Hair Hair Hair - Another question

1328329331333334864

Comments

  • bikenyc
    bikenyc Member Posts: 64
    edited July 2011

    Yahamamam, my complementary doc had me also on L-Glutamine to protect nerves/prevent neuropathy.  3 tsps in water 3 times a day, religiously...it's a pain, but doesn't taste like anything.  I have some numbness in a couple little toes, but that's it.

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited July 2011

    Ok I'll weigh in on neropathy.

    I got it in my hands about 2 months after my last chemo and it went away after my surgery to get my TEs which was 2 months after that.  So had it for 2 months. I did not take anything for it but I do take vitamins a multi, calcium +D, B complex, biotin, folic acid. Don't know why it went away after the surgery or if any of the vitamins helped but it's gone.

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    Carrol after the 1st 3 treatments my nueropathy would come then go away. It would stay longer each treatment. Then finally didn't go away. But I did have it in my fingers a bit in the beginning. Started the Acytel L Carnitine and never got it in my fingers again.

    I'm sure if you had more treatments it would have caught up with you but some people just don't get it that badly. 

  • hdangelbaby
    hdangelbaby Member Posts: 731
    edited July 2011

    hey all!! want you to know i went "topless" this last week!!

    and i absolutely love my short, spunky, punky hair!!

    cute headbands and lots of gel/mousse to scrunch it with!!

    I am totally over my own insecurity about having such short hair

    i finally EMBRACED IT!! and i feel so much better now!!!

  • SharonMH
    SharonMH Member Posts: 353
    edited July 2011

    Hi all  I went  "topless' at 6 months .past chemo. Everyone   likes  the short hair ,on me. but I do not like the gray. Oh I guess a liltle hair color is fine with me. SharonH

  • Erin23
    Erin23 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2011
    hello everybody! i dont really recognize any of you in this thread since november, but i just thought id share my hair growth right now to give some encouragmenet. I finished chemo in may 2010, and this is my hair straightened today (although it doesnt stay straight for long...). I also havent let anyone touch my hair with sisscors much to my moms dismay since i got my head shaved. I guess it would have been wise to get a haircut or two along the way so it didnt look for a mullet for six months. Anyways losing my hair was probably the most traumatizing thing, for me anyways. And i promised that when it came back that id wake up and thank god for it everyday... and trust me i do! So i guess what im trying to spit out is hang tough because it really does come back!! and once you get past that stage where your just trying to cover your head with hair... it just starts growing like a bad weed. so as someone who went thru it with the most anger, resentment, and embaressment possible... keep strong <3 thinking of all of you all the timejuly 7 2011January 2011March 2010
  • hdangelbaby
    hdangelbaby Member Posts: 731
    edited July 2011

    i have gray too... in a couple weeks i'm going to dye it

  • YamahaMama
    YamahaMama Member Posts: 221
    edited July 2011

    Thanks, ladies, for the neuropathy solutions!  Since I'm officially PFC, will these still help?  Or, should I have been talking it all along?  I mentioned it at each visit, but the chemo nurses always asked if I were having trouble buttoning things, and when I said no, just let it go at that...  I have it very mildly, but it's definitely there, and it seemed to stick around a little longer after each treatment. 

    Congrats to hdangelbaby for going topless!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    YamahaMama I don't know if it works post chemo but I still take the Acetyl-l-carnitine because it seems to help my memory. It does say memory booster on it. I will admit it isn't cheap but I purchase it at the vitamin store. Last time they had a 2 for 1 sale on their brand so I bought 2. The thing with neuropathy is it does get better for most of us but very slowly. I think my heel might finally feel a little better but it is still there and I'm 5+ months. Same with the nail beds lifting/hurting. They are much better but I still have some discomfort in my nails. It all takes time. I'll start bitching and moaning if a year has past and it's still not better.

    hdangebaby. Love the punky stuff but at my age I would look ridiculous. I may be a young 50 but I don't want to be one of those women that wear stuff that just isn't age appropriate. 20 years makes a bit difference. When I was in my 20's in the 80's my hair was short punky. I wore safety pins for earrings too. Tongue out

  • elaineg
    elaineg Member Posts: 198
    edited July 2011

    Lago how many mg and how often do you take the acetyl-l?  Thanks.  I hope it helps with the post chemo neuropathy at least worth a try.  I am on gabapentin and that doesn't seem to be working too well...

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    I take 500mg once a day. I do believe the trial the NCI did has people on much more but I don't fool around with mega doses without the recommendation of an MD.

  • Carrol2
    Carrol2 Member Posts: 2,903
    edited July 2011
    Lago I agree. I am very grateful I only needed 4 treatments believe me. I think my body is still a bit immuno supressed even now. I got a weird rash on my finger all the doc could figure is fungus, maybe from the gym, I usually do classes did the treadmill and elliptical yesterday. who knows though.
  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited July 2011

    So... I brought my son for a haircut tonight (at my hair salon) and I grabbed my stylist and said "come, let's go in the closet" I wanted to show her my hair and asked what she can do for me... so she gave me a touch up colorant that you use daily (so that the hair peeking thru my wig matches) and then when I get back from my surgery Aug 1st, she will then color it... It will be almost 12 weeks at that time.

  • Jen1832
    Jen1832 Member Posts: 61
    edited July 2011

    Jancie - thanks for the clarification and I agree 100%!

    hdangelbaby - congrats on going topless!  I can't wait to do the same!

