Getting a grip [Was: update on help...]

[Guest guest]

On Oct 4, 2009, at 2:54 PM, l_peaches wrote:

> I keep checking her head and some days I think I see it changing

> other days doesnt look different. I am driving myself crazy and I

> dont know what to do.

Sounds normal to me (what you're seeing, and how you're reacting to

it). I see good days and bad days; I see Clara's head seem to get

worse even as I shampoo it! My solution was to sheep-shear her head

and take pictures before every fitting (except the 1-wk).

It seems that I have a cut-rate STARband, with no scans included; the

orthotist just measures the circumference of Clara's head and

compares it to the helmet to keep them close, and relies on more

subtle assessment methods. For example, I notice he always places

the helmet how he wants it to sit, rather than how it actually sits,

when evaluating the fit. He's also mentioned using staining and red

spots as a guide. It's clearly well outside the realm of science,

and that drives me nuts!

But to be re-assessing every day, and second-guessing every

adjustment, is like sitting on a shoreline trying to watch

continental drift: the tides don't matter, and apparent angles of

the skull seem to fluctuate in a similar fashion.

I *think* I've learned to pick out the little ridges emerging here

and there, and seemingly growing toward each other (on a much longer

time scale), since the orthotist pointed one out to me early on.

That's some comfort.

But the pictures are definitely my exit from the emotional roller

coaster.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara, age 18 months, STARband since 8/10

[Guest guest]

Hi Thad,

I don't know if your ortho is good or not, but scans aren't necessarily the best

way to measure changes. Our ortho did use them and it helped me to see the

changes. However someone that is good visually and well trained really can do a

good job without a scan to see the change and area for correction. I think

cranial tech/docband clinicians generally use this method. It would be hard for

me because I like numbers and measurements, but hopefully your guy is good, and

he really can see what he is doing. although the part about putting it on his

head how he wants it to sit vs. how it really sits isn't that encouraging :-)

-christine

sydney, 3.5 yrs, starband grad

>

> > I keep checking her head and some days I think I see it changing

> > other days doesnt look different. I am driving myself crazy and I

> > dont know what to do.

>

> Sounds normal to me (what you're seeing, and how you're reacting to

> it). I see good days and bad days; I see Clara's head seem to get

> worse even as I shampoo it! My solution was to sheep-shear her head

> and take pictures before every fitting (except the 1-wk).

>

> It seems that I have a cut-rate STARband, with no scans included; the

> orthotist just measures the circumference of Clara's head and

> compares it to the helmet to keep them close, and relies on more

> subtle assessment methods. For example, I notice he always places

> the helmet how he wants it to sit, rather than how it actually sits,

> when evaluating the fit. He's also mentioned using staining and red

> spots as a guide. It's clearly well outside the realm of science,

> and that drives me nuts!

>

> But to be re-assessing every day, and second-guessing every

> adjustment, is like sitting on a shoreline trying to watch

> continental drift: the tides don't matter, and apparent angles of

> the skull seem to fluctuate in a similar fashion.

>

> I *think* I've learned to pick out the little ridges emerging here

> and there, and seemingly growing toward each other (on a much longer

> time scale), since the orthotist pointed one out to me early on.

> That's some comfort.

>

> But the pictures are definitely my exit from the emotional roller

> coaster.

>

> --

> Thad Launderville

> Montpelier, VT

> Clara, age 18 months, STARband since 8/10

>