Hair care planning

[pcds]

I'm starting treatment 8/29 with telaprevir and the other stuff.  I lost a lot of hair when I treated last time, but it was the least of my concerns re: sx.  But whatever can be done is helpful.  Some suggestions.  Breakage is big toward hair loss.  Satin pillowcases help.  Lots of deep conditioning treatments before and during I hope will help.  I have stopped coloring my hair.  For women going through tx, hair loss is a concern.  I'll let you know if it makes a difference this time.  Lots of water, more then one can bear is also tops on my list.  Otherwise it's making it one day at a time.  

[curiouslady1]

cool.  very cool.

[researchmonkey326]

I got a human hair wig on Vogue Wigs online.  It is really nice but on the heavy side.  I bought two much cheaper synthetic weeks at a wig salon.  Wore one today and getting a lot of compliments.  The cap part of it is not solid so there is lots of circulation.  I had to call all over the place here in Atlanta to find any Caucasian wigs - the salons that had them were in the high-end parts of town.  Anyway, while I was at it, I buzzed all of my hair off too.

[streamline569]

I also found  a wig on wig.com. It's exactly like my hair. Now just to size it properly and wait to see if I may need it. Wonder if they have overnight delivery.LOL

[Gerbils]

One thing I didn't mention was that a good conditioner to keep ends (and the middles for that matter!)  from drying out is Ojon. I hear you can get it on EBAY but I got it at Sephora. It is stinky but very effective. I knuke a blob in a glass dish in the microwave and start dunking my hair in about half way down my head. It'll spread easily to the ends from there. I think Diane is probably right and we lose hair due to something happening to our hair folicles from the meds. I also think the stress of tx may be a factor. I use to Ojon to keep loss from breakage to a minimum and my hair doesn't look dry at all.
G

[cctex]

My curly, curly, thick hair turned into straight, straight, very fine hair with the last treatment.  My hair was shoulder length.  I lost a LOT of it.  In the past two years it has grown back just like it was before!!!  Couldn't tell anything had ever happened. Whew!  Soooo, before I started on my meds this time I went on and had it cut short, so that the weight of the hair wouldn't pull so much on the hair I have.  It's short and curly today - I'll let you know how it goes - and how it changes as I go along.  I didn't change shampoos last time.  Maybe I should try that this time.  Good luck!  So far I have had fewer troubles on this round of treatment than the other two I did.  I hope it continues this way!!  Liz

[curiouslady1]

wow.  I looked at the wigs at wigs.com and really liked them.  I find myself esp attracted to the one called "cameo" which can be styled in a number of different ways.  I think there is a whole thing about doing wigs.  Maybe I'll do it anyway just because I expect whether I do an all pill trial or SOC I will not feel like dying and perming and washing etc.  regardless of whether it falls out.  I'll maybe cut it to a boy cut and start doing exercises.  The thing is people in my culture (white) often think if you wear a wig there is either something physically wrong with you or you are in show business LOL, Whereas in the black community and in the Jewish community wearing hairpieces and wigs is perfectly normal.  

[Diane12855]

We loose our hair because the hair follicle itself is messed up by the drugs. Hair is made out of the same kind of protein that the skin is... and mine turned into alligator skin while on tx. I read on here a while back that somebody got wigs on EBay. I wish I had done that... it would have made life during tx so much easier. Do whatever you can to make your life easier till you get done with your tx.

Diane

[Gerbils]

Hi,
I am on week 4 and havd noticed that I seem to be "shedding" a little more than normal. I have long hair, don't dye it, gets lots of complements on it. When I asked my doctor about hair loss he said' "it isn't that noticeable". Obviously that isn't the case for some (and maybe alot) of people. I noticed more hair loss than normal the last time I washed it. I have been careful to wash it only when necessary (2 x per week). It is scary and I don't mean to be vain. It is more important to get over the illness but if it gets to be too much (the hair loss) I will just tell folks at work that I am taking some medication that is causing hair loss (I guess,- I am keeping the illness and tx to myself). I don't know what else to do. I haven't discussed this anywhere else. I'm glad I have you all. I won't look good with short hair- I don't have the face for it. I have always kept it long- it was shoulder length once but wasn't very good. I tried the nioxin a few times when I wanted my hair thicker and frankly it fried my hair. I hear about a product called Ovation but it is very expensive ($50.00 for a trial size) and I doubt that it can stop a loss caused by this kind of stuff. Good luck everyone.
G

[curiouslady1]

Yes I am a redhead too and the idea of going salt and pepper is disturbing and shocking.  My question about the wig is the lack of air to the scalp.  But maybe I am old fashioned and don't really know about wigs nowadays.  Are there chain stores that anyone would recommend where you can try them on to see what they look like before purchasing?  

[screaming48]

Well I bet you will look great in the wigs, I plan on doing the same.. better than constantly being upset over my hair, turning grey anyway..husband of course wants a short do with blond hair. I personally prefer to be a redhead. Anyway you stay strong hang in there and git er done! I can't imagine the itching you are going through. I ran into some bullnettle yesterday and it causes a heck of a rash and itches like crazy not to mention chigger bites they drive me crazy so I dont know what I will do with the telaprevir rash or riba rash or any other rash that shows up. I think you are being so strong and brave and I hope I can do as well. Be well...anne

[dixiechicdana]

When I was on treatment last time, my hair thinned terribly which I already have thin hair. However, a really cute style that looked professional and was still fun was like Sharon Stones hair in catwoman. It is really short but you can you the styling wax to flip it in cute places.