    I have had a setback, in that I lost quite a bit of hair over the last couple of days.  Not quite sure what caused the shedding, except that I am 3 weeks PFC today.  Must have been the last megadose of Taxotere.  The oddest thing is that all of the hair that fell out is my dark hair!  I seem to have kept all of the colorless fluff.  Oh well, my friend (a hair stylist) gave me a hair booster kit today.  It is made by Bosley and has shampoo, conditioner, a leave in treatment as well as a monoxodil treatment.  I am also taking vitamins and Biotin.  I will let you know if this stuff works.  It is supposed to be better than the Minoxidil for Women, as well as the new Redken system.

  • sweetcorn
    sweetcorn Member Posts: 188
    edited July 2011

    Just noticed that I will need to shave my legs!  Is this one of the first signs of hair regrowth?   I still have one more treatment on Wednesday, and then I will be through.  Been taking Biotin for a few years now.  Wishin and hopin....

    Jane

  • christine47
    christine47 Member Posts: 1,454
    edited July 2011

    Jen1832,  sorry about your additional hair loss.  I lost remaining hair,  lashes, brows and arm hair post chemo at about three weeks, what a shock.  Good news its all growing back, I could shave my legs 2 x per day!  My head hair is slow, but filling in and dark with some gray at the sides.

    sweetcorn, leg hair was my first sign of progress, I did need to shave a few times during chemo, good luck on that last treatment, such a wonderful feeling.

    Anyone have any experience with Nair? I have a very deep armpit on the side of my axillary node disection and can not get a razor in there to shave, so frustrating!  I bought Nair, but have never used before, I am numb and don't want any skin problems (exchange surgery is next week).  Any suggestions??

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited July 2011

    BTW my eyebrows/lashes thinned again recently. Onc says it's chemo and will eventually stop. 

    I used Nair on my legs and didn't find it very effective several years ago. I highly recommend you do a small test area first. Underarms are very sensitive. 

  • klg49
    klg49 Member Posts: 21
    edited July 2011

    I finished chemo last thursday and am wanting to start the Biotin. I hear really good things about this stuf my stepmom has been taking it for the thinning and says it has been working wonderfully.  I just dont know how much to take. I will be having 35 rad treatments soon too. Is anyone taking the Biotin and having radiation?  My hair dresser wants me to start with the Nioxin treatments now that the chemo is finished. I used it before I lost my hair, I was thinning in the front a little and it seemed to help.

    I still have my eyebrows and the lashes got a little thin but still there. HeHe there is a little stubble on the legs. Cant wait to have to shave! Never thought I would EVER say that! lol

  • DLL66
    DLL66 Member Posts: 700
    edited July 2011

    I was allowed to take biotin during radiation.

  • slcst12
    slcst12 Member Posts: 161
    edited July 2011

    Hi Girls.

    10 wk PFC yesterday. Finsihed rads today (33 total, incl 5 boost). Wanted to update on the hair progress. (I did color it myself at 8.5 wks, b/c otherwise it was *all* gray.

    10wkPFC_2

    10wkPFC_3

    For comparison:
    8.5 wk PFC:

    8.5 wks PFC

  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited July 2011

    Looking good!!!!

  • carberry
    carberry Member Posts: 1,153
    edited July 2011

    slcst   Congrats on finishing rads, isnt it a great feeling?  Your hair looks great,  I notice the little swirl on the right side at the temple.  I have one on each side and now that its getting longer having a hard time getting it to go where I want it to.

  • slcst12
    slcst12 Member Posts: 161
    edited July 2011

    Thanks bDavis!

    Thanks Carberry--yes that on the right is a cowlick...always been there. Nice to know it's still there I guess :) I used to just part my hair on that side (no bangs) and it was fine. . .

    Anxiously awaiting longer hair :)

  • LisaGH
    LisaGH Member Posts: 242
    edited July 2011

    slcst- great pictures! I am 5 wks out now & looking forward to enough coverage to go topless- even if it's a crew cut. I cannot tell if mine is gray or not.

    I got Nioxin set #2 from Amazon a few days ago. I used it last night- hope it helps. Am on a multivitamn that does have biotin- maybe not enough. Where do you find that and how much is good to take if separate?

    Lisa

  • bdavis
    bdavis Member Posts: 6,201
    edited July 2011

    I have a ton of cowlicks too... Not sure if I always had them or not. I don't care though... As long as I have hair, that is all that matters.

  • christine47
    christine47 Member Posts: 1,454
    edited July 2011

    slcst-  your hair looks awsome!!  I am same time post chemo, but lagging behind you on the growth by about 2 weeks.  The cowlick I had before in front and back look like they are coming back too. 

    Lisa, I bought my biotin at Walgreens, bought the "extra strength", taking one a day.  I am with you, even a crew cut would be great.  Mine is mostly dark, very dark with some gray at the sides.

  • bak94
    bak94 Member Posts: 1,846
    edited July 2011

    Is it ok to use latisse during chemo? Does it work on brows?

  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    I don't know about using Latisse during chemo but I was offered Latisse at a dermatology appt. today.  I'm about 4 weeks PFC.

    Does it work?  It's expensive stuff...

  • christine47
    christine47 Member Posts: 1,454
    edited July 2011

    bkj66, I think it is ok to use Latisse during chemo, but probably not effective.  Good news about the brows and lashes is that they grow back so quickly.  Seems like mine fell out one week and were growing back the next.

  • pejkug3
    pejkug3 Member Posts: 902
    edited July 2011

    Mine have been gone for about 6 weeks.  I'm tired of looking like a mole.

Categories