Wearing a wig with hot flashes

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Karen2019
Karen2019 Member Posts: 98
edited November 2019 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Ok ladies, I've tried to find a thread on this topic specifically, but haven't seen one. I am 52 years old and have always been hot-natured in general, but I've been on several medications (anti-depressants, etc.) for the past 10 years or so that have made me incredibly (almost unbearably) heat sensitive. My head sweats profusely when someone even whispers the words "heat and humidity". And now that I will be starting TC chemo next week, I am sure my insensitivity and hot flashes will be exacerbated even more. That being said, I would like to hear about people who have similar issues and their experiences with trying to wear wigs after losing their hair to chemo. Is it even possible? I would really like to be able to wear one to work (where I have a fan in every room of the office and can control my temperature for the most part). I have watched YouTube videos of women who wear wigs everywhere, every day, but I never hear anything said about if they are bearable for people with heat sensitivity and hot flashes. So if you will share your experiences, plus any tips you might have on keeping cool(ish) in a wig, I would greatly appreciate it!

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  • 2019whatayear
    2019whatayear Member Posts: 767
    edited November 2019

    Well at the end of the day a wig is a hair hat. So, it's not cooling that is for sure. They do have some wigs that are made to be more cooling- like based on the weave of it. I would say go to a wig shop and see if anything might work. Also I recommend if you wear a wig that you get a bamboo silk cap to wear under it so you aren't itchy. The fabric of the cap is so light and breathable it won't make you any hotter.

    HTH!

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited November 2019

    Effexor/Venlafaxine medication works well in reducing hot flashes. Talk to your doctor to find out if it would be compatible with or could replace one of your other medications.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    I lost my hair in August, in Florida. It’s still hot and very humid here. Till about November. My wig was making me miserable. No hot flashes, just hot and sweaty. I couldn’t wear it, so went without. You didn’t say where you are, but with winter coming, it may not be a bother, and function more like a hat.

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  • buttonsmachine
    buttonsmachine Member Posts: 930
    edited November 2019

    I'm also "hot-natured" but I was surprised how much colder my head was with no hair! I did go through chemo in the winter though. I actually found that the wig was not a problem in that sense.

    One word of advice about choosing a wig though - depending on the cap construction and length of the wig, some wigs are much cooler than others. A mono-top or mono-part wig with open wefting is cooler than a double monofilament wig, for example. Also, above-shoulder wigs are cooler than long wigs, just because your neck and shoulders are free. Some wig brands make lighter, cooler options too, so that might be a possibility. It might help to talk to a wig professional - either online or in person. There really are a lot of options in wigs these days.

    I hope that helps, best wishes!

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited November 2019

    I wore a wig in Oklahoma (hot & humid) from August to March of the following year. It was OK, but itchy by the end of the six months. I should have had it trimmed professionally by my wig lady after I got it, but I was busy working by then and didn't have time to drive to the city. It did help keep my head warm during the winter months.

    I just wore a wig at work and in public. At home, I wore a little cotton cap to keep my head warm. Since I get most of my hot flashes in the evening, the wig wasn't a problem.

    Good luck! I'm glad I went to a wig lady and tried on a bunch of different wigs before I bought one.

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  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited November 2019

    I like the advice of talking to the women in the wig store. Mine was short, super cute and fairly comfortable. I wore it Nov-May. Like others mentioned most of my wicked hot flashes occurred at home and I liked being able to whip off whatever was on my head. I slept in a Buff worn as a beanie. I still slept naked but my head was cold 😀


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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2019

    I LOVED Buffs and rarely wore my wig.

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  • Flower216
    Flower216 Member Posts: 119
    edited November 2019

    I went through chemo last winter, and even though I am always hot, my head was so cold. I didn't love wearing my wig, so I wore soft (Barefoot Dreams) beanie hats outside of the house. AND, I needed a scarf always for my cold neck. In the house I wore very soft thin knit hats. Karen, whatever works for you is great, just remember it must be soft as your scalp will probably be very sensitive. Good luck!

