ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: Catflower on March 24, 2008, 11:26:49 am
-
This one is for the ladies with BAHA. Do any of you color your hair? Also, do you have any problems styling your hair with the abutment sticking up? What about hair products during the "healing" time following implant?
-
Catflower-
Hope you don't mind if I add one more question ... Does your comb/brush ever snag the transmitter (that kinda freaks me out a little!)
Debbi - new translab surgery date of 4/23
-
Ok, I admit it - I do color my hair (shhh.. don't tell anyone). I had to wait until after the implant site was healed first, now it's no problem. As far as hair products, I don't use a lot, but I do my hair before I attach my processor and that way anything I put in my hair doesn't get on it. I didn't use any during the healing time because since I'm a stay at home Mom anyway, no one really cared what my hair looked like. The instruction book recommends cleaning the abuttment with a baby wipe or something before you attach the processor so no build up gets on the attachment site. I don't usually do this, but I guess if I had to put hairspray or anything on, I would.
As far as styling - my hair is stick straight, so there's not much styling going on on this head. I had it pulled back in a pony tail when I went to the gym today, and you couldn't see it at all. You could snag your comb or brush on it - just like you could snag on your own ear if you're not careful - but since I know it's there, I just try to be a little more careful in that area - not because it hurts, but just so I don't knock it off.
The processor is really very small so I don't think you'll have any problems.
Lori
-
Good questions, Catflower.
I was wondering about hair color, too. I stopped coloring mine a few months ago and thought I'd go "au natural" but it looks horrible, so now I'm having second thoughts. In addition, my daughter keeps saying how gray I am and telling me that I need to color it. Apparently, I'm an embarrasment to her, but for someone who is 46 1/2, I'm not THAT gray ;D I thought about emailing the doctor this past weekend, but figured he'd think I was totally vain, so I decided I'd wait until next week's appointment to ask the question.
So, Lori, define "healed" - as in, how many weeks post op?
As far as styling goes, I use a wide tooth comb with very long teeth and it actually never even touches the abutment when I'm combing my hair. I wear my hair fairly short - it's longer now than it used to be because I want to make sure it covers the processor - and I don't really use styling products like gel, mousse, or spray so I don't have an issue with those.
Another hair related question for you, Lori. What is the deal with hair follicles and the BAHA? Doesn't the doc do something, during the surgery, to prevent your hair from growing too closely to the abutment? My hair is growing in very fast and IMO it's growing very close to the abutment site. I'm a little concerned about this, but I'm not really sure it's an issue. Obviously, I'll ask the doc next week, but I was looking for some feedback from another BAHA patient.
Thanks,
Jan
-
Jan, it's hard to say how many weeks, because I know some people took a while to "heal". You want to make sure there are no open areas or scabs or anything - which is hard to do because it's hard to see! I think I waited about 7 weeks or so after my surgery. But, like I've said before, I color my hair the night before surgery knowing it may be a while before I can do it again. Priorities, you know.
As far as hair growth, my doctor said I'd probably have a bald spot around the abuttment, but I don't. I actually have to use two hands - one to snap on the processor and the other to move the hair out of the way. Again, I know others have said they do have a little bald spot, but it is really small, and the longer hair covers it. I also have a lot of hair and it grows fast Really, the only scar you can see is where they flapped the skin over when they put in the abuttment and then sewed the skin back up - kinda like an upside down "C" shape around the screw - but that's covered by hair - you'd only notice it if I held that part of my hair up and pointed out the scar.
Now, if I ever decide to shave my head for some reason - I'm sure it will look like a road map with a screw sticking out of it. Or maybe more like a globe.
Can you hear Steve laughing? I can.
Lori
-
You know, I CAN hear Steve laughing ;D But he often amuses us, so we might as well amuse him ;D
Thanks for the answers. I'll see what the doc thinks about the hair color. I should have colored it prior to surgery, like you did, but I really thought I was ready to show my age a little. Boy, was I wrong!
