My hair-y scary journey

Wearing Braids Part 2

2010-09-19T21:34:00.001-05:00

Wearing Braids While I Wait for Growth

2010-09-19T18:03:00.002-05:00

Day 200

2009-07-18T15:42:00.002-05:00

It's been 6.6 months and this is the progress. Really, really, really get your expectations in check when getting this done. Who would have thunk that thousands of dollars and six months later I'd still be dealing with this?

Day 172

2009-06-15T12:13:00.003-05:00

Very slow progress... but there is progress and growth. Looks like it did before I had the transplant.

Day 124

2009-04-22T20:24:00.006-05:00

90 DAYS!!!!!!! - No Celebration

2009-03-20T08:46:00.005-05:00

There IS hair, but not what I had envisioned in my prayers. Slow boat to China....

Day 84 - March Madness

2009-03-13T22:07:00.003-05:00

I guess my 90 day celebration is cancelled. There is no way I will have anything resembling a full hairline by the 3 month marker. Wow were my expectations off. I am still wearing scarves everyday for the most part and sick of it. I wish I knew when I could expect to have the "results".

Day 78 - March Madness

2009-03-13T21:58:00.004-05:00

Who would have thunk after SEVENTY-EIGHT days, I would still be looking for any signs of growth? Oh my gosh! This is taking so long. I really thought I would have a teeny weeny afro along my hairlines by now. I waffle between fear and frustration that I have made a horrible and costly mistake. You would think for all the $$$$ spent that you'd at least have dense hair in 60 days.

At least my head/scalp is fully back to life. No more mummy.

Day 62 - Countdown to Growth

2009-02-25T21:08:00.003-06:00

I am still dealing with shocking shedding in one transplanted area. I've been researching why it happens. This site gave a good explanation http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/hair-transplant/shedding.php

I'm staying optimistic that my progress is normal!

Day 55 - Countdown to Growth

2009-02-13T13:58:00.003-06:00

Day 52 - Countdown to Growth

2009-02-12T20:21:00.003-06:00

Day 42 - Countdown to Growth

2009-02-12T20:02:00.002-06:00

Day 30 - 1 Month Afterwards

2009-01-23T23:13:00.005-06:00

Still have the same mummy spots. I'm starting to wonder if they will be with me for while. See the video for the "shocked" areas. Praise the Lord for scarves, if I haven't done so in my previous blogs.

Day 28 - INAUGURATION of my new hair

2009-01-23T23:00:00.004-06:00

Nothing new. Still dealing with hair shock. And who wants to talk about my hair today, anyway.

The whole world is standing still and watching Barack H. Obama become the 44th President of the United States of America. Wow and hallelujah! Being alive to experience this landmark in history is just ----- enough to make your hair grow! :-)

Day 27 - First Attempt at Styling

2009-01-19T22:29:00.007-06:00

Same mummy spots. Same sensitivity on my hairline. I shampooed and double-strand twisted my hair. Then I rodded the twists and went to sleep. I noticed that I seem to have some hair "shock" and fallout on the right side. YIKESSSSSSSSSS!!!! The doctor said it could happen before it started growing in. I'm not nervous, but it sure sucks. See the videos for more....

Ready to go.

Day 25 - Countdown to Growth

2009-01-19T22:03:00.007-06:00

Not much change. Check out my video.

Day 21 - Countdown to Growth

2009-01-12T22:07:00.003-06:00

No real pain anymore, just a little discomfort. In the transplanted area it is a little sensitive and "tender". The donor area shedded a few scabs. It still feels weird when I lay on my pillow to get to sleep. My left side scalp is a lot less comfortable than my right side.

I've been massaging my scalp and playing the piano. Still have the mummy spots that I suspect will be around for a while. Anyhoo, I noticed some prickly areas that felt akin to razor stubble in the transplant area. It seems awful quick to be growing so I thought maybe it was a tiny re-scab. If it were visible I would film it so no video today!

I am anxious to wear my hair again since I am getting sick of scarves. LOL. Not sick enough to go to the salon since anything other than extreme TLC would send me running to pain killers. :-)

Day 16 - Countdown to Growth

2009-01-07T22:03:00.006-06:00

My scalp is still tender. This morning I had to put some shea butter on my hairlines and temples. It felt sort of raw - hard to explain. But, it needed something soothing on it. I had another swell of itching this evening when I got home and took off my scarf, but a little warm water and shea butter calmed it down. My left ear is much more tender than my right.

Mummy spots are still there. Nothing much new, just healing more and more day by day.

