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  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2009

    Sue, you've got a great start!!  How many weeks are out out of tx?

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 102
    edited May 2009

    chelev-My last chemo was March 13th!

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    When am I goig to feel like myself again? I looked in the mirror - no lashes or brows, sunken eyes.  I want to look like myself again!!  I am frustrated because there seems like nothing I can do but sit and wait for hair to grow.  Then I get mad at myself for worrying about something like hair instead of my health.  I look crappy and its starting to really get me down.  Any ideas to boost my spirits?

  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 403
    edited May 2009

    I talked to the chief oncologist yesterday about Biotin supplements (5,000 mcg - 2 pills daily) and he said there was no problem at all taking Biotin while on Taxol.  I still have eyebrows (though thin) and all of my eyelashes so I am HOPING that this might keep them from falling out before I finish chemo.  I had chemo yesterday and my last one is in two weeks.  YAY!

    I saw Biotin at Target today $1.97 for 100 pills but it was only 1,000 mcg and the recommended dosage was 1 pill per day.  So I didn't buy it.  The biotin (5,000 mcg) I bought came from a speciality health store that also sells aromotherapy stuff, etc.   The cost was $9.00 - there was a 50% discount, normally it sells for $18.

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 102
    edited May 2009

    Nodapearl-When was your last chemo?  Hang in there, unfortunately chemo takes a toll on our bodies. You WILL return to your normal self! It just takes a little time........

  • kellyless
    kellyless Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2009

    I covet Suz45's short grayish hair and short eyelashes.  I even want my leg hair back!

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Susan - My last chemo was May 1.  I guess I thought I would feel and look a lot better than I do.  I know I am being impatient..................

  • mom_of_2
    mom_of_2 Member Posts: 102
    edited May 2009

    I'm sitting here with plastic wrap covering my head and the homemade hot oil/rosemary treatment. Feels great and is suppose to promote hair growth! If it washes out well then I think I'll be hooked! Although...the aroma is making me want to open a good bottle of red wine and have some parmesan and french bread!

    I had my color done yesterday and bought the DevaCare No Poo and One Conditioner. Product is made by DevaCurl for color treated hair. Sulfate free and helps to tame the wild curl beast! Hair stylist told me curly hair only needs to be washed twice per week but scalp massaged in shower under hot water and then lightly conditioned daily. Another trick is to use a t-shirt to get water out of hair instead of a towel which can cause breakage and frizz in curly hair. Biggest rule is do not touch while its drying. If you just let it air dry there is no frizz to speak of.

    I had no idea curly hair had so many rules! 

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2009

    Nodapearl: I know what you mean. I thought I would be feeling better as well. We just need to take one day at a time and hope that each day will make a difference. I am impatient too. Was your Chemo every 3 weeks? I had TCH every three weeks... next week would be three weeks, so I bet next week will be much better. My darn eye is still twitching and it makes me nuts! Otherwise, I wake up with bags under the eyes and fuzzy hair sticking up all over! I could scare someone! How are you feeling today?

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Susan, you look great!  I think you should ditch the wig!  I know it's a personal thing, but seriously I think you look really good. 

    Kathleen, I rubbed the follicle booster on my brows a couple of times when they were completely bare.  I don't know if it's because of that or not, but my brows started growing like wildfire!  They are so thick right now that I think I need to go get them waxed next week.  Just make sure you do it when you don't have anywhere to go because it turns your skin red.  It doesn't last long but it looks kind of funny.

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Blake - I am much better today.  Yesterday must have been a "poor me" day.   I was feeling very scary looking.  My chemo was every two weeks.  I am hoping next week will be better too.

    Lainey - how long after you used the follice booster did it take for your brows to start growing?

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Nodapearl, not long at all.  My last chemo was on March 12th and about 3-4 weeks later my eyebrows had completely fallen out. They were hanging on for dear life! I only went a couple of weeks with almost no brows and had to draw them on.  Then before I knew it, they were sprouting like crazy.

  • susan13
    susan13 Member Posts: 102
    edited May 2009

    Nodapearl-It took me a good 5-6 weeks to feel better after my last chemo.  You'll start feeling better with every day!

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2009

    I need to find the follicle booster!  The local drugstores (Walgreens, CVS) don't carry the brand at all, and the grocery store where I purchased the shampoo and scalp treatment only had that and the hairspray, which I definitely don't need now.  I guess maybe a hair salon is my next try?

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Chelev - I saw the follicle booster at Great Clips and JC Penney, but that is in Ohio. 

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2009

    Lainey64: I am using the follicle booster twice a day and yes, the brows do turn red but not for too long. I can't wait for the growing like wildfire to happen!!! They are barely there right now.

