the screen but didn't print out. she actually said she's also trying for improvement in the front sides even though she feels that part is genetic, my husband. I hadn't even thought of graduating, I'm thinking I want him to wear it as long as possible. Thanks again! , Tampa, FL, 21 mo(18 adj), mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mos

Plagiocephaly From: leilarem@...Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 09:21:01 -0700Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

I think that his helmet is doing a very fine job. His head is growing where it needs to be (front left and back right). It has also rounded out in the back. Maysa's scan also showed how her head rounded out in the back after being in the DOC band for about 2 months, so I don't think that there is a scanner error there. If you look at his head circumference, it seems to me that he's grown more than just 1mm, more like 3.6mm. Plus his plagio is now within normal range and so is Cephalic Index. I wish Maysa's head was nice and long like that of 's. From the scan, his head really looks great to me!

How much longer will you keep him in the helmet?

Leila,Maysa, 20.5 mo. DOC band Grad 5.26.09www.mymaysa.wordpress.com

From: Lulei <clluleihotmail>Subject: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo [2 Attachments]plagiocephaly Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 9:34 PM

is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was 18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm. I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations would be greatly appreciated. , tampa, Fl, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Funny, I thought the diagram of rounding in the back might be

reflecting the same thing we saw after one week: a little ridge

tenting up in the middle of the back of her head, I guess in what the

scan would call Level 3.

This seemed not to be the sort of creeping change that I've seen

since; rather, it was as if a skull suture were rapidly flexed by the

helmet, and just a week's worth of new growth " glued " it in place.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara age 18 months, STARband since 8/10

On Oct 8, 2009, at 3:13 AM, Kathy Jensen wrote:

> The rounding out shown in the back may be scanner error. In the

> first scan the head may have been pushing against the table. Also,

> I think there is more potential for measurement error right in the

> back.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,Yes I'm pretty sure the back of his head was against a flat hard surface while the rest of his body lied on a kind of thin soft kind of pillow. Hope it's not error but I see your point.Thank you. Sorry for your frustrating CT experience. I'd be quite upset too. Showing more asymmetries than you were aware of and not being able to help. That's annoying. They really must be working differently from starband. Would your starband ortho make a new helmet for right now or would he raise the same concerns?

Plagiocephaly From: kathylorajensen@...Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:13:29 -0700Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi ,It may not be and I hope it isn't, but we've had scans with flatness in the back after round ones. Then the next scan it is round again. This happens especially at the higher levels. My husband has decided the back is where you can potentially get the most error. Does your son's head push against a hard surface when scanned? 's does.- Kathy Lulei wrote:

Hi Kathy,Thank you for taking the time. Why do you think the rounding in the back is measurment error? The numbers don't show that? Too much rounding to be true? Thanks

Plagiocephaly From: kathylorajensengmailDate: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:13:22 -0700Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi,Thanks for sharing! I like what happened in the forehead and the drop in asymmetry. We're not seeing that. You didn't get much growth, but the forehead improvement was worth the helmet. The rounding out shown in the back may be scanner error. In the first scan the head may have been pushing against the table. Also, I think there is more potential for measurement error right in the back.We should ask our ortho why 's forehead is not improving. We see equal growth on both sides. :|( We have seen improvement in the back.-Kathy Lulei wrote: is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was 18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm. I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations would be greatly appreciated. , tampa, Fl, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

What I'm saying is that the flat area in the first scan may be error if

's head was against a hard surface during the scan. The second

scan looks more realistic in back. If the first scan has error, then

there may not be as much improvement right in the back as the scans

show. Besides the effect of the head pushing against a surface, I

believe the scan is less accurate right in the back and somewhat at the

middle of the forehead. So, if the next scan shows flattening again in

the very back, don't be alarmed. This has happened in our scans, but

we're sure 's head did not become flatter and it always appears to

round back out in the next scan.

Hope this helps.

Kathy

Lulei wrote:

Hi Kathy,

Thank you for taking the time. Why do you think the rounding in the

back is measurment error? The numbers don't show that? Too much

rounding to be true?

Thanks

Plagiocephaly

From: kathylorajensengmail

Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:13:22 -0700

Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi,

Thanks for sharing! I like what happened in the forehead and the drop

in asymmetry. We're not seeing that. You didn't get much growth, but

the forehead improvement was worth the helmet. The rounding out shown

in the back may be scanner error. In the first scan the head may have

been pushing against the table. Also, I think there is more potential

for measurement error right in the back.

We should ask our ortho why 's forehead is not improving. We see

equal growth on both sides. :|( We have seen improvement in the back.