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  • Karen2019
    Karen2019 Member Posts: 98
    edited November 2019

    Thanks ladies! I live in Atlanta, and hope to be able to wear a wig to work through spring. At home I plan to just wear soft sleep caps, etc. Did anyone actually enjoy wearing a wig? I've watched a lot of wig videos and some of them are so cute I'd think about trying them if they were cheaper and I wasn't such a human oven

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited November 2019

    I enjoyed wearing a wig at first because I have such limp natural hair. Lots of people complimented me on my "hair," and it was definitely shinier and more interesting than anything I could produce on my own. When my natural hair began to grow in, though, it got itchy. I was happy to ditch it.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    Your MO or BS staff should be able to direct you to a wig shop. And your insurance will cover a rx for crainial prosthesis. Wig.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited November 2019

    I don’t know how formal your office is but I never wore a wig. I wore bandannas to the gym and baseball caps everywhere else. There are some pretty nice/feminine looking baseball caps!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2019

    I actually bought a baseball cap that had hair around the sides. Hats with Hair I think. Check out this link for ideas.

    https://www.tlcdirect.org/Hats-with-Hair-for-Cance...


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  • Karen2019
    Karen2019 Member Posts: 98
    edited November 2019

    Ingerp, I work in a law firm. It's fairly casual, but I don't think I could wear a ball cap or a bandanna in the office and certainly not to court. I think I would be more comfortable not having all of my clients know about my cancer, or even everyone in my building. I may turn out to be wrong, but I feel like a wig will make me feel more normal while I'm at work and help me focus on my getting my work done without having people ask about it all the time. Though I will definitely look into those options for errands, etc. on the weekends

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  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited November 2019

    Karen- that was a primary reason for me wearing a wig. I didn’t want to be the woman with cancer.

    My wig was synthetic and 100% covered by my insurance. Honest- I had strangers compliment my hair. Rarely happens with my natural hair.


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  • DogMomRunner
    DogMomRunner Member Posts: 616
    edited November 2019

    I bought a wig but ended up wearing it once. It gave me a headache. I found a number of soft hats on Amazon and Headcovers. I wore neutral colored gray and brown caps for work but also had print ones. My insurance did not cover wigs. I was about $200 out of pocket for the wig which I will donate somewhere

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited November 2019

    hello sweetie I was diagnosed in September so I was wearing hats when outside or getting chemo inside I wore nothing or scarf if I felt chilly. I was 42 at diagnosis and then started feeling hot flashes cause I went into menopause because of treatment. I was also planning our 2nd marriages at time of diagnosis. I got married had on a white small hat while hair starting to come back in . I was on leave from my job at a medical center for 6mo so it wasn't a problem for me.Take care. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo adriamycin cytoxin 5fu then Lmast 3mo chemo after we got married then 7wks rads 5 yrs on Tamoxifen.

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  • Jackster51
    Jackster51 Member Posts: 357
    edited November 2019

    Karen2019, Have you considered cold capping? I had TC 8 years ago and never got my hair back after Taxotere. Not to alarm you, but it is a 10% chance of permanent hair loss with Taxotere. I wish I had known before I was given it. I would have made a different decision had I known all the facts. Best of luck to you and Atlanta is my home town! Nothing like that heat and humidity in the summer :-( Best of luck to you!

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  • Flnana2
    Flnana2 Member Posts: 118
    edited November 2019

    Just another note on the cost of wigs. The ACS has a site called TLC.org. If you email them they will send you a coupon towards $75 for a wig on their site. Also, I was able to get a beautiful wig from my cancer center for free from their “angel wigs”. These are wigs that ladies have donated back after they are through with their treatments. The one I got never looked like it had been worn and was extremely well made.

    I have two wigs and actually love them both. I’m in central Florida so I know about the heat and didn’t find them too hot but I’m not wearing them all day. I’m retired so I wear them when I go out but wear nothing or hats around the house. On a side note, my husband loves the wigs since I can shower and ready to leave the house in under 15 minutes with no hair styling to deal with.

    Good luck!

    Julie

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