appearance

I have been reading some forums.    Is taking the treatment going to change my appearance in anyway?

[FlGuy]

Not if you already look like Aqualung.

[sunspot]

You might have a rash, lose some weight and maybe some hair. As I said "Might".
I hope this helps.

[friole]

Appearance is a funny thing.  Many have said, you look great -- and I think that has more to do with dropping some pounds than anything else (I don't tell them the latest rage is the Peg-Riba diet).  Many have said, you are keeping your hair awfully short this summer -- not realizing that it is just so much thinner and straighter.  Several have asked -- are you okay? These are the ones I think see me the best, but even to those I have lied and said I am fine, just tired.  I look bedraggled but when I look at my peers, I see a lot worse.  It is all in the perspective.

[sfbaygirl]

Aqualung? LOL What does he look like?  

I joke about my appearance here on the forum quite a bit. Sometimes I FEEL like I look like Ms. Munster, because of how white I am from anemia and my eyes are burning red. Usually this is a bit of exageration.

For me, I have pretty much given up all the 'beauty salon' stuff I used to do. My hair has 4" roots and I am growing hair on my face. I tore off my nails and have no energy to go to the nail salon for a pedicure. Sometimes I forget to comb my hair and go outside like this. So yes, my appearance has changed.

I haven't gained weight, because all I eat is ice cream. I don't wear any more designer clothes. I put on the most comfy thing I can find and don't usually care if it matches. I hobble around from bone pain, so I look like an old lady that needs a cane or walker.

I do look more tired, as I am. But mostly my appearance is because I just dont' feel like doing anything about it. This may not be you. You may feel fine and your appearance won't change.

[jmjm530]

Besides skin problems,I think the interferon has accelerated the aging process with me, both mentally and how I look physically. Of course, my doctor reminds me that I'm now two years older but I don't 100% buy that. YMMV.

-- Jim

[PSL]

Some scarry things there.  Aqualung!!  I have always cared about my appearance, I hope that continues...Well to all of you wish me luck I take my first shot tomorrow......I am ready to fight the big fight.....
As I had said before my daughter was tragically killed in a auto accident in 2004.  She was a Registered Nurse and I am doing this for her & myself.  I know she would want me to do this.  

Talk to you soon

[Dale_Ray]

I've had more compliments since being on treatment about my appearance than before treatment. A friend as just the other day what I had done with my hair - I showed him the shoe box I keep it in. Complimenting how my trousers hang perfectly from my knife like  hip bones that appear to be cutting through my pants. - If it is normal to have a blood red rash tan and how good it looks. Seriously - If you're overly worried about appearance this probably isn't going to be pretty. I started out ugly so it just rearranged ugly in different ways. Dale

[merlino]

Uh Oh - Aqualung - a blast from the past - I am get old!!!!!!!

[Dale_Ray]

PS: Good luck to you tomorrow night I'll be joining you. I have 15 left to go. D

[MrsOckert]

Before I started TX I had read a post from a woman that said all during tx she put makeup on first thing in the morning and was always well dressed.

She also said it was a mistake, because people won't always believe your as sick as you feel.  Since you don't look sick.

I decided if I didn't feel like wearing make up I wasn't going to and that's exactly what happened.  With the anemia and thyroid issues I didn't have the strength to lift mascara to my eyes.

Now I don't care what I look like.  Time enough for that after tx.

But if you care that much about your appearance then it shouldn't change just because your on meds.

[sfbaygirl]

What's makeup????

Hey, isn't Aqualung the song by Jethro Tull? It's pretty eeery, but I have no idea what it looks like. I imagine you are talking about how we almost grow gills from so much water?

[cuteus]

your reflection in the mirror will look worse to you than to others, after all, we are our worse critic.

jm"
"Of course, my doctor reminds me that I'm now two years older but I don't 100% buy that."

?? you don't buy that you are two yrs older? you are not consulting a second dr, are you?







just kidding! honest!
I know what you meant

[jmjm530]

jm"
"Of course, my doctor reminds me that I'm now two years older but I don't 100% buy that."

?? you don't buy that you are two yrs older? you are not consulting a second dr, are you?
--------------------
As CDM might say, now you got me thinkin' :)

[sfbaygirl]

>>Cuteus; your reflection in the mirror will look worse to you than to others, after all, we are our worse critic.

