Hi everyone, well it is exactly 8 weeks since I had my surgery.  Dr. Sara warned me this was the tough stage.  My hair feels very thin from all of the shock loss.  I know that I notice it more than anyone else.  I gave my self a more layered haircut which seemed to help a lot.  I actually get quite a few compliments, which seems so funny when I am strategically styling my hair in the morning to hide its sparseness.  I cant give a photo right now because I am wearing a baseball hat today with the hope of exercising at some point. Hopefully the next month will bring new growth!

Its been 22 days since I had the surgery.  As I was warned, my hair is shedding quite a bit.  Dr. Wasserbauer let me know that between week 2 and 3 I would have what is called shock loss.  My hair does appear thinner than it did pre-surgery, however I’ve been told that this was the “ugly duckling” stage.  I’ve never been much of a swan so I know I can make it through this phase.  I think I understand the “comb-over” thing now. I guess you can’t judge someone until you walk in their shoes.  I look forward to the up coming months to see the new hair growth.

Drove into Walnut Creek  to get my stitches removed.  It was so nice to see Dr. Wasserbauer and her staff and of course Bacchus who welcomed me and laid sideways across the hall blocking my entrance for a belly rub hello. Removal took about ten minutes or so with  no pain at all. My scalp is a bit tender at the donor sight and itchy, but otherwise I feel great!  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shinning and I enjoyed the rest of my day shopping.  I haven’t  had time for myself like this in a very long time.  This whole expeirence has been so wonderful.  Dr. Sara assured me that this was how they treated all of her patients and that I was not special.  Well, she said I was special, but… not that special. I knew what she meant.:)

I got a little rub happy on my scalp.  When my hair is wet there are little noodle like white things coming out of my scalp.  When they dry, they become flat and hard.  I am supposed to rub these off, it is an important part of the process so that the graphs have a healthy environment.  My suggestion is to do this after shampooing when scalp is still damp.  I am having trouble keeping my hands off my head.  I was rubbing in circles when my hair was dry to remove the little crusts and I have made myself bleed in a few spots.  I can’t help but wonder if I have lost a few graphs. :(  My solution,  I am wearing winter gloves in the house, or I wrap my head with a scarf to make it more difficult to do anymore damage.

OK, so funny… had parent night at a private high school last night.  I went with the bandanna that Dr. Sara gave me tied around my head.  It happens to be navy blue,  I think I might have scared a few people.  Today is the day I can gently rub off the tiny pin dot scabs off my head.  It feels good to get them off.  It is also the first day I gently styled my hair with a blow dryer on low, keeping the heat off the scalp.  First time out with my hair down, went to Bible Study and my friends couldn’t see anything different.

  May I add, it is so painful posting pictures of myself. Definitely more painful then the surgery!!!