Buzzed!!!

#4 Treatment went well. We saw Dr. Hantel before the treatment. He said my labs look good. I complained about not sleeping and was bragging about not losing my hair. He told me not to get too cocky that it will most likely go soon. Dr. Hantel lowered the dose of the oral steroids I take but kept the IV steroids.  We felt good that the process is progressing well for me.

The anticipation of losing my hair was agonizing. The patients I talked with all said I would lose my hair between the second and third treatments. I wasn't losing it but thinking about it made me anxious. Thursday I started to lose my hair.(The doctor was right about not being too cocky.) It  felt like needles were pricking my head. My hands were in my hair trying to ease the pain and hair would come out in clumps. It was hard to be in the kitchen thinking all that hair will fall into the food. I was sad and damaged. Friday I was in bed most of the day. Not really cuz I was sick but cuz I was grieving my hair loss. I got over it fast and Saturday woke up and told Ron we are buzzing my head today. I gave Ron his usual 4 week buzz cut and he was to buzz me when I was finished with him. With Ron's humor and compassion we got through the buzz without any tears. I am so blessed to have him be with me in good times and bad. I can't say enough how he has showed up and been there for me throughout this journey. Thanks hunny. Everyone who sees me tells me I have a nicely shaped head. Who are they kidding....I am BALD! It is cold so I wear a hat most of the time. I did wear my wig for 3 hours to see how I liked wearing it. It wasn't so bad. It was light and not terribly itchy.

#5 Treatment went well and quick this time...3 hours. I saw Dr. Song that Monday and he said that I could start reconstructive surgery the first week of May in time for Chris' wedding. Recovery for that would be a few weeks and it would be outpatient. Can you believe it-major surgery and you are operated on in the morning and out in the afternoon. Amazing!!!

Wednesday I went to get my wig styled at 3 pm. I felt so great, it looked fairly natural, and I didn't feel so damaged. I was very pleased with the style. I got home and Chris was there. I fixed him some dinner that a friend dropped off. It was in the oven for 30 minutes and decided to cut into it to see if the chicken was done. Well I still had my wig on and POOF! My beautiful wig was singed. Oh I was sooo sick to my stomach. They ALL warned me about the dangers of the oven, dishwasher, and grill. I didn't realize I had it on for only a few hours and BAMM I ruined it. Lauren walks in and said the damage wasn't bad and you couldn't see the netting. It just looked like it was teased. I didn't sleep that night at all. I looked at the wig in the morning and it really wasn't as bad as I felt it was the day before. I will probably take it back and get a little bit more trimmed off the wig to clean up the ends. I thought I was done with hair cuts and blow drys and hair products. Not quite. I will put conditioner on the wig, wash it, but not blow dry it!!!! Hopefully I can get used to wearing the wig and not be so dumb. So for now on the kitchen is WIG FREE. Haha hope you all enjoyed my trials and tribulations of my first wig experience. Can't you see me doing it!!!

Tuesday will be my 6th treatment. That means I will be half way finished. Yeah!!! I have enjoyed walking outside with the weather as great as it has been. Keep smiling.

Love, Joanie