Day 13 - Countdown to Growth

2009-01-05T22:23:00.002-06:00

Well, my hair is fully twisted and now the waiting and praying begins. I expect and envision a full healthy hairline in a few months.

Early this morning around - 3:44 am - severe itching woke me up. In the donor area the itching was so intense it woke me up and lead me to the bathroom where I proceeded to coat the area with shea butter. Ironically, even though it itch like crazy it was too tender to really scratch. Then my husband suggested I take a benadryl to calm it down. So I took 2. I am an overachiever. That gave me some relief after about 20 minutes or so and I fell to sleep again.

Day 12 - First Shampoo

2009-01-05T19:05:00.009-06:00

Today I worked out for the first time in weeks! Honestly, I have really been slacking on the gym and the transplant gave me a renewed license to stay away. Anyhoo, I had a good workout. I took it easy since I knew my scalp would probably be sensitive to sweat and it was. It didn't help that I had coated my hair with herbal oils in anticipation of my shampoo afterwards. It stung but not so much that it was unbearable.

When I got home I grabbed my Biostrand products. They are very mild and natural. Check them out for yourself. http://www.biostrand.com/ I was with the owner/creator when he was in the infantile stages of the products. I was a guinea pig of sorts and he made some good stuff that strengthened my damaged and broken hair from too much "creamy crack". Thats what us natural girls call chemical relaxers. LOL.

The shampoo went well. Boy did the warm water and shower pressure feel good to my head. I used Biostrand's conditioner, too. None of their stuff irritated or burned my scalp. Bravo Biostrand! I still have some mummy spots (see the video) and tender areas. All in all, my shampoo and removal of scabs was pretty successful.

I still look a hot mess so no change there! :-)

Day 11 - Stitches Removed

2009-01-02T18:34:00.006-06:00

I got my stitches out today at 1:15pm. In anticipation of what might be painful, I took a vicodin about an hour before.

Praise the Lord, I didn't need to take the pill...... NO PAIN. NO DISCOMFORT!!! I could feel the stitches being removed but not painful at all. I had a tender spot in the back of my head, too. Even when they got to that area, still nothing. And no bleeding either. oooooooh, the relief. It felt really good to have the stitches out. The pressure and tightness were gone almost immediately. I look forward to resting my hair on my pillow tonight in complete comfort.

Dr. Lam and the assistants commented that I was healing beautifully and I was released until a 4 month checkup. Did I mention I REALLY LOVE them. Everyone from the front desk to the doctor are consistently pleasant, patient and knowledgeable.

I was told to get a fine-toothed comb and comb my hairline so the scabs could come out. Can't wait to get home and comb through it! See the video and pics below. When I was removing the scabs, it was still a little tender

I get to wash and condition my hair, too!

Day 10 - Post Transplant

2009-01-02T18:32:00.003-06:00

I didn't do much today. Stayed in my pajamas until about 2pm! Now thats a holiday. I had no major discomfort or problems today. I didn't need to take any meds. I am a little nervous anticipating the stitch removal tomorrow. I threw on a scarf and went to a couple of stores to return stuff, etc. Thank God for scarfs! :-)

I still have "mummy head" in the same areas. It is lessening. I guess it will a while before all my scalp nerves are back to normal. My scalp is itching like crazy!

Day 9 - Post Transplant

2008-12-31T21:47:00.007-06:00

New Years Eve! This morning Dr. Lam's office called to confirm my appointment Friday and to check on me. I really like their customer service.

My scalp is really itching. Its a catch 22 since if I touch it - barely - it hurts. So, the itching is never really satisfied. The donor area is really tight tight tight and uncomfortable. I looked at it in the mirror to see if it looks different. It doesn't to my naked eye, but it is certainly healing because the pressure and tightness is definitely more each day. The transplanted area is starting to look greyish. Almost like a five o'clock shadow. Hair can't possibly be coming in this fast! But I sure wish it was. :-) I think its residual shea butter and dirt! Yuck!

I wonder if the stitch removal will hurt.... Oh well! Par for the course. Hopefully, it will relieve some of the pressure.

I feel kind of guilty taking so much vicodin. Maybe after Friday, I can use something milder, but right now vicodin is my FRIEND! I can't really get comfortable on my pillow without something really strong.

The video I posted here shows how I put a "base scarf" on everyday and then a decorative scarf that matches my outfit.

Day 8 - Post Transplant

2008-12-31T21:38:00.004-06:00

Tuesday. My ears are almost fully "alive". My left side is still a lot more sore than the right. I noticed the vicodin is constipating me. I guess I trade evils!

