Tuesday 5 February 2013

Hair today gone tomorrow

Since the day I got diagnosed I always knew that the time would come when I would loose all my hair. I can't say this was one of the most distressing prospects that i would have to deal with. For some I can only imagine that this may be unimaginable but for me whether I was bald or not made no odds to me.

My only wish was that I keep my eye lashes and eye brows as i have no desire to look like ET!

I decided straight away that if you were to loose your hair 2-3 weeks after your first chemo then I would be shaving it off before then. I wanted to involve Madeline ( my 3 year old ) and not have her wake up one morning to a bald mummy.

I had organised 2 wigs at my first appointment at the hospital and had filled a drawer with head scarfs, hats and headbands and was all ready to go. It was almost a relief to get to the day I could shave it all off so this no longer "hung over me".

I ceremoniously snipped off a small pony tail and have kept that. Not for any sentimental value my hair gave me, but as a comparison as to what colour my old hair was when comparing to my new. I have heard lots I stories of people's hair who came back fluffy or a different colour so who knows what I will get!

After realising clippers killed when running them through long hair, we hacked off as much hair as we could with scissors and tried again. When we had finished Madeline insisted I go put on my yellow hair, ( blonde wig ) so we could be the same. I glanced in the mirror and it didn't look too bad!

I was relieved to find I didn't have an egg head or any weird and wonderful lumps or fat rolls. My head infact was perfectly round if not on he small side!

A couple of days later and on tugging my stubble bits did indeed fall out. This was some what exciting! After having a head of stubble for a few days that was like Velcro and stuck to everything i was looking forward to a smooth head! I'm now a week on and 70% of my stubble has now fallen out and I am waiting for the rest to follow, helped along with lots of towel rubs!

Loosing my hair hasn't made me feel any different. I feel sorry for rick and Maddie having I look at bald old me as I rarely have to and it sometimes surprises me when I do indeed catch a glance of myself in the mirror. I have to remember to keep a hat in easy reach incase someone knocks at the door. Not for my benefit but I appreciate it is awkward to be greeted unexpectedly by a bald woman in a onsie.