-Kathy

Lulei wrote:

is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was

18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny

improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first

scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the

improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't

really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm.

I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations

would be greatly appreciated.

, tampa, Fl

, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My husband is waiting for the ortho to call back. Our ortho has a

great reputation, but he is pessimistic. He's a nice guy and we like

him, but he is not encouraging. Hope he is not reading this, but when

I called Orthoamerica, they said he is very experienced, but has a

reputation for being grumpy.

Maybe 's forehead actually got worse in the 2 weeks we waited for

the band. Probably not, but I first noticed the bulge a couple days

after we got the helmet. was still on very limited helmet usage,

so I don't think the helmet caused the bulge unless the bulge is

partially swelling. Maybe, his helmet is not designed to treat the

forehead bulge since it was hardly there in the first scan. It showed

up slightly more in the second scan taken shortly after we started the

helmet and since then has stayed about the same.

-Kathy

Lulei wrote:

Hi Kathy,

Yes I'm pretty sure the back of his head was against a flat hard

surface while the rest of his body lied on a kind of thin soft kind of

pillow. Hope it's not error but I see your point.

Thank you.

Sorry for your frustrating CT experience. I'd be quite upset too.

Showing more asymmetries than you were aware of and not being able to

help. That's annoying. They really must be working differently from

starband. Would your starband ortho make a new helmet for right

now or would he raise the same concerns?

Plagiocephaly

From: kathylorajensengmail

Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:13:29 -0700

Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi ,

It may not be and I hope it isn't, but we've had scans with flatness in

the back after round ones. Then the next scan it is round again. This

happens especially at the higher levels. My husband has decided the

back is where you can potentially get the most error. Does your son's

head push against a hard surface when scanned? 's does.

- Kathy

Lulei wrote:

Hi Kathy,

Thank you for taking the time. Why do you think the rounding in the

back is measurment error? The numbers don't show that? Too much

rounding to be true?

Thanks

Plagiocephaly

From: kathylorajensengmail

Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:13:22 -0700

Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi,

Thanks for sharing! I like what happened in the forehead and the drop

in asymmetry. We're not seeing that. You didn't get much growth, but

the forehead improvement was worth the helmet. The rounding out shown

in the back may be scanner error. In the first scan the head may have

been pushing against the table. Also, I think there is more potential

for measurement error right in the back.

We should ask our ortho why 's forehead is not improving. We see

equal growth on both sides. :|( We have seen improvement in the back.

-Kathy

Lulei wrote:

is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was

18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny

improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first

scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the

improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't

really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm.

I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations

would be greatly appreciated.

, tampa, Fl

, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo

[Guest guest]

Got it. Thank you Kathy. I now see what you're saying.

Thanks again

Plagiocephaly From: kathylorajensen@...Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 13:55:48 -0700Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi ,What I'm saying is that the flat area in the first scan may be error if 's head was against a hard surface during the scan. The second scan looks more realistic in back. If the first scan has error, then there may not be as much improvement right in the back as the scans show. Besides the effect of the head pushing against a surface, I believe the scan is less accurate right in the back and somewhat at the middle of the forehead. So, if the next scan shows flattening again in the very back, don't be alarmed. This has happened in our scans, but we're sure 's head did not become flatter and it always appears to round back out in the next scan.Hope this helps.Kathy Lulei wrote:

Hi Kathy,Thank you for taking the time. Why do you think the rounding in the back is measurment error? The numbers don't show that? Too much rounding to be true? Thanks

Plagiocephaly From: kathylorajensengmailDate: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:13:22 -0700Subject: Re: update 21 mo old starband+scan+ photo

Hi,Thanks for sharing! I like what happened in the forehead and the drop in asymmetry. We're not seeing that. You didn't get much growth, but the forehead improvement was worth the helmet. The rounding out shown in the back may be scanner error. In the first scan the head may have been pushing against the table. Also, I think there is more potential for measurement error right in the back.We should ask our ortho why 's forehead is not improving. We see equal growth on both sides. :|( We have seen improvement in the back.-Kathy Lulei wrote: is wearing the starband. Treatment started in July when he was 18 mo (15 adj). Finally after 2 months the ortho said there was tiny improvement from the hand measurments, then last week he had the first scan since beginning of treatment. I was pretty happy with the improvement I saw but the ortho didn't seem very impressed and didn't really explain a lot from the scan, she just said he grew only 1 mm. I'm attaching the scan and the photostudy. Any comments or explanations would be greatly appreciated. , tampa, Fl, 21 mo (18 mo adj),mild plagio, starband for almost 3 mo