PiElla's New Helmet

[maztec]

First full night in the helmet went well. Except when we took the helmet off, within five minutes a lump of fluid formed behind her right ear. That area had not felt all that tight, but apparently there was enough pressure to create a blister under the skin. Now we have to let the lump go down and get the helmet readjusted to fit because it is too tight. Just a whee bit frustrating.

[SRMama]

Sorry you guys are going through so much trouble with getting your helmet therapy started

[coopersmama]

We had trouble with our helmet at first, too, so I totally sympathize with you. It's not a fun place to be in :(. But it does get better and easier. Hopefully, your orthotist is easy to work with and to get in to see. That really helped us at first. Now it's pretty routine...we all have it down, the orthotist, parents, and Coop.

Anyway, speaking from experience, it will get better!!! Just make sure to keep following up if the helmet doesn't seem to fit right.

[maztec]

Thanks for the support folks. We took the helmet back in today and modifications were made. My daughter's right squamosal suture bulges out a bit, which wasn't caught by the star scanner and is what the helmet was pressing on. That plus a few other modifications has made the helmet fit much better! Still a bit tight, but I sat down and talked with both the orthotist and plastic surgeon and we all agreed that it makes sense to be a bit tight given all of the factors. It should work out that she is out of the helmet within three months as a result. Having talked with two other lambdoid parents who had endoscopic treatment, they both were in and out of helmet therapy fairly quickly - plus the anectdotal evidence the surgeons and orthotist are aware of from talking to other practitioners supports that experience. Of course, there are always exceptions and it is entirely possible she will have to wear the helmet till a year or beyond. Only time and growth will tell.

The new fit is fantastic. Slips on, not a problem. And when we took it off, she didn't cry like she had before. Hopefully this continues to work.

Also, I spent more time grilling our orthotist about his experience. He has been fitting helmets on everything from plagio for almost 20 years and has been doing synostosis fittings off and on that entire time; off times when the research wasn't support it and none of the local surgeons were willing to try it, and back on the last 5-10 years as endoscopic treatment has made a comeback. I am very satisfied with his knowledge and experience.

Hopefully it keeps going along as positively as today. :)