REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Hi - brand new mommy here with a question.

My 5 week old daughter has a hemangioma (strawberry birthmark). It is very small and flat - but is located smack dab in the middle of her forehead. It showed up when she was 3 weeks old and we took her to the ped at 4 weeks and asked about it.

My ped. was very nonchalant about it - "oh, it's normal - it will go away, etc." I did my own research (medical journal articles, internet sites, website for vascular birthmarks, etc.) and learned so much more about them and I'm furious that my doctor didnt really tell me anything, like:

the mark will most likely grow significantly during the first year - (it has already doubled in width in 2 weeks - but it's still small) It could be up to 3 inches in diameter.

It will go from being flat to raised and spongy - like the texture of a strawberry.

the mark will most likely be there until Ainsley (my daughter) is age 5-9

Given its location, if it gets really large, it could pose some problems regarding how her skull fuses (this was told to me by the dermatologist I saw)

So after freaking out by what I read and the photos I saw on the net, we went to a dermatologist who advocated Ainsley having laser surgery. It turns out that his daughter had one as well and had it lasered at 8 weeks with total success. He said that while we dont know if it will grow or pose future problems - it's pretty easy to treat with a laser right now, because it's flat and small - and it may very well be large and raised by the time she's 8 weeks - which is when her next ped. appt is.

So we got a referral from the dermatologist and we're seeing a laser specialist in the city next week. I hate the thought of my daughter getting a laser treatment at 6 weeks old - but I cant stand the thought of not doing anything and having this thing grow and grow - and then our options are more limited. . . plus I think of a future child making fun of my daughter and I just cant stand it.

So I'm just so angry that our pediatrician didnt give us any information about this - I dont have a problem with her saying "I advise that we take a 'wait and see' approach," but by not telling me anything about possible treatment, longetivity, etc. I feel that she was not giving us any options.

So do I say something at Ainsley's next appt? I'm tempted to find a new ped. but we're moving in a year and I figure that she'll do for now - but I'm still so mad and unsure of how to speak with her.

ok - vent over. Thanks.

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

I would say something and also get an appt with a ped dermatologist to chek it out

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

I would say something at your next appt. I have a gf whose DD has a very big one on her arm and her ped also said to leave it alone??

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Both of my boys had/have them on their backs. Nick's was small (the size of a pea at it's largest) and went away by the time he was 18 months old. Alec's was the size of a quarter, raised and purple in some places. It was not pretty at all! He is now 2, and it's fading quickly.

I wouldn't be too quick to have my baby's face lazered, but that's just me. I might consider it if it wasn't gone by the time she turns 3, but I definitely wouldn't do it to an infant. JMO

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Taylor has one smack dab on the top back of her head.
It was there from birth, when I pointed out to ped at her 2 month appt that it got a little bigger, he said not to be concerned but he would check it out..then he measured it and referred us to a ped dermatologist. DH was pretty upset b/c he thought if i didnt point it out, the ped may not have even noticed it.

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

my daughter has a small one on her leg and the dr told us pretty much just said that it may grow but it will go away b4 she is 2 and to not worry about it.


eta - so i dont worry about it but i may have felt differently if it was on her face.

Message edited 5/31/2007 10:29:26 AM.

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Get it taken care of. I have one on my ankle that is an absolute NIGHTMARE. It kept growing and I had surgery on it when I was 11. It came back and right now I am having circulation problems in my foot because of it. MY case is extreme, but if you can get it take it case of, I'd do it.

My parents didn't take care of it earlier b/c the ped said it was on my ankle and who really cared what it looked like, you know?

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Your peditrition definately should have given you more information. But, you have to remember, they see these things all of the time. If he/she looked at it on her face and saw the texture, size, color, etc., then most likely if he was worried, he would tell you.

I agree that I personally would not be so quick to get the lazer done. Lots of kids get these and they do fade. But, as we always say, if YOU think that is the right thing to do, then go with your instincts.

If you are not completely comfortable with your peditrition, then definately look for another one. Also, please be careful what you read on the internet. Too much information is NOT a good thing! It can worry you unnecessarilly. Being informed is good, but you can't take everything word for word. There are other factors to take into cosideration.

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

I would def be upset with the doctor. Get some second & third opinions from other dermatologists. Looks like a lot of other girls on this baord have experienced the same thing with themselves or a child - so get some referrals from them.
That's what these boards are good for

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Paige has one on her back. She is 4 months today and it is about 1 inch around and its very red and raised. You can feel it through her clothes. It started off like a light mark (no red in it). My ped. initially sent her to the dermatologist because she has another weird mark on her back that he wanted to get checked out. otherwise, i dont think he would have sent her to a derm. The derm. told me that the strawberry mark will get bigger and then dimish.

Considering the spot that your DD has it, i would be a little p$ssed also. Im sorry your DD has to go through this. My DD had to get a biopsy on her back (she was only 2 weeks old) for the other mark she had. I felt so bad for my DD.

I would tell the doctor exactly what the Derm. said.

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Jillian also has one on her face (on the right side) - and my ped was just as casual as yours and I insisted on seeing a dermatologist, who said basically the same things as the ped (kind of annoying, but I guess good). They - and other friends/family who had/knew of others who had this other places - that they do go away and usually are pretty well on their way down by the time they are 2-4 ish.

But i agree - I hate seeing it on her face, and feel like I have to explain it all the time.

Can you give me the name of your dermatologist? I'd love to get a second opinion myself. DD's hemangioma has grown quite a bit.

my dermatologist said basically lasering it would only help the color, not the size, and if its going to grow, it will then just look flesh colored, not red. And they don't like to operate unless it looks to interfere with some phys. development (like your's says it may..)..

Feel free to FM me to vent about it also - or to pass along any other info you find. DH & I had resigned ourselves to 'waiting it out', but would also love to look into any other options needed..

Thanks!

Re: REALLY LONG - I'm furious at pediatrician and am unsure what to do

Message edited 5/31/2007 12:27:51 PM.