My hair is long again now but will be starting treatment again really soon. This time I plan to keep it braided with constant treatment in it such as hot oil and such. Also going to try not to brush it too much but probably not going to help too much

[elpasolady]

You and your wigs will look amazing!!!  I just know it!
Tell me....how did you decide on a wig?  Did you go close to your own hair style or take it to the wild side?  haha.  Same color, or did you have some fun?
Do your co-workers know you are going through this?

wow.....mostly from the last 3-4 days?  That is NOT cool!  Poor thing.
Everytime I get a little random itch on my body, I think of you all, and hope upon HOPE that I will be one of the lucky ones that don't have to contend with that horriffic nonsense!
You are halfway there......Yay!!


Good luck tomorrow.

[researchmonkey326]

I used the Nioxin for awhile before treatment started.  Unfortunately, I've had so many rash problems including with the scalp, I don't think anything would have helped as I think that I broke off a lot of it while scratching like a maniac.  At this point - week 17, I'd say that half or more of my hair is gone (mostly from the last 3-4 days).  Today I bought clippers to take it off and several wigs.  Tomorrow will be the first I go to work with a wig and I'm a little apprehensive but it will look better than my real head.

[elpasolady]

One thing they say to help with our hair is to use as little shampoo as possible.
Some of you may have see the infomercial about WEN hair care products by  Chaz Dean.  I ordered that several months ago and I really like it!  I have not shampooed my hair for several months.  The product that replaces the shampoo is called a "cleansing conditioner".  It makes your hair very silky and it does NOT stip the oils from it.  It is good for all hair types.  The kit also comes with an intense conditioner, a styling creme and a hair balm.
Once I learned about the dangers of normal shampoo in connection with HEP C tx, I was very glad I am using this product.
Check it out!

[meakea]

Before I started TX in 2008, I had shoulder length hair that was very thick and it was minimally highlighted and I kept the grays colored.  A few weeks before I started treatment I asked my stylist to color my hair to my original color (without highlights) because I didn't plan on coloring my hair during treatment.  I also had her cut it to chin length.

I did everything kind to my hair that I had read about on multiple forums and all the products but, alas, it kept falling to the point that I lost about 75%+ of my hair.  Because I had a professional job in an office working with the public, I had to do something.  So...I shaved off what was left straggling around my head and I bought two wigs from wigs.com.  Those wigs were a life-saver for me.  So much easier to get up in the morning and pop one on instead of agonizing over how to make the remaining 25% of my hair look "normal".  

After treatment ended, my hair started growing back in but it had a very short life cycle.  It would grow in and then fall out when it was about an inch long.  That continued for many months.  I'm now almost 2 years post treatment and my hair is again normal.  I'm going to try to grow it back to the original shoulder length but I have a very LONG way to go.  :)

[streamline569]

I colored my hair just before I started. It should be OK for 6 months. Maybe some gray but remember it will just be the roots. I've been using the Nioxin shampoo and conditioner number 3. I love it. I've never used anything that made my hair feel so good. Let's hope it stops hair loss as well. It has made my hair look fuller before tx. Hope it works during and after tx

[aj7538]

Try nioxin products for hair loss and thinning of the hair
Start using them now. Also if you can get a kerstin tx for hair. This will coat your hair and will last 4 to 6 months. Only use a comb on your hair after you wash it. Hopefully hair loss will be at a minimum. Aj7538

[curiouslady1]

I would really like to know how to deal with hair and other issues that would be easier on the eyes of my clients in a professional business.  I have been coloring my hair most of my life and it is medium length and permed.  Since my real hair is straight and salt and pepper I dont exactly know how to reframe my image to accommodate.  I don't have to be beautiful, just less shocking.  If it were for me alone, I would rather go bald or have a boy cut that would be as easy as possible to care for.  But I dont want people to look at me and immmediately think "Oh, she's on chemo".  What about wigs?  What is a good wig source?  Something that looks pretty real.  

[coeric]

i don't have any suggestions for hair care.  whenever i get my hair cut the stylists always say what great hair i have. C'est la vie. hopefully someone will chime in about hair care with treatment.

i've upped the cardio workouts and am trying to gain some weight.

I am planning on starting treatment in August and will be on triple therapy with telaprevir.  the hepatologist wants me to have an egd before starting, which is scheduled in 2 weeks.  The doc is suggesting i enroll in the following study that will include telaprevir -
Concentration-Controlled Ribavirin for the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. in this open label study participants will either receive the standard riba dose (1,000 or 1,200mg) or a dose based upon the amount of riba in the blood.  the responses from your recent post were helpful regarding some questions i have about this study. i have not made up my mind about participating in the study. i need to treat soon and the doc is saying to go with telaprevir.

blessings
eric

[Diane12855]

Good luck with finding something to keep your hair. I lost about 1/3 of mine and the hair that was left got really weird... it is finer than babies hair and when I blow it dry it goes poker straight no matter what size of round brush I use. I can get it to bend a tiny bit with lots of goop and a curling brush but that is it. At least my hair is starting to grow back in now... lots of 1/2" hairs around my hairline right now. I sure hope they will bend when they get longer or I'm really going to look strange. LOL!

Besides that, I'm getting better every day... physically. Waiting for the old brain to kick back into gear. Life goes on.

Are you still running every day?

Diane

[belle19]

i wish you good luck this time around.  i started 6/24 in a clinical trial interferon/riba with possibly tegobuvir and gs-9451.  don't know what group i'm in as it's a blind study.  i do drink a lot of water.  so far sx have been minor.  tiredness the day after my shot.  i go one day at a time.

keep in touch.  belle

[pcds]

typo, I'm starting 7/29