    Chelev: I found the follicle booster at Trade Secret. Not sure if you have them there. I did see that Regis Salons have Nioxin too.

    Nodapearl: Glad to hear you are better today. Sometimes I feel like my emotions are on a roller coaster... hang in there! Did you try false eyelashes? I wear them all the time for now. They do make you feel better.

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2009

    Blake1960 - thanks for the info - we have both Trade Secret and Regis, and I just thought I'd try Ulta Salon too - they seem to have everything.

    I didn't lose my lashes or brows, but am still have a little more hair fall out on my head - I thought I was done!!  Of course, none of them are gray . . .

  • Lainey64
    Lainey64 Member Posts: 127
    edited May 2009

    Kathleen, I think once I stopped stressing out about my eyebrows they just seemed to start appearing.  Now if only the hair on my head would grow as fast! 

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2009

    Chelev: Go figure about the grey hair. I am not even sure that I have or had any! I colored my hair for so many years.... guess I will find out! You are so lucky that you didn't lose your eyelashes or eyebrows. I didn't start losing them until my second to last treatment. I still have some... we'll see how long that will last. It sounds like they can still be lost after treatments are over. Good luck with the follicle booster. Don't be alarmed if you turn red...I turn pretty red around the hairline.

    Lainey64: Stressing out probably doesn't help the situation.... I am trying not to! Grow hair, grow!!!!

  • crusader1
    crusader1 Member Posts: 114
    edited May 2009

    Hi Folks,

    I have just come over for the March Warrior Princesses board.

    Just finished my last TC a week and a half ago. I shave off my peach fuzz today. Any suggestion as to what I can do to get this show back on the road. I have a few eyelashes and my eyebrows have thinned out considerable but they don't bother me.

    I looked at some Nioxin products but they seem to be for hair of some kind. What do you recommend. Are any really proven? What is a follicle booster?

    Thanks,

    Francine

  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 3,372
    edited May 2009

    Susan, What Jaimieh said! You are such a cutie, the two of you. Makes my heart smile!!

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2009

    I am so frustrated!  After consulting with the onc's office about the breakouts on my scalp, they recommended hydrocortisone cream.  I bought it and have been applying twice a day since, and am STILL getting, for lack of better word, pimples on my scalp, some stay red, some look like whiteheads and have a little pus in them.  I am getting to my wits end with this!  and, the more I rub in the cream, the more I'm seeing hairs falling out, must be residual from the last chemo on 4/23.  Arrrrgghh!  Only thing improving is the length of the gray hairs, they are going strong.  but, I don't want anyone to see my head, even if I thought about going commando, because of the condition of my scalp!  Guess I'll have to call the onc's office again on Monday and see what we can do about this!

  • ann-idiot
    ann-idiot Member Posts: 41
    edited May 2009

    Question about re-growth. First off, I never shaved my head. Still have about 14 inch of peach fuzz type hair except in this one bald spot where I attempted to shave my head but the electric razor scared me so I stopped. Now that last chemo went in on Monday, I'm wondering if shaving my head will cause the hair to grow back quicker or slower. If not shaving will cause it to grow back curlier or straighter (I used to have long straight hair) Anyone heard anything about head shaving affecting the mystery hair we wind up with?

  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Chelev- I am so sorry u have 2 go thru that. This must just be the crap week for us. Your pic is beautiful. Soon you will feel that way. My greys are the only thing growing.I don't feel like being in public at this point. I will get better! Hopefully soon:)





  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Chelev- I am so sorry u have 2 go thru that. This must just be the crap week for us. Your pic is beautiful. Soon you will feel that way. My greys are the only thing growing.I don't feel like being in public at this point. I will get better! Hopefully soon:)





  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Chelev- I am so sorry u have 2 go thru that. This must just be the crap week for us. Your pic is beautiful. Soon you will feel that way. My greys are the only thing growing.I don't feel like being in public at this point. I will get better! Hopefully soon:)





  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    Chelev- I am so sorry u have 2 go thru that. This must just be the crap week for us. Your pic is beautiful. Soon you will feel that way. My greys are the only thing growing.I don't feel like being in public at this point. I will get better! Hopefully soon:)





  • Nodapearl
    Nodapearl Member Posts: 151
    edited May 2009

    We will get better!

  • chelev
    chelev Member Posts: 417
    edited May 2009

    Yeah, it stinks that this just won't clear up.  I think my next step is the dermatologist.

  • Blake1960
    Blake1960 Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2009
    Chelev: So sorry that you are going through this.... A dermatologist should be able to give you some answers. We will all get better!!!! Smile

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