Re: New here! Feeling remorse after 5 days!

[Guest guest]

It seems like such a big deal when you first start, but it does get better and

before you know it, you won't even notice the helmet half the time!

If you have a STARBand, they can drill holes in the band to help with the

sweating...it helped my son a lot to have some air holes!

I wasn't aware they made them closed on top too, but it might be designed that

way based on the scan of your son's head. You should be able to call your

provider at any time with questions, so go ahead and call on that one...no need

to wait until your next appointment.

The band itself should not cause any delays at all...it is not heavy enough to

do that, although it seems heavy to us! The plagio will not get worse with a

helmet...it will correct it.

He will not lose his hair. My son has way more hair now that when he started

with his band.

My son also has tort and he doesn't have any problems with the helmet and his

range of motion. If your son seems to have an issue with it rubbing a shoulder

or something...then have your provider make the adjustment to correct that. The

band hasn't affected my son's tort at all.

I would say that it would be an extremely slim chance that you would not see any

improvement. My son measured a 15mm CV asymmetry at his first visit. 5 weeks

later, he was down to 10mm CV asymmetry. At his appointment today, no major

change in numbers, but more rounding visually. The changes occur when your

child hits those growth spurts, so if the helmet is on during a growth spurt the

growth will be directed in the flat area and you will see improvement.

I don't think you will hear anyone who has felt the helmet wasn't worth it!

We have been in ours for 2 months now and I am SO pleased with the results that

if we had to stop today, I would be okay with it. Once you see some results,

you won't even think twice about it!

So, I would stick with it and wait for the results to come! In the grand

scheme of things in your child's life, this is just a blip and it will be over

before you know it and you will be happy with the results!

>>

> Now I am very worried. I thought I was getting a starband with an open design.

It's not. It's completely closed and pretty big. The therapist did not even call

to let us know it would be closed. We live in Florida, so it is pretty warm

here.

>

> Can the helmet cause other problems, prevent delays with other milestones such

ad crawling or range of motion, or even make the plagio worse??

>

> Will he lose his hair?

>

> If he had torticollis, won't the helmet make it harder for him to turn his

head?

>

> Is there a chance we will see no improvement?

>

> I am definitely having regret. I kind of wish we had gotten a second opinion,

but my dr said that the ortho plastic surgeon was the best. At this point I an

not sure we did the right thing. I am skeptical of the dr and therapist and

think of this as a business for them. I know this is effective treatment for

many families, but what do parents of subtle cases do?

>

> Any advice would help. I am also a first time mom, so I am new to all of this.

>

[Guest guest]

we got a star band for our son and even put air conditioning in our house

because we wanted him to be comfortable. During tummy time he started to have

trouble lifting his head. After going to get a second opinion for a Doc band we

are switching. The Doc Band is so much lighter and open. I wished I would have

done it sooner. Some people are very happy wiht the star band, you just have to

see what works best for you and your child.

> >>

> > Now I am very worried. I thought I was getting a starband with an open

design. It's not. It's completely closed and pretty big. The therapist did not

even call to let us know it would be closed. We live in Florida, so it is pretty

warm here.

> >

> > Can the helmet cause other problems, prevent delays with other milestones

such ad crawling or range of motion, or even make the plagio worse??

> >

> > Will he lose his hair?

> >

> > If he had torticollis, won't the helmet make it harder for him to turn his

head?

> >

> > Is there a chance we will see no improvement?

> >

> > I am definitely having regret. I kind of wish we had gotten a second

opinion, but my dr said that the ortho plastic surgeon was the best. At this

point I an not sure we did the right thing. I am skeptical of the dr and

therapist and think of this as a business for them. I know this is effective

treatment for many families, but what do parents of subtle cases do?

> >

> > Any advice would help. I am also a first time mom, so I am new to all of

this.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for the reassurance. It helps a lot. I will definitely ask

about drilling holes for air. I am glad to hear he won't lose his hair. The

helmet will hopefully be off before the holidays and his first birthday!

He has Tort too. So I am glad to hear that this will not affect that either.

Any advice on neck stretches?? I havent really been strict or consistent with

them. His head seems to turn fine in both directions am so I am not sure he

really needs them. He has had pt a few times, but again, I am skeptical. I dont

know of he is getting any real benefit. The PT is also the person who does the

adjustments on the helmet. She said my son's back is weak, and like a 3 month

old. He is 7 months. However, when I asked my pediatrician, he said my son was

developing fine. At 7 months he sits unsupported for 30 minutes!

Again, I feel that we could be being taken advantage of. I just am unsure what

to do.

On a better note, I do feel reassured with the helmet!

> >>

> > Now I am very worried. I thought I was getting a starband with an open

design. It's not. It's completely closed and pretty big. The therapist did not

even call to let us know it would be closed. We live in Florida, so it is pretty

warm here.

> >

> > Can the helmet cause other problems, prevent delays with other milestones

such ad crawling or range of motion, or even make the plagio worse??

> >

> > Will he lose his hair?

> >

> > If he had torticollis, won't the helmet make it harder for him to turn his

head?

> >

> > Is there a chance we will see no improvement?

