helmet question

[kpowers1]

Hello-- our son has ths vein that runs down his forehead a bit--you can just see it through the skin very slightly-----but every time our lo wears his helmet---when we take it off-- that vein is more visible and darker--sometimes when he cries real hard too----- I am wondering if the helmet is directly pushing on the vein and causing this to happen----does it sound worrisome? Or from the heat in the helmet? He sweat a lot in the helmet. He has a unique situation---he had the Pi procedure done and was nto suppose to wear a helmet but they decided to put one on him during the active periods due to walking etc........anyone else notice anythign like this

Thank You

[jumpingjacksmom]

We never had any major issues with Jackson having excessive pressure that made him cry. The sweat however is very normal! Make sure to wash his hair each day and keep the helmet clean... use alcohol each time you take it off and make sure that it drys completely before you put it back on... we also found that a little frebreeze and wipe down with a white paper towel helped A LOT with smell from the sweat.

If the vein is bothering you you should talk to your ortho. Ours was always prepared to make needed adjustments. That's their job! The majority of the pressure from Jack's helmet was on the forehead and back of the head, watch for red spots that don't lighten quickly after removing the helmet too, that would indicate that it is pushing too much in any area.

[Sophia's_mom]

I agree with Kerre 100%, if you have any doubts or worrys about the pressure from the helmet talk with your Ortho.

We never had any real troubles with pressure either, there were a few times I questioned the fit, but they were always willing to make any adjustments for us.

[Avery's Mom]

Avery has that throbbing vein too but did not notice it being any more prominent during helmet therapy. I would ask the doc just to be sure.

[kpowers1]

thank you----- there have been no red marks----we check it constantly its --just when we take it off--he is always really sweaty and notice the vein is more visible--seems darker--I asked the PA and she said it was fine--and has probably alwasy been there but I have no clue as to what would make it more visible?------but just like to get feedback here from those in the know:) He has had the helmet for almost 6 weeks and has had no adjustments---there have been no red marks yet---- ---he is 13 months old--- and the ortho said his head shouldnt grow too much more? I thought we grew until 6 years old??

[jumpingjacksmom]

we probably just don't grow very fast after a certain time... my husband has major forhead veins and when he's just plain ol' hot they seem to grow... it's kind sci-fi-ish. maybe that's all it is.

[Sophia's_mom]

You know I was thinking, my DH has a vain on his forehead that only shows up when he's really hot or really angry, so that may be the case with your little one. They do get hot and sweaty, that's just a nasty part of the deal. Head growth dramatically slows down at one year old so I'm not surprised that your ortho said he won't see much change.

[Sophia's_mom]

we probably just don't grow very fast after a certain time... my husband has major forhead veins and when he's just plain ol' hot they seem to grow... it's kind sci-fi-ish. maybe that's all it is.

Kerre, we posted at the same time. LOL about both or DH's having the sci-fi vains. :giggle

[*jules*]

I don't know anything about helmets, but it seems that very visible scalp veins are common with cranio kids. Alex also has some very dark and noticeable veins on his forehead/temple area. They're less noticeable now that his hair has grown, but they used to freak me out...pulsing and such...ewww, lol.

Good luck with helmet therapy and the ladies have given you some great advice on how to make it more bearable on both of you. Hugs.

[kpowers1]

Just came back from the seeing ortho--and getting his helmet checked--apparently the veins get that way from the heat---they pulsate when hot and causes them to become bigger---if they turned purple than the helmet would be causing too much pressure--so that is good know:)) MAybe he just never sweated like this before! These helmets are soooooooooo HOT!

[JillysMama]

Wish I would've seen this post a few days ago. My little girl has a birth mark on the back of her head and when it gets heated up from the helmet it turns dark red. The ortho explained exactly what you just posted about the heat. It causes the blood vessels to dialate and veins and birthmarks become more prominent. Her birthmark usually cools off during helmet hour and goes back down to a light pink.