Things are sore. My scar tissue is tight from all the coughing, my arm is feeling heavy, and the cording in my armpit is twinging. And I'm putting on weight around my middle that I really dislike!
So what can a girl do to make herself feel better? Why, pop into the only hairdressers that appeared open on a Monday and have a chat with the two ladies working there. They were lovely, and very knowledgeable especially about post chemo~hair. I really warmed to them, and we talked for a good half an hour before it was announced that their 3.30 appointment hadn't arrived so did I want her space?
I have to tell you that before my chemo I had hair down past my waist. Looking after very long hair is more than just washing and going, let me tell you and it didn't include hairdressers strangely enough. I don't think I entered a salon for over 6 years. But I loved my hair, especially having all those different styles to play with and although I was encouraged to have it cut short before chemo to lessen the shock, I declined. I wanted to keep it for as long as possible and indeed I think it was the best thing I could have done. When it finally started to fall out, I asked my husband to help in a small ceremony out in the garden where he shaved my head and we gave up some of my hair to the Elements, while asking for help during the months/years ahead. A breeze gently caressed my newly shorn scalp as my husband finished. It was a very special time.
But to get back to me now . . . .
I have been growing my hair back for just over a year, and it is a wonderful post~chemo~curl~fest! My friends have asked if I will grow it long again, and in my heart I would love to do so. But now I have an arm that I can't keep up over shoulder level for more than a few seconds, so the effort of looking after long locks doesn't really seem quite so much fun. I've been feeling fat and frumpy (oh girls, ain't it so?) following everything so yesterday I decided to 'just see' what was available. I am so glad that I did! I now have a gloriously curly inverted bob, alittle like one of my wigs I used to wear last year. It takes advantage of my 'natural' assests and will be really easy to keep up. Of course, I intend to let the front grow a lot longer than it is right now ~ chin grazing length is good, but even longer will look fabbie!
Okay, everything still aches and I'm still sore, but I look a little bit better. Isn't it amazing what a change in attitude can do for your self esteem?
FormerMember
What a lovely blog post :)
I'm delighted you had a good experience at the hairdressers.
Dunno about you, but as a fellow long hair, I am terrified of the hairdresser. Give me the dentists any day! They always seem to be itching to cut it off, or layer it, or bastardise it in some way !
Good luck with your curls, glad you're feeling pretty :)
Hello there - I really enjoyed reading your Blog, and I could really empathise with a lot of what you had to say. I too got my husband to shave my head, because the hair was falling out on pillows, cushions etc etc. The only difference? I had my head shaving ceremony in the bathroom - where we live is a small block with 40 flats, and although we have a communal garden, I would think twice before doing it out there - ALL those eyes watching you, lol Following my chemo, my hair was growing back quite nicely, but sadly, radiotherapy to the head removed it once and for all. Oh well, I can see a wee sprinkiling of hairs just starting to spring back, so there's hope that my Kojak days may be a thing of the past - unless I have more chemo! Oh well, that's how it goes. Aren't we amazing the way we cope with all these things that are thrown at us? I don't want to go into the weight thing - suffice to say that I understand. I'm glad your self esteem has been given such a boost - we can all do with some of that, can't we? I wish you lots of luck, with lotsa love kate xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