I woke up with the same kind of tightness, I have been experiencing. My face is starting to look more and more normal. The transplanted area is really scabbing over more and the goosebump look is disappearing. I went the until about 5pm with no vicodin then I gave in.

The top of my head is still numb - like a piece of wood - compared to rest of my scalp. Its weird since there are no stitches or punched holes in the area with the least sensation. I had to remind myself to play the piano on my head as I went to sleep.

It was sort of difficult to get comfortable when I went to sleep. Around midnight my scalp was really tight around the stitches so I got up and headed to the pills. When I get my stitches out Friday maybe the major discomfort will leave.

Day 7 - Post Transplant

2008-12-29T22:11:00.005-06:00

I made it one week. I'll take some more pics tomorrow. The transplanted area is begging to shampooed. I really want to run some warm water through my hair. The thought of massaging it is still frightening since it is still VERY tender and sore. It's starting to itch - even in the sore areas and especially around the stitches! Both my ears are "alive" and most of my scalp is, too. The piano exercise seems to have sped up the healing of my nerves.

Near the back of my head is the most sore and tender. That was to be expected. The top above my ears on either side is still numb lacking sensitivity. It's weird but it hurts to touch it even though all the feeling isn't there.

I went back to work today. I wore a scarf with my suit. How long will it be before someone starts questioning my repeated covering of my head? :-) I did not take any meds today even though I picked up my refill of vicodin today. That was a mistake. Even though the discomfort was bearable it made me sort of irritable and short patience with the staff.

Even though I may not take a vicodin tomorrow, I will take a mild pain reliever to get through the day as a more pleasant person.

Day 6 - Post Transplant

2008-12-29T22:03:00.005-06:00

Experiment was a failure! I woke up a few hours later in pain and not able to sleep. I guess the healing of a fresh hair transplant is too much for tylenol PM. During the middle of the night I got up and popped a vicodin. About 20 minutes later my discomfort subsided and I was able to fall asleep.

When I got up for church I was feeling pretty good, so I didn't take another pain med. I had already decided to wear scarves for the next few weeks with every outfit so getting dressed was simplified tremendously. If I don't have a scarf to match it, I can't wear it.

My eyelids are even more puffy and swollen. I still made up my face pretty and pulled it together. Surprising, several church members complemented me on looking so pretty! I kept feeling like I "looked sick" but no one seemed to notice.

A member came to hug me from the back and squeezed near the back of my head by default. I nearly jumped out of my skin. My head and scalp are very tender and sore in places.

Tonight I will definitely go back to the vicodin. I noticed I only have 2 left. Thank goodness my doctor gave me a prescription with a refill.

Day 5 - Post Transplant

2008-12-27T10:45:00.008-06:00

Saturday - its rainy and a tornado watch out. Believe it or not my husband has gone to play golf. I have holes in my head, whats his excuse? LOL

More pressure and tightness upon waking this morning. I slept pretty good though, no ambien. I called Emina about the different way my transplanted area is healing and she said as long as the bumps are not white (ala puss like) they are okay. She said it is normal for them to heal differently. She also gave me a "piano finger exercise" to do on my scalp to send a message to my scalp to heal quicker. So as I sit and type on my laptop, I periodically do the exercise.

I ran lots of errands today with only taking 1 vicodin. Towards the end of my errands the meds wore off and since we had plans to see a movie tonight, I decided to tough it out. At the movies my pain subsided when I ate my burger (we were at studio movie grill). I made it throughout the movie with mild discomfort. So, by the time we got home I was ready for a dose of something to ease the pain which is mainly concentrated towards the back and top of my head.

I decided to do an experiment and take 2 extra strength tylenol PMs at bedtime to see how it would work, since even though I "love" vicodin, I don't want to take it for too long. We'll see how the night goes.

Day 4 - Post Transplant

2008-12-27T10:15:00.007-06:00

I woke up to a lot of pressure concentrated mainly in the back of my head. I decided to tough it out and see what would happen. I noticed that the nerves in my scalp are starting to heal quicker on the right side of my head. Interesting how the body works.

After examing myself in the mirror I realized the swelling has worsened on my face. My eyelids are swollen, too. Especially the right eye. I don't know if it is apparent to others, but I know my own face so its monumental to me. :-)

Even though I have lots of tiny little scabs in the transplanted area, some look like razor bumps. Sort of grosses me out when I look closely at them. I am going to call Emina and ask her if this is okay. I hope I didn't clog my pores with the shea butter I put on it.

