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Cold Caps Users Past and Present, to Save Hair

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Comments

  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    Ladies, am I not suppose to wash my hair under shower? I have been doing it for a while but on the cold side water temperature .... Am I missing some valuable NO NO.. that i neglected...

  • zinny
    zinny Member Posts: 169
    edited June 2016

    Weighing in on supp's - also taking Biotin and Silica. I tried to use the Latisse to spare my eyelashes, though I have to say I got lazy and was missing quite a few nights, but they all came out in the end…That being said, they grew back like crazy when they did - my surgery was 6 weeks PFC, and the last bits came out and then there was growth within the week. My eyebrows grew crazy fast too, though they are usually like that…

    Using the Latisse very regularly now, and it is amazing how thick and quick my lashes are coming in.

    This is 9 weeks PFC - yup heading for a brow threading soon!

    image

  • Positivepower11
    Positivepower11 Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2016

    VictoryaK- Penguin says we should use a mug and not a shower as it could cause stress on hair.

    Zinny - hair/ eyebrows look great . I am using lastisse as well and have had some shedding in the Tax phase . I hope they grow back soon and don't fall out PFC. Now on to the Ac phase next week.

  • darab
    darab Member Posts: 894
    edited June 2016

    Thanks, I looked at Amazon and see they aren't too expensive. I did the same with a knee scooter last year when I had to have foot reconstruction that was non-weightbearing for 3 months. Some things are just worth paying for, even if insurance says no!

  • elise24601
    elise24601 Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    Zinny - Do you use the Latisse on brows too, or just lashes?

  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    ok. I must be stupid or missed some information...but I was washing my hair under shower all these 8 weeks:(

    Any tips on how you girls wash hair with the mug ? or other way...Does everyone not washing hair under shower?

    I remember someone here was talking beeing swollen as seal.. runner70?

    Today suddenly my lower parts of leg got swollen. Right leg more then left...I am done with 7 Taxols..Anyone had experience with legs swelling?

  • Aussie-girl75
    Aussie-girl75 Member Posts: 95
    edited June 2016

    When I went through chemo last year I washed my hair in the sink in the laundry with Luke warm water that was what was recommended to me by Penguin Cold Caps although some ladies on here were washing in the shower and had no ill effect.

  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 784
    edited June 2016

    viktory, I washed my hair in the shower and had no problems. For hair washing I justturned down the flow from the shower head and changed the water temp to lukewarm.

  • Wildflower2015
    Wildflower2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited June 2016

    Viktoryak,

    I think Penguin said to wash your hair by pouring a diluted mixture of shampoo and water over your head using a cup or something like that. Then gently lather it up, and then rinse by pouring cool water over the head using the same cup. I didn't do that. I just washed and rinsed my hair straight under the sink.

    Keep an eye on the swelling and call your doctor to let them know. I had both feet and my left leg swell up near the end of treatment. It was swollen to the point where if I pushed my finger into the swelling, it would leave an indentation. I called my nurse practitioner and she had me go get an ultrasound of my leg to make sure I didn't have a blood clot. It turned out to be edema (swelling), just another chemo side effect.

  • zinny
    zinny Member Posts: 169
    edited June 2016

    Elise - mostly just put LAtisse on eyelash line - bought a thin angle makeup brush and used way less than a full drop - but if both eyes were done I would put some on my brows. They pretty much all came off as did my lashes, anyhow.


  • phaila
    phaila Member Posts: 177
    edited June 2016

    my swelling was worse last chemo. Both legs. It started week 2 after last chemo and it it still swollen now. Go get compression stockings, wear them when you're not sleeping. My swelling has been for so long it's caused bruising on tops of feet. Also tops of feet shake like jello... It sucks. My last chemo was may 20th


  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    phaila, wow! A month later and still swelling...it's sad how long the f..g chemo stays in our systems. I am walking in a park now...pushing myself. Decided against usual run ..but still walking 4 miles. Swelling looks a bit better in the morning but still there ...

    Today is my hair wash day...going home after work out to wash it. Worried how much shedding will be today.......

    One more question..can we use pools ( without wetting hair),? After all pools might have some bacteria..I have pool at home, babysitting my son a few of his friends today and it's so hot... Wonder if I can deep in the pool.

  • Wildflower2015
    Wildflower2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited June 2016

    Victoryak,

    The chlorine used in pools is too harsh for your hair right now. It can increase breakage and maybe even turn your hair a weird color. Then your options for corrective coloring would be pretty limited right now due to active chemo treatment.

    If you go in the pool, I would wear a tight fitting swim cap, or just be sure not to get my head wet.

  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    Yes. I understand not to wet hair in the pool. But what do you ladies generally think about using pool while on chemo. Is bacteria and chlorine that is in the pool ok for the us?(not hair we are talking about )

  • Wildflower2015
    Wildflower2015 Member Posts: 223
    edited June 2016

    Sorry, I misunderstood!

    The only time I was told to stay out of a pool was during radiation. The RO said that would increase the chance of infection because the radiated skin might have microscopic breaks that could allow bacteria to get in. He said to wait 2 weeks till after radiation before swimming.