Glad to hear the hair growth doesn't seem to be an issue. My doc has done over 200 BAHAs so I'm certain he knows what he's doing, but I worry about senseless stuff like this nonetheless. It's just that every picture I've seen of a BAHA abutment shows a fairly bare patch of skin and my head doesn't really look like that. The pictures also show a nice smooth, flat patch of skin without an AN surgical scar, but the area where my abutment is looks like a slightly bumpy square of skin that is kind of sunken. Not that I really care since my hair covers it, it just isn't as "pretty" as I imagined it would be.
Jan
-
WOW! All this talk of coloring -- I am scheduled to have mine colored almost 3 weeks after my little surgery -- I sure hope that is long enough. My hair grows so fast, I have roots right after I get it done, I just wait a while because I am a cheapy!!
K
-
I color mine myself - so I guess I'm cheaper than you LOL
-
No, I just go to a super cheap lady -- she has cut my hair since 8th grade! She is really good -- I made my friend swear she would tell me if it looked bad and I needed to go to someone else! It is only $12 for a shampoo, cut & style and $35 for color + all that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It does cost a LOT more than that at other salons, she is just still really cheap!! She used to do Miss Texas' hair so she's not just some country bumpkin! LOL!!
K
-
I do mine myself too. I decided right before Christmas to treat myself and since I finally had all my hair back to color - I went to a salon. $200!! Needless to say, that's the last time I treated myself.
The area around my abuttment is sunken in a little too - they have to remove any soft tissue between the skin and the bone so nothing interferes with the sound conduction. But it's very slight and I think the only way anyone would notice it is if you completely shaved your head. I'm guessing the guy who cuts my hair is probably completely grossed out by having to shampoo it when I've got screws, bumps, dents, ridges...oh well... I leave him a good tip, so I guess it's okay.
Lori
-
I'm guessing the guy who cuts my hair is probably completely grossed out by having to shampoo it when I've got screws, bumps, dents, ridges...oh well... I leave him a good tip, so I guess it's okay.
Lori
Yeah, I wondered how that was going to be. I'm not healed enough to get a haircut yet but I could use a trim to even out the one the doc gave me - although he didn't do too bad a job :)
I tend to go wherever is most convenient or cheapiest - don't have a "regular" stylist, so I'm wondering how interesting it will be to try to explain what's underneath my hair.
Oh well, guess I'll deal with that when the time comes - and as you suggest - tip well.
Jan
-
Now, if I ever decide to shave my head for some reason - I'm sure it will look like a road map with a screw sticking out of it. Or maybe more like a globe.
Can you hear Steve laughing? I can.
Lori
Lori and Jan,
Okay, I will make you a deal - if you will shave your heads for the symposium, I really will knit you caps! ;D
As far as hair products, I don't use a lot, but I do my hair before I attach my processor and that way anything I put in my hair doesn't get on it. I didn't use any during the healing time because since I'm a stay at home Mom anyway, no one really cared what my hair looked like.The instruction book recommends cleaning the abuttment with a baby wipe or something before you attach the processor...
Baby wipes have now been added to the BAHA accessory list. However, I think someone forgot about their #1 hair product - Dawn! ;D
Steve
-
Lori and Jan,
Okay, I will make you a deal - if you will shave your heads for the symposium, I really will knit you caps! ;D
Steve
Interesting proposal, Steve. I'll have to take it under consideration. In August 2009, about one week before the ANA Symposium, I'll be working at my association's annual meeting in San Diego. While my head would be nice and cool, I'm not sure my boss would like my new look LOL
Then again, I work for a medical association and our members might be very interested by my AN and BAHA scars and I might be a huge hit ;D
I'll have to think about this one and get back to you. What do you say, Lori ?
Jan
-
Hmmm... well, Steve, throw in a new toothbrush with that knit hat offer and I can consider it...
We should try to contact the BAHA company to see about them throwing in a free gift set with every BAHA purchase - Dawn, toothrushes, Neosporin, a sporty beret, baby wipes.. they can package it all inside a cake box and tie it up with bakery string.
