just starting process....second opinion...lots of questions!

April 13, 2010

Hi, I'm new to this board and still figuring a lot of things out so sorry if I'm

not posting correctly! My son is 5 months old. He had right-side plagio when

he was born as I noticed his right eye looked bigger than the other. I

mentioned it to his ped who said this was normal. At his two month appt, I

mentioned the flattening on the back right side of his head, the slightly

bulging right forehead, and again the ped said it would straighten out on his

own. At his 4 month appt, I again mentioned it but also mentioned his ears were

out of alignment (right ear is more forward than the other). He AGAIN said it

would straighten out on his own. I got frustrated after returning home and

called back and made another appt and DEMANDED a referral to a pediatric

neurosurgeon. So we got him an appt and drove to ville (almost 3 hours

away). The neurosurgeon only recommended repositioning and said he does not

prescribe a helmet unless the child is immobile. What the neurosurgeon fails to

realize is that we have already been doing everything we can to keep him off the

right side of his head, but it's like fighting a losing battle. Especially

since he flips over himself onto his back at night and he's in daycare while my

husband and I work (I've advised them to keep him off his back but of course, I

don't know for sure they do this). No matter what we do, he WANTS to lay on the

right side of his head. I'm getting so frustrated cuz I feel like that every

day that goes by is another day we could have been treating his head with a

helmet. I don't know what to do at this point. Do I try again and request a

second opinion with another neurosurgeon - only to end up with another who is

anti-helmet? Or do I bite the bullet and drive to Miami for a DocBand? Will I

end up paying 100% out of pocket because I've already had a neurosurgeon say

that he recommended repositioning? I wonder if that trip to the neurosurgeon

will hurt me now as far as trying to get insurance to cover a DocBand? I just

don't understand why ped and the neurosurgeon look at my son's head and say,

" this will correct on his own. " He's had it since he was born and now he's 5

months and still nothing is getting better, only worse! It's really noticeable

when I look down at the top his head as his ears are so out of whack. I'm so

frustrated I could just cry. I guess if I have to charge $3800 on a credit card

it will be worth it. Anyone have any experience in getting a DocBand covered by

insurance after a neurosurgeon recommended repositioning?

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