Took the plunge today, shaved it off

That's good questions, I better pay attention, I will be shaving soon. My first treatment is coming up and I was told the hair would be gone. I dread it. I have long red hair that I have never liked until now. Prayers for you.

I gave my head the shave this week too. I haven't attempted a wig yet, I'm sticking with scarves for now i think, I am a head sweater so it's bad enough in the summertime without putting a wig on it :-/ 

coco2008 said:

Getting it shaved now is so

Getting it shaved now is so much better than looking like a molting bird.

When you get your chemo, drink as much as you can. I'm trying now for  a cup of water every hour to hour and a half. If you have trouble with n/v call your doctor right away. Don't put it off hoping it will get better on it's own or you don't want to bother the doctor.   Take it easy and don't push yourself.  I found out these things the hard way.

You will be in my in my heart and prayers.

Sandy

Coco,

My dr already gave me 5 prescriptions, 4 for nausea and 1 for heartburn. The dr gave me a schedule and told me to put it on my refrigerator and take the meds as ordered and I would not be sick. Having trouble with my ins paying for all of the 1 nausea med. He wrote 32 zofran and the ins only wants to pay for 15. I hate ins. At chemo education they told me to drink about 80 oz a day. I will do as he said and pray I don't get sick. Are you feeling better now?

I am signed up to take a class called Look Good Feel Better. In that class they teach you ways to tie scarves and such. Search and see if that program is near you. I was told you get freebies like make up, etc. I am going to check it out and see what I can learn. Keep me posted on you. Praying for you still.

coco2008 said:

Doe1504

Feeling much better.  Fluids are wonderful.  Still eating very little each time, but eating every couple of hours.  This seems to be working well.

Please let me know how your Look Good, Feel Better classes go.  They have classes at the CA center I go to, but the hospital is about 20 miles away.  I don't want to commit until I am sure it's worth a 40 mile round trip.

What day do you start chemo, I want to be sure to hold you up in prayer often that day.

Take care and God bless.

Sandy

Sandy, I am sooo glad you are feeling better!!!  Keep up with the fluids and meds and eat as you can. Take care of you.

I go to Look Good Feel Better on 7-15-13 and my first chemo is Thurs.  6-27-13. I go to the onco on Tues and I am sure then he will tell me what time to be there.

Thanks for the prayers I sure need them. You are also in mine.

Dolores

Last year I was in your spot.  I opted for a buzz cut when I knew my hair was fleeing my head.  The wig I had was adjustable on the inside.  So, I did all right.  More often than not, I wore one of my bucket hats when out but no covering when I was in the house.  I am not a scarf or turban person, although initially, until even my bristles were gone, I'd wear a terry cloth turban to bed.  I knew I would put that on my head in the house if the temp got rather cool.

I think the PLUS of shaving or buzzing the head when the hair starts to go is that it does not seem so terrible.  I am not sure I would have liked pulling/combing/brushing clumps out.  The week I did that, my husband and I were going out of town for the weekend to a family gathering in another state, and I did not want to be leaving hair everywhere.  As it was, it was shedding on my recliner, my pillow, and my tops.  UGH!

As to very windy days -- I went back to work (school) half days before I finished radiation.  My hair was not quite back enough for me to feel comfy without my, wig around the kids.  On the really windy days I stuck in my school bag one of my hats and switched to it when I left the building.  Probably this does not match your scenarios, but this is what I did.  As I said, often I just used a hat when I was out.  Only for church, going out to eat, and for work did I wear the wig.

e

I agree that shaving your head is better.  I did not do it with the first chemo. Being young and no message boards back then, I just let it fall out.  It drove me crazy and was depressing.

This round (26 years later), I shaved it when the clumps started to fall.  It felt empowering somehow.  I picked out hats and scarves beforehand, but waited for a wig until my hair was gone.  Much better idea!