Who should we see for follw-ups? PS or NS?

[steff]

Sofia is due sometime Spring of next year for a check-up and I was wondering since we don't have insurance, these consultations are getting to be quite expensive. For the last few times we did consult when we were in DC, we were making appointments with both the NS and the PS. Now, I want to ask your opinion, who is more important to see after surgery? I have put a lot of thought into it, and I think the PS is the doctor to see for post-op check-ups, since we are dealing with her appearance after surgery. Tell me if I am right, The NS has already done his job (opening the fused suture) and he has told me Sofia is doing well developmentally, so there is no need to do follow-ups with him?!? We never had another ct scan after the surgery so we don't know if everything has healed or if any bones (God forbid!) have fused again. Your opinions would be greatly appreciated! :icon_mrgr

[Jennifer]

I'm not positive. Probably the PS???? I will see our NS every appointment and occasionally the PS is there. I was asking the consultant as we hadn't seen the PS since the surgery and she kinda giggled and said the PS likes to see the babies to oooh and awww over the work and how good she looks. NS feels the bones and all that stuff. THAT being said, our NS was the main person in our case- she called all the shots, she helped w/ reconstruction, she was and is hands on in everything.

We also never had a follow-up CT....the only reason we had the 2nd is that a 2nd surgery was scheduled......I think each doc is different in why they do/do not get a follow-up CT.......

[Rhonda O]

I don't really know who you would see, Steff. We see both the PS and the NS on every yearly check up. Zachary had a follow up CT scan at one year post op.

[Katie]

The NS has already done his job (opening the fused suture) and he has told me Sofia is doing well developmentally, so there is no need to do follow-ups with him?!?

I'm thinking PS as well. Dillons craniofacial surgeon sees Dillon more than his NS does. If he has any concerns at all about his development, or anything that may cause a problem with his brain, then he sends us to the NS. Otherwise, his CS is the one who usually makes the calls.

[plukids]

We see both the PS and NS. We are due next month .... wow time has flown. I would say the PS is greatly important related to the healing and change the skull takes on as it heals. I think the NS is important to assess the developmental issues and brain growth. If your pediatrician says developmentally she is on track then???? maybe skip the NS. We did not have a follow up CT.

[eden'smom]

We also didn't have a followup CT, which worried me some. We only see the PS now. Our NS doesn't want to see Eden until she's around 10!!! (Lisa, did I tell you that??). Kinda scares me. The PS will probably need to do a touchup procedure w/bone paste and so he's following her pretty closely. I"d say perhaps the PS is the better one to see, because if he sees something that is in the NS's domain, he'll certainly know enough to tell you to see him. We actually had that happen--it was the PS I showed Eden's sacral dimple to and he said to see hte NS to have it looked at and an MRI was later done. Good luck. Sofia is a beauty!

[craniomommynbaby]

We see both each time. The NS always asks how Simon is doing developmentally, and we usually drive to his office in Orlando. The PS always attends the clinics in Orlando (drives from Tampa), and she is always looking at his features. Both are a little concerned that his defects have not quite closed, so we are monitoring those.