[tri-med] Need some help

Alex got his bandages off today - of which he is extremely glad - the
itching was driving him insane!!
We didnt get to see the surgeon, only the registrar and have to go back to
see the surgeon in 2 weeks (was supposed to be one week but there is no
clinic next week :-()

Anyway my dilemma is that they told me to put a band over his head and ears
to keep them flat and in place for the next 4 to 6 weeks. Supposedly just
like the rugby players or to use a sweat or alice band. They also said that
night time was the most important. This is going to be so much
fun.............

Firstly I have no idea how footballers tape their ears for scrums. I tried
calling the Cronulla Leagues Club last night, but the girl on the switch was
most unhelpful and just told me to call back during office hours and try and
speak with the team doctor or physio.

I tried to buy a sweat band on my way home - no luck. I did get a few Alice
bands but I have a problem (note thats me not Alex that has the problem)
with sending him to school today with an Alice band on. I did get some self
adhesive sports tape - but that stuff is useless - unless of course I am
doing it wrong which is highly likely!!

Besides the Alice band just kept slipping off overnight. I went in a few
times and put it back on but it was over his eyes, or off never over his
ears where it was supposed to be within 5 minutes. Also they said it would
be months before he would feel comfortable laying on his side - HA!! I
though that would be great because Alex's sats drop and he gets bradycardic
when he lays on his left side so I thought I may get some extra rest. He has
been laying on his side since the day after the operation, and more so last
night since the bandages were off......... (or maybe it was just me sick of
getting up to to alarms because I was so tired)

Anyway, does anyone have any bright ideas on getting a band over his ears
thats "manly" rather than girlish and that will stay on? It has to be
non-latex so neoprene is out of the question. (I did think of the bands that
they use for swimming with vent tubes in the ears but they are made of
neoprene - which is latex based) I will hit the rugby shop in Miranda later
today and possibly the surf shop - anyone else with some thoughts?

I did brain storm with another mum and we thought of a whole range of things
including duoderm and tape (Alex's skin is still pretty fragile though he
did very well with hypafix after the surgery). I may be able to get some
latex free Coban tape, and I also thought if trying to rig soemthing up out
of velfoam......... but we both kept thinking that there must be something
better and more "boyish". (OK OK I know I am being sexist)

PS his ears look good, but I admit that I am a little disappointed. The
surgeon did warn me that he couldnt do as much as he had hoped. They are
still very swollen and very flat against his head (VERY) which a customer
tells me will get better in a couple of weeks. He has stitched the right ear
to his head a long way up the ear - and it just sort of concerns me that he
has created a pocket for "gunk" but the surgeon IS the head of plastic
surgery so I am sure that he has thought of that...... Still think the
better answer is an ear transplant and that I should just give him mine and
I am seriously going to discuss that.........

"Write injuries in sand, kindnesses in marble."
- French Proverb -

Keep Looking for Rainbows!!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen\
 \_.--._ /
         v  Mum to Alex (8, T-18 mosaic)
Sydney, Australia
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens
http://www.trisomyonline.org

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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