By the evening my pressure and tightness worsened to the vicodin level. I took one to ease the discomfort since my husband wanted to go to the movies to the new Tom Cruise flic. We got there and it was sold out... good thing because I was still in low grade discomfort. When we got home I took another vicodin. About 20 minutes later I was smiling again and opening up late presents from my in-laws. God bless the person that invented vicodin!

Day 3 - Post Transplant

2008-12-26T12:47:00.003-06:00

Well, I woke up early (4:30am) again. Too bad I am restricted to NO strenous exercise right now, because I never wake up this early otherwise. I could work out and still be done by 6am.

My husband and I prayed and opened gifts together. We were both very happy - him with lots of Ralph Lauren apparel and me with diamond solitaire earrings!

I woke up with a slight pressure/tightness on my head and scalp. Not enough to take a pill for. We got dressed to go and spend the day with my family and I decided to put on a turtleneck because it went great with this Obama skirt I just "had" to wear. It was semi-painful trying to ease my swollen scabbed head through the neck but I did. Halfway through I changed my mind but I decided to push through since I had already started the discomfort.

Our day was wonderful with family. No one really questioned me about wearing a scarf since they knew I had some type of "surgery" on my head. That made me feel good since I really don't care to discuss it in person. I prefer blogging about it.

I went the whole day with no meds. Towards the night time different portions of my head started to "come alive". Very distinct sections regained "feeling" and started to ache. Not enough to cry about but certainly enough to take a low dosage pain killer. My right ear and that side of my head is now almost fully alive. I guess the nerves are healing and reconnecting at different speeds, etc. I am just glad to be "feeling" again in and around the transplanted and donor areas.

As soon as we got home I went straight for the ambien.

Day 2 - Post Transplant

2008-12-24T17:37:00.003-06:00

I woke up around 5am. The ambien really knocked me out and I slept through the whole night. I slept at angle, still not laying down flat. When I got up I noticed more of my head was "alive". Not aching or in pain but definitely tender to the touch.

I immediately took a vicodin! Gotta love those.... Anyhoo, I came back to the bed and slept until about 7:30. When I looked at my head and scalp it still looks very swollen and fluid filled. I cannot feel my scalp. It is very numb as if from head trauma. I thought it would be like going to the dentist and then wear off but it is still very numb with my neck and lower ears alive and sore. Sort of weird since I can touch my hair and know that I am touching it, but I can't really "feel" it. I ocassionally feel some heaviness and pressure but not long enough to do anything about it. It must not be affecting my brain since I am not experiencing any "fogginess" in my thinking.

The transplanted area looks like little black dots since the redness has disappeared. I can manipulate my hair for 3 days so I am still looking like Kizzie on crack. Tomorrow is Christmas so know that I will be rocking a serious head scarf.

Day 1 - Post Transplant

2008-12-23T10:50:00.003-06:00

Nothing oozed or bled last night. PRAISE THE LORD! I woke up every 2 hours or so. I did not take the prescription for the ambien and that was a mistake. My sleep was very broken so I was sort of tired all day.

I still have no pain! YIPPPEEE!! I had a followup appointment today and Dr. Lam and Emina both commented that my head looked great no problems. I drove myself - by the way - and ran a couple of errands so no real downtime. Emina told me to oil the front transplanted area and put a hydrogen peroxide and water solution on the stitches tonight. I wore a scarf all day since I am not able to touch or manipulate my hair at all.

I admitted to Emina that I did need something to make me sleep since she and the doctor agreed I need rest in order to properly heal, etc. So tonight ambien here I come.

My head is still swollen. When I ate lunch I felt a little soreness as if I had had a serious workout on my lower face and neck. It's weird because it feels like I have on 3 wool caps when I touch my head or hair - just numb. But my face and lower ears and neck are totally alive. Even with this odd feeling I am still in no physical discomfort.

Day 0 - Transplant Day

2008-12-23T08:35:00.001-06:00

When I got to the surgical office that morning, everyone on the staff was waiting on me and chipper. The entire staff was soooooooooo friendly and upbeat. I cannot tell you how much that means to me. It calmed my nerves and anxiety. Five people comprised the team so I'll number them to help you keep track. Assistant 1, administered the moderate sedation. She seemed to be the expert in that area. She asked lots of questions and made sure I had nothing to eat or drink since midnight. I had not. I religiously followed their directions. I went to the bathroom and peed in the cup - yeah I was not pregnant. Full steam ahead. Assistant 1 confirmed my weight and gave me 2.5 pills. They were valium and ambien. Things were foggy after that. I don't remember getting a drip stuck in my wrist or the doctor (Dr. Samuel Lam) removing the donor area/hair. I don't remember him numbing my head either except for a few pricks new my ears. Surprisingly, I experience NO PAIN. That was on of my fears. Whatever they do/use works beautifully. I do remember laughing a few times but most of seemed like a few minutes turned out to be hours. I took the pills around 8am and I recall looking a clock in the room and it being 12 noon.