I dont' know about that. Yesterday I went for waxing and a facial. The skin specialist said, "I told my last client what great skin you have, I guess not today." I thought I looked great! Then of course she went on to tell me how hairy my face had gotten. She proceeded to wax my whole face! I will probably enter the bearded lady contest in the fall...

[NYgirl]

Treatment will keep you looking much better than you will six feet under.  Your hair and nails would continue to grow for quite a while...but the gnarly bugs and lack of skin might make you look not so attractive ;)

On a serious note: I lost about half of my hair, 20 pounds (and I was really tall and thin to start so I sort of look like some alien now LOL) all white and pasty (actually I have been using tanning lotion since we can't go in the sun and it works GREAT) and I have serious scars from the Riba Rash (before I discovered what works for me).

But I am still me and I am killing virus as fast as I can....the hair will grow back. The weight will come back on. Next summer I can go in the sun if I want.

Big deal.  I'm just lucky I was born really attractive so it doesn't matter!   hahahahahahahah.

(Don't worry about your looks, worry about killing VIRUS that is the GOAL!)

[NYgirl]

Mrs. O said: She also said it was a mistake, because people won't always believe your as sick as you feel. Since you don't look sick

That is EXACTLY TRUE.  NOBODY at work knows that I am sick. They think I had my hair thinned and that I lost weight (and they were always nagging me about that anyway).  but I get up every day, shower and style my hair, put on my makeup and jewelry before I come to work.

Technically I guess I DONT look much different. It would be VERY easy to "let it all go" but like you I don't want to.

I think it's a matter of ATTITUDE and personality.  If you don't want to let it go then DONT.  I spend MORE time now than I had to before...and need more lotion to help with the skin (the dang stuff really dries us out so we DO look older) but after using an extra coat of mascara and a bit deeper blush - nobody realizes anything is wrong with me at all.

But that's just ME and how I handle it. (PS My hemoglobion is down to 9.3 right now and if I can do it NOW anyone can, believe me)

Good luck with the shot, I bet you will be just fine.

[GrandOak]

merlino / FLguy :
As for Aqualung, if you folks are feeling that way just keep yourself away from playgrounds or Cross-Eyed Mary could have you Skating on the Thin Ice of a New Day but hey the Locomotive Breath from our dehydration might make her attempt another Bungle in the Jungle ;-P

psl :

Good luck as you begin your tx.  Hope some of the posts here have been helpful.

[PSL]

Thank you all so much.  You are so awesome and helpful here.  I will be in touch

[Mister beagle bailey]

Good luck on starting tx this week.  There will be some changes to the body, but just think you'll be getting rid of these bugs once and for all.  I'm post tx now and have regained 16 lbs in 4 weeks and my hair is starting to get thicker.
We are all here for you and any change you may have can be dealt with.

Beagle

[sfbaygirl]

I dont' think it's solely a matter of attitude and personality if you take care of your appearance or not. Some of us just can't walk because of bone pain or other sx and I don't think it is fair to say this is the only reason for not caring about appearance. I certainly would care if I could do anything about it. I just can't do it most days. Of course, I don't work, so it's not such a big deal.

I feel that my job is to get rid of this virus, as you said. If that means that some things, like appearance goes, so be it. i will deal with that when I am done with tx. I just don't want to be so vain that I think I have to get up, put makeup on and wear my fancy clothes, when all I want to do when I am done doing this is go take a nap and get rid of my pain. Eating is more of a priority, walking around and moving is more of a priority to me etc. then worrying about how I look at this moment.

[Morgaina]

I'm the only woman I know with a comb-over (maybe I'll start a new trend) I never cared as it was all coming down, I was killing virus and saving my life. Now I'm quite sentimental about my treatment clothing. I have to hide them, my daughter keeps trying to throw them out.

[sfbaygirl]

LOL I think my tx clothes are going to rot off of me before I have a chance to even think about keeping them!

[can-do-man]

As for looks, people who see you everyday don't notice it as much. My hair has thined, my eyes are tired, i've lost about 25 lbs. I can't walk 10 feet with out being out of breath. i've aged, My thinking is not as sharp. The other day a good friend stopped as i was sitting on a bench catching my breath. From going into a pop shop. He's one of the few that know im on tx. He took a double take as he hasn't seen me in a couple months. And says man you don't look well.

Thats why with the type of work i do i've decided its time for vacation. Shirts and ties are out and trying to stand up stright bouncing around smiling like life couldn't be better just isn't possible.

