Surgery Day Hair Tips?

[Dog Lover]

I have shoulder length hair and have been trying to figure out something to do with my hair before I go into surgery. Not cut it or anything! But, braid it or ponytails or something.

When my 25 yr old daughter was 10, she has 2 surgeries for a spinal tumor and I braided her hair to keep it from getting  a tangled mess. Worked great, and the little bit they cut was in the back at the very bottom of her hairline. Once we were able to take the braid out and brush out her hair, the little bit they had cut was easily removed.

Trying to think of something similar for me, but not quite sure what yet. Does anyone have any suggestions?

4 days and counting. Each day I get a bit more scared.  

Cathy

[chocolatetruffle]

hello cathy, what type of surgery are you having?  I had translab and my hair was a little longer than shoulder-length hair. When i was in surgery, i did not braid or put in pony tail as the nurse will have to gel, part your hair and shave the incision area. The rest of the hair was held down by tape. I think they prefer you not to braid or pony tailed it as your head will be turn sideways for the entire surgery. But i think that depends on the type of surgery, as i heard for mid fossa surgery, they had to tie your hair up?  Not too sure about that but I am sure others will provide additional comments.

Anyway, the downside is i cannot wash my hair until after the stitches are out, so 2 weeks of long unwashed hair is not fun, it got so greasy that i could fry an egg on top of my head!  during this time I had to wrap it under a beret type hat or tie it up.  When the stitches are out and when i finally could wash my hair, I was glad for the long hair as it covered the shaved section and scar very well.

hope this helps and good luck on your surgery!! keep us posted 

[Lamsue23]

Hey Cathy,
     First, let me tell you that your AN Magic scarf is being mailed out tomorrow, you see see me with it in my picture.
     I had my hair cut short the day before surgery, but I usuallly have very short hair.  I don't know what's under there as I still have this big turban on and they told me not to take it off till it's time for the stitches to come out.  Don't have my appointment yet, will call tomorrow.  Yes, it's hot, that's why the fan is going all the time and it's starting to be itchy and smelly.  A great shampoo right after stitches comes out I will do.......can't wait......

Praying for you daily, one day at a time.......

[MAlegant]

Hi Dog Lover,
I have very short hair so was not an issue for me.  Are you having one last MRI?  I had one the day before surgery (for computer mapping) and they shaved little spots (easily hidden by hair) but then put "markers" all over my head.  None of this was painful nor did I mind BUT then I couldn't wash my hair. This was a drag because I had intended on mega washing it the morning of surgery so had an extra day of not shampooing to deal with.  I did manage to wash just the front (a tip from Carrie) once I was home so that at least my bangs were clean.

It's normal to be scared.  I was terrified.  But, the odds are you will be just fine.  You will get through this, you will.  Just look around you at all these people!  Today, at not quite 4 weeks post-op I went for a run.  I walked some too but I ran more than half of it.  And I'll bet you I appreciated more than just about anyone on the jogging path today. 

Good luck, we will be saying prayers and sending good thoughts and thinking about you.  Is there someone who will post your progress on the forum?  We will all be waiting to hear how you do.

Hugs,
Marci

[Tamara]

I would say do nothing with your hair.  Mine is about the same length as yours, and the bit shaved above and behind the ear was easily covered by my hair.  They only shaved what was necessary.

The nice part about the surgery is that you get to sleep through it.  I was glad I wasn't the one waiting.  I'm sure you'll do fine, especially with the lucky scarf!  Make sure to do something great the night beforehand!

Will you have a scribe to keep us posted, until you're able to do so yourself?

Take Care,
Tammy (2 months postop, doing well, and RIDING MY BIKE!)

[MAlegant]

Go Tammy!  I have not been brave enough to get on the bike yet...it's less life threatening to run in a zig-zag pattern. 
Marci

[Dog Lover]

I'm having a mid fossa procedure. I guess I'll just wait and see what they say when I go there Thurs. morning. They do quite a few of these at the U of I, and have specific nurses for AN patients, so I'm sure they can guide me. No, as far as I know I am not having another MRI before the surgery. I had my last one in May.

I"ve had several people suggest going out to dinner the night before. I think I will. Plan to work all day Wed., but I think I will talk my son into taking me out to dinner. My folks want me to stay at their house the night before. I'd really rather just stay home, but it IS a little bit closer, and maybe my mom needs me to be there. They'll be taking me to the hospital and staying there all day. Guess I can compromise as long as they bring me home after I get sprung. 