  • revnet
    revnet Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2016

    Hey All, I started TC today. Using Arcitic Cold Caps. I am concerned they did not stay or get refrozen enough during the rotation process. They are not nearly cold enough several hours into the plan. Also the amount of recommended dry ice I would say was not enough.

    Has anyone had any mild success with the caps when they weren't as cold as recommended?


  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    revnet,I use Arctic Cold caps. They do last cold around 15min then we change. Sometimes I feel myself they not so cold. So, don't wait 20 min as they recommend, change it every 15 min or even earlier if you feel they not as cold. As for amount of dry ice I don't know in lbs how much i use. I have a few pieces of dry ice on the bottom of a cooler, piece between caps and in each cap a beg of ice cubes. I usually get ice around 2pm on Monday . My treatment is on Tuesday around 2-3pm. On the way to Chemo I stop by dry ice company again and get more pieces of ice since a lot of dry ice by this time melt. I found great dry ice company such amazing guys, they prepare all begs of ice before I come in, charge only $20 for it all. And giving me a free ice on the day of treatment. I am so happy that there still such nice people exist.

    Also with ACC, we use extra strap to hold cap more tight. They provide 3 but we add one more to hold cap more tight to scalp.

    Let me know if you have any more questions.


  • Icandoallthings
    Icandoallthings Member Posts: 28
    edited June 2016

    I just finished 2 of 4. TC treatment.

    I'm thinking of doing a cute nape shave so I will stop shedding as much. The majority of my loss is definitely coming from the back.

    My hair is like outrageously thick on a normal basis, but I can definitely feel it thinning.

    Also I'm sweating like crazy when I sleep! Any one else


    I also use artic, and thought they were not as cold as I thought they should be. We do the 15 min change too.

  • phaila
    phaila Member Posts: 177
    edited June 2016

    my hair is still shedding like crazy:(

    My last TCchemo was may 20th

  • elise24601
    elise24601 Member Posts: 47
    edited June 2016

    For those cappers who are several months or more from last chemo - how long until your hair thickness returned to normal or at least close to normal?


  • revnet
    revnet Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2016

    viktoryak Thanks for the reply. I will be better prepared next time, I just hope this time was successful. My 'helper' had trouble with the rotation and caps were not placed in order tso they weren't frozen when I took out because he put the caps in random places in the coolers. ugh! After my infusion I sent him packing and did the caps myself at home with slightly better results with the freezing aspect of it. I just hope I did it well enough this first time around. I'll be better prepared next time.

  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    revnet, wow! You did change caps yourself. I am impressed! I am so dragged and sleepy during chemo and after I can't even think streight!

    As for night sweats....yes...I get those a lot- it's hot flashes I believe. I also get it during the day but not as bad as at night... They just put us in menopose with all those drags. Also my period stopped... Welcome to early menapose..hopefully with hair!

    Anyone is actually having sex now days? 😉oops...forbiden topic😌

  • revnet
    revnet Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2016

    viktoryak how often do you use your cold caps outside of infusion day? I was suggested to use them by the cold caps represetative afterwards too. I am gonig through all 8 caps this morning, but wondering if you had a regiment you were following?

    As for changing the caps myself yesterday, I actually found it a good distraction to keep myself busy and I think I was a bit amped up from the steroids. I started to get tired pretty early in the evening though. I am running throught he caps now, and will probably rest up after that, again.

    Thanks

  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    revnet,I honestly never heared of wearing cold caps not on infusion days.

    I wear an hour before chemo, during chemo and 4 hours after.

  • Runner70
    Runner70 Member Posts: 177
    edited June 2016

    I'm still shedding hair 5 weeks after my last chemo but I have eyebrows coming in fast and I also have hair stubble coming in at the big bald spot on top of my head. It looks like it's the same color as my pre chemo hair but it's stillhard to tell

    Victory- the night sweats are awful! It's so rude that not only do we have to do chemo, but to lose your hormones us the worst! I took Lupron shots monthly to shut down my ovaries to prevent them from getting killed during chemo. I think my last shot is wearing off and maybe my ovaries are waking up because my night sweats went away and my hot flashes are considerably better. I better enjoy it while I can because I have to take tamoxifen soon. I find myself jealous of the ER- gals out there who don't have to take tamoxifen.

  • revnet
    revnet Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2016

    viktoryak one last question. where did you acquire an additional strap for your arctic cold cap?

  • viktoryak
    viktoryak Member Posts: 238
    edited June 2016

    revnet, call ACC and ask for it. I called because one of the straps worn off. They send 3 of them and we decided to use 4 instead of 3.

  • heidi16
    heidi16 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2016

    Has anyone been swimming in pools while cold capping? I would assume the chlorinated water is not good for the follicles so would it be enough to make sure to not wet the scalp or use a swim cap?

  • revnet
    revnet Member Posts: 17
    edited June 2016

    Arctic cold caps recommended me to not swim


  • PatinMN
    PatinMN Member Posts: 784
    edited June 2016

    Heidi, someone who cold capped a while ago did swim in a pool very frequently, with no ill effects. I can't remember who, sorry to say, and she may not still be on the boards. UPDATED to say I remembered who it was - sebm9. I did a search and found she did a good description of her swimming activities and other helpful stuff on p. 409 of this thread

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