Even though i've been lucky and so far the sun hasn't bothered me im still pale. Where it use to be just working in the yard would give me a tan.

Now im not complaining as besides my hgb my sx's have been good compared to how a lot have them. Hang in the people, wishing you the best.

[bobbyullc]

if you get fatigue like i had it will not matter. you will be alone on the couch most of the time. good luck.
bobby

[NYgirl]

I sit on the side of my bed and put my makeup on with the mirror on the side of my desk because honestly I can't stand up all that long either.  I've never come to work without it on...and without my clothes fresh and clean. That is what I mean by appearance...not looking like a supermodel. And THAT with me is ATTITUDE because although I have had some of the worst cases of side effects I've personally read in here unfortunately - as bad as they get - I have never stopped doing this.

So it IS my attitude that keeps me going.  Even when I was fainting way back when and couldn't hear because my head rang so much from the anemia...I made sure to make myself presentable and wash my hair and stuff before I came in - even though it took me a half lhour to walk the 50 yards from the parking lot in to the building.

When Im at home by myself on the weekends though - forget about it :)  Sweats and a ponytail is the way to go!

I am not vain but I do consider it important as a professional to put forth my best 'face' at work. Looking sick the few days that I did and could NOT look good no matter WHAT i did almost got me fired...and certainly lead to a lack of faith in my performance by my old boss.

People perceive impressions of you based on first impressions as sick as that is or not.

Although in here - we are bigger than that because we dont nkow what any of us look like.

[Myown]

I just read all these posts and was crying from laughing so hard. You have all lifted my spirits for the night..Too funny!!
Thanks for the laugh guys and gals, needed it!

[sfbaygirl]

Yes, I know I would put fresh clothes and at least wash and comb my hair if I were going to work. I dont' know about the makeup though. LOL Because I can stay home and do weekends almost everyday, I do.

I love it when I wake up and WANT to get dressed and look nice even though I don't even have to. This doesn't happen to often these days, except at 4am!

I feel terrible that I can't do the grooming I used to, but as I said my priorities are changed these days. Hopefully not for long!

I think a photo gallery would be fun. We could all get ideas for Halloween!

[Pdilly]

I am thinking about cutting my hair after I start treatment.  It is a little past my shoulders.  I figure if it is top of chin length maybe people wont notice that it is thinning as much.  Then again it will be starting to get cold here in October so maybe I can wear stocking hats all the time.

[sfbaygirl]

I might think about cutting before tx. I had an appt. for the hair salon after I started tx and had to cancel it b/c of sx. I STILL HAVEN"T made another appt. 12 weeks later!

I wish I could calendar in those darn sx. I decided to do the roots of my hair myself. That is IF I get the energy before I leave Sat. Otherwise I may take the color with me and have the Jamacians do it....that may be REAL fun. Maybe I will come home with dreadlocks. That would really add to my tx fashion statement.

Hey, I may be wearing that stocking cap in Jamacia!

My hair is really thick and curly and used to be at my shoulders. Now it is much longer. I haven't had any shedding or falling out yet. Just the standing up straight look, when I don't comb it.

Maybe we won't have falling hair. That's something good to think about!

[Pdilly]

My hair is thick and curly too.  I have started to get it straightened.  Love it.  Now I am wondering what am I going to look like with this stick straight hair cut short and growing out curly.  Maybe I will start a trend.....ha...right to the hairdresser.   I work so having it straight saves me big time. I always has to fool with it as I could never tell what it would end up like after sleeping on it.  Had to shower in the eve as it would take my hair awhile to dry.  Tried doing that during the morning but if it is cold it is a walk from the car to the office and my frozen hair does not do.
Maybe I can pray it will come back straight.  You know what?  This is true,  a friend of mine had curly hair and now it is straight.  She had a couple of emotional things (divorice and dad getting sick with cancer and dying) and it started growing in straight.  No one can explain it not even  her.  Really wierd.

[sfbaygirl]

Maybe you'll have to visit me in Jamacia and get some dreadlockes! No worries! Ire!

[Pdilly]

Jamaica....sounds like fun.  Never have been there.  We were thinking about the Bahamas but not sure which one is better.

[sfbaygirl]

The hair dryer is another casualty of tx. I NEVER dry my hair anymore. I can't sleep on it wet, so I go out in the morning with it wet. My docs have all seen it, I suppose I could call it the Wet tx look. It's a good thing I don't walk around my town too often anymore. People would probably start gossiping.