I'll talk to my daughter and ask her to post updates Thurs and after until I'm able to do it.

I'm watching for the magic scarf! 

Cathy

[Lamsue23]

Cathy,
     I had to travel an hour to the hospital so my daughter from AZ and I made reservations at an Inn in Vermont and my daughter from NY met us there.  We went to the Pub and had a wonderful dinner together, then went for a walk and had a girl night together.....Couldn't sleep much....I drove to the hospital because I knew I wasn't going to drive for a while......Treat yourself!!!  You deserve it.

HUGS, HUGS, HUGS.

[Debbi]

Hi Cathy-

Let the nurses and surgical team figure out what to do with your hair - it will be easier. Mine was rubber banded at the top of my head - I looked like Pebbles from the Flinstones, with a weird bonnet. 

I am glad the Lucky Magic AN Scarf is headed your way.  It's been fun to see where it ends up.  It started it's journey on my head at NYU, a gift from a friend who wanted to cheer me up (you know, one of those occasions when only an animal print will do!)  Then I gave it to Wendy when we met for lunch a week before her surgery - then she sent it along to Sue, and now it's yours for awhile.... where hopefully it will bring luck and a smile!

Definitely have a nice meal before surgery - I called it my Last Supper!  My husband, parents and best friend all joined me and we had a great time.  I knew I'd be deaf in my right ear after surgery, so I enjoyed my last stereo-phonic outing.  If you're like most of us, you probably aren't going to sleep real well that night, so you might as well at least have a happy tummy.

Stay calm, breath, enjoy little moments along the way...

Debbi

[hruss]

Hey Dog Lover,

hope everything will go smoothly!!

Just for the record I should say that before my surgery I had long (almost till my waist) naturally black hair. I had been growing it fo years when in the morning before surgery one of the nurses came into my room and shaved me all. I saw my locks covering the ground 
Before the next surgery they shaved me again.
 So now I am short-haired and i even go and trim my hairdo from time to time. I have never before seen myself in short hair but I kinda like myself like that now. And people do say that they even likeme more short-haired.
I don;t know what to think - it just had to happen!
But as far as I have read on this forum, the patients are not completely shaved in US - just the incision part. It is good because as you have long hair you can hide the surgery scar, whereas I had to wear a hat all the time - i was lucky that my surgeries were in winter, though.
But i remember the days in th hospital when i was grateful that they had taken the whole hair - i can;t imagine how awful it would have been - for me and the doctors. Plus here in Bulgaria I was not allowed to take a shower a week after my stitches were off - so totally 19 - 20 days. that;s a lot of time!

Best of luck with your surgery again!
hope to hear from you soon!

Hrissy

[Dog Lover]

Hrissy,

Oh my gosh! they shaved your whole head? That had to be an adjustment after so many years of having it long. And here I was worrying about the little bit that they would shave off. Not recently, but about a month ago. That seems like such a little thing anymore.

I have a friend who has an orphanage in Bulgaria. (Actually, he is my ex's brother, but we are all still friends) 

Small world, huh?

I am just not going to worry about what to do with the hair. Cheryl also mentioned to me in a PM that they will be putting probie thingies on my head. I had forgotten about that. To monitor the hearing. i think I like the Pebbles look! LOL


Cathy

[hruss]

Dog Lover,

that is interesting. My boyfriend, who is an American, but has been living here in Bulgaria for years, helps his parents in their work with orphanage homes.
What is the name of your friend?

It is a small world, really! 

Hrissy

[Dog Lover]

OK, I was a little off. It's an Orphan Sponsorship program. His name is Nick Hindman.

http://www.orphansponsorship.org/about.html

[kippy6]

I didn't do anything special with my below shoulder-length hair. I just got up really early the morning of surgery and washed it really, really well. I was released from hospital on the 5th day, and after approximately 5 more days, I was allowed to wash my hair (after stitches were taken out).

[marymomof3]

Hi Cathy - I had middle fossa in March.  I had done nothing special with my hair.  I think they shave off a bit more for middle fossa than retro or translab.  However, I was grateful that they left a couple of strands behind to help cover the incision area post op.