> >

> > I am definitely having regret. I kind of wish we had gotten a second

opinion, but my dr said that the ortho plastic surgeon was the best. At this

point I an not sure we did the right thing. I am skeptical of the dr and

therapist and think of this as a business for them. I know this is effective

treatment for many families, but what do parents of subtle cases do?

> >

> > Any advice would help. I am also a first time mom, so I am new to all of

this.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello. I understand your concerns, but you can relax. The helmet doesn't cause

delays. Sometimes tort can, but I don't think it comes from banding. My daughter

wore a starband. She has always been big and strong for her age, and even with a

starband she was early or on time for all her milestones. Their head does adjust

pretty well to temperature. The band generally has an opening at the top if it

is a starband. Orthomerica also makes a clarren helmet and a starlite - neither

of which are open on top - do you have one of those? If it doesn't have a top

opening with velcro to close one side then it might not be a starband. (send a

photo if you're not sure).

As for making plagio worse - if it is a really really badly made band it is

possible, but rarely happens. I think the best thing to do is to take photos at

the start, and every week or two. That way you can see the progress, rather than

trying to figure out if you're imagining things :-) With my daughter we found

photos looking down from the top of her head showed the problem and the

correction the best.

As for wanting to generate business - I would say most people dealing with

plagio have more than enough. once you are sensitized to plagio you'll see more

and more babies/kids that could benefit from a band. I don't think they need to

generate customers. If you want a second opinion feel free to post your child's

picture to the group. If you got measurements or a starscan report I can tell

you that our specialist recommends banding at 10 mm of asymmetry or a CI of 90%

- some doctors and parents band at lower numbers.

As for hair - some babies do lose it, but most don't. My daughter did, but it

isn't that common. I've heard 1 in 10, but think it is far fewer.

Keep us posted on his progress & all the best.

-christine

sydney, 4.5 yrs, starband grad

>

> Hi everyone! My 7 month old just got his starband and I have a lot of

questions already. I wasn't there when my husband went to get the helmet, so I

didn't get a chance to ask questions. I will next time. I am hoping someone here

can help. My son's plagio is mild. He is flat his left, but it's subtle.

>

> I was on the fence about even doing the helmet. Who knows if he would have

just grown into it. After much back and forth we decided to do it.

>

> Now I am very worried. I thought I was getting a starband with an open design.

It's not. It's completely closed and pretty big. The therapist did not even call

to let us know it would be closed. We live in Florida, so it is pretty warm

here.

>

> Can the helmet cause other problems, prevent delays with other milestones such

ad crawling or range of motion, or even make the plagio worse??

>

> Will he lose his hair?

>

> If he had torticollis, won't the helmet make it harder for him to turn his

head?

>

> Is there a chance we will see no improvement?

>

> I am definitely having regret. I kind of wish we had gotten a second opinion,

but my dr said that the ortho plastic surgeon was the best. At this point I an

not sure we did the right thing. I am skeptical of the dr and therapist and

think of this as a business for them. I know this is effective treatment for

many families, but what do parents of subtle cases do?

>

> Any advice would help. I am also a first time mom, so I am new to all of this.

>

[Guest guest]

Also, they do adjust to the sweating after about 2 weeks or so. My son was much

cooler after that time even without the extra holes. The holes just made it

even better.

I would definitely keep up with the PT and stretches for your son's tort. It

does not really resolve on its own and can cause delays/issues down the road if

it isn't treated. We do daily stretches with my son and then see the PT every 2

weeks or so. He has a full range of motion and his tilt is much less severe

than when we started. Sometimes he stays at midline, but often he still has a

slight tilt. So, for now, we are focusing on keeping his range of motion and

the stretching. Once he is out of the helmet, we will be a little more

aggressive in focusing on the final bit of tilt.

I don't think anyone is taking you for a ride at the office, it sounds like

they are just being proactive in treating the tort and plagio. It is SO much

easier to treat now than once they are older. The older kids usually end up

with surgery to treat it.

So, keep up with the stretches and the helmet and in time, you will see results

in both areas.

Also, focus on getting your son to build upper body strength and core muscle

strength...that helps with the tort too. The PT might be talking about muscle

tone, which is a bit different than strength. Have your son moving in different

ways....we lay ours on his side and have him push up with his arm on his side,

either on our lap or on the floor, etc. The next time you go to PT, ask them

for more strengthening and toning exercises for your son....they should have

tons to share with you. Oh, and our PT has us using an exercise ball to do some

stretches and exercises with our son...it works great.

Good luck!

>

> Thank you so much for the reassurance. It helps a lot. I will definitely ask

about drilling holes for air. I am glad to hear he won't lose his hair. The

helmet will hopefully be off before the holidays and his first birthday!

>

> He has Tort too. So I am glad to hear that this will not affect that either.

>

> Any advice on neck stretches?? I havent really been strict or consistent with

them. His head seems to turn fine in both directions am so I am not sure he

really needs them. He has had pt a few times, but again, I am skeptical. I dont

know of he is getting any real benefit. The PT is also the person who does the

adjustments on the helmet. She said my son's back is weak, and like a 3 month

old. He is 7 months. However, when I asked my pediatrician, he said my son was

developing fine. At 7 months he sits unsupported for 30 minutes!

>

> Again, I feel that we could be being taken advantage of. I just am unsure what

to do.

>

> On a better note, I do feel reassured with the helmet!

>