Next was lunch. I had requested beef in my pre-op appointment and was served something similar to beef stroganoff, with cole slaw. It was delectable! For dessert they offered a chery tart, which I declined in lieu of chocolate covered and wafers. I had apple juice to drink and cold water. It was my first meal for the day so I was so I devoured most everything. Dr. Lam video taped and took pictures throughout the procedure. I'll post some. The transplant assistant, Emina, gave me vicodin and then later a zanax (sp?). Everything was wonderful after that! :-) Assistants 2 and 3 were sitting at a nearby table most of the morning and afternoon looking under large lighted manifying type devices. I assume they were preparing my hairs for transplantation. Emina offered me a movie. I watched "Failure to Launch" on a small flat screen tv while she input the hairs. There was no pain or discomfort. I was so comfortable and at ease. I don't remember seeing the whole movie as I went to sleep. When I woke she was still implanting and I had a tremendous urge to pee. So they stopped everything let me handle my biz and back I came. Then she gave me the zanax and put in "Under the Tuscan Sun." I dozed in and out movie watching again. Never quite going to sleep, but still never feeling any pain. HALLELUJAH! She sprayed my head quite a bit, keeping the area clean for implanting. Towards the end Assistant 3 helped a bit and Dr. Lam popped in from time to time checking on the placement and progress. It made me feel good to hear some good comments through my grogginess.

My husband arrived early. When I came out he was drinking coffee and had made friends with the staff and Dr. Lam's mother who runs a spa in the same building.

We didn't get home until after 7pm and I was still groggy and a little nauseated. My husband propped up 4 pillows for me so I did not lay flat. One instruction was to sleep at a 45° angle making sure to cover the pillow with a dark towel. They warned there might be blood or oozing from the donor area. I was also told to take a pain killer before going to sleep. My head and the top of my ears were entirely numb. I did not sleep in a scarf or anything since Emina siad that it might rub the grafts right out of their place while I sleep.

1 Day Before Transplant

2008-12-21T21:47:00.004-06:00

Tonight the nurse called me on my cell. I didn't expect that. I have never had any surgery before so maybe this is the norm. Anyhoo, she briefed me on what will happen and what I need to do tonight to be ready for her in the morning. She is going to start off by testing my urine to make sure I am not pregnant! Then she'll give me a valium and another pill to relax me. I wish I could remember the name of the 2nd pill. I think it was Zanax. She told me about 4 different meds including a drip that I will get to sedate me. It will be like twi-light. Then I will get the donor area shaved - YIKES - then wait for the doctor to come in and numb my head. DOUBLE YIKES. Hopefully, I am so high I won't care about any of this.

She also reminded me that I cannot eat or drink after midnight. When I brush my teeth in the morning I must make sure I do not swallow any liquid. I guess they are serious about me having an empty stomach.

I went and filled the prescription that they gave me for vicodin on my last my appointment. They also wanted to give me one for ambien. I wouldn't take it. I figured the vicodin would do the trick.

I am about to go shampoo my hair with the special antibiotic shampoo they gave me. I also have to shampoo my hair again in the morning with more of the shampoo. My girlfriend is picking me up to drive me there for 7:30 am and they will call my husband about an hour before I am done to come and get me. They predict 6:30PM. What on earth will take that long????

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Here are some pics for all the people who really believe I am simply getting cosmetic surgery like some Hollywood starlet wanting double D's or the "perfect" nose. Maybe a hairline issue is not a big deal to most. Its a self-esteem issue for me. Okay, I am a tad sensitive on this topic! :-)

2 Days Before Hair Transplant

2008-12-20T22:48:00.002-06:00

Well, its 48 hours before my hair transplant. It seems that not many african-american women get this procedure, so I have no one I can personally ask about it. Anyhoo, I am getting my temples and front hairline done. I plan to post pictures and videos to track my scary journey into cosmetic surgery. I might get too insecure and chicken out. :-) Prayerfully, I'll not be in too much pain to take pics when I get home. I want to track my progress here, too.

Maybe someone will be helped by my blog and not feel like the lone ranger like me!

The pictures I posted - header pic - is a professional shot I took in August. The bottom pic is from October. My sparse temples and edges are not apparent from the front. I use dark brown spray on my scalp to further camouflage the thinness when you see me from the side. Most people would not think I would ever want/need the surgery because I usually cover it pretty good.