-
We should try to contact the BAHA company to see about them throwing in a free gift set with every BAHA purchase - Dawn, toothrushes, Neosporin, a sporty beret, baby wipes.. they can package it all inside a cake box and tie it up with bakery string.
I'll sign that petition ;D
-
Ok, I have read bits and pieces about the BAHA and I intend to go that route after my AN surgery in May......But I have one question....what the heck is the Dawn for? ;) I'm jsut reading and learning abotu the BAHA so excuse me for beign clueless :)
Melissa
-
HI
You guys are sssooo funny. I can see how you can make lite of a serious situation. Just the other day I was telling my daughter that my alarm clock ticking was keeping me awake on my good ear so I rolled over on my AN side and had the best sleep ever/ minus the constant ring and such. LOLOLOL
Thanks,I needed that
Claire
I think I'm finally getting the point of the "AN JOURNEY" that everyone talks about
-
I think I'm finally getting the point of the "AN JOURNEY" that everyone talks about
Claire, the "journey" is what you make of it... and how our bodies react during this time. Seatbelt on but not too tight... "follow the yellow brick road" as it works best for you! :)
Phyl
-
Melissa -
Dawn can be used post op to wash you hair ;D It actually removes the "grease" left behind by neosporin or bacitracin - thank you Lori, for giving us this little secret.
One of the great things about BAHA surgery, as opposed to AN surgery, is that you can wash your hair - and you don't have to wait long. Yippee!!!
In a nutshell, my post surgery followup went like this.
I had to wear a lovely "hat" - referrred to by others on this forum as my beret - for 24 hours post op. At that point, I was able to remove my hat and could wash my hair, but not get the BAHA site or the bandage covering the site wet. The bandage was a soft pink foam-like square and it was held on by a white plastic "cap" that snapped into the abutment. My doc tells patients to hold a styrofoam cup over the bandage and wash the hair around it. I didn't have any styrofoam cups so I used plastic and it worked just as well.
After a week, I had my cap and bandage removed by the doc; the next step was to put neosporin or bacitracin on the site to prevent infection. I was told to apply it 2x daily for 2 weeks. Yesterday was my 2 week mark - so thankfully I am now neosporin/bacitracin (and gunk) free! A great feeling!
Actually Lori has clued us into many great BAHA "accessories" - like toothbrushes, Dawn, baby wipes, etc. If you search "BAHA" you can read the related posts and even see a picture of my very stylish "hat".
Claire -
I, too, have found that sleeping on my "good" ear is the best way to get a great night's sleep. Since I am still healing from my BAHA surgery, I've been sleeping on my good ear and I haven't slept this soundly in months. It helps immensely that I'm off work this week - due to spring break for my kids - and don't have to hear anything like an alarm clock ;D
Jan
-
Oh, forgot to say, that the AN journey is definitely a lot smoother if you can laugh along the way!
That's one of the many great things about this forum; lots of people with a great sense of humor.
-
Well, if you didn't have a sense of humor before your AN - you probably will afterwards. Good thing - it sure helps!
And I am just a female version of MacGyver, I guess. If you work in a not-for-profit hospital and on an ambulance for long enough, you have no other choice!
This "journey" might be more of a roller coaster ride at times, but every now and then you have to throw your hands up in the air and yell "wheee". Or whatever else you want to yell that makes you feel better... ;)
Lori
-
I'm having a hard time figuring out how you hold a cup over your implant site and wash your hair. Did you do it in the shower holding the cup with one hand and shampooing with the other?
-
I'm having a hard time figuring out how you hold a cup over your implant site and wash your hair. Did you do it in the shower holding the cup with one hand and shampooing with the other?
Absolutely. It was hard to do the first time or two, but I soon got used to it.
Had my first post BAHA haircut yesterday afternoon. Very interesting. I was a little freaked out about having to explain the "screw" in my head to the woman cutting my hair. And to make matter worse, both my children, who I thought would be my moral support, chose to abandon me - I think they're still embarassed by a mom with a metal object in her head. Guess I won't be shaving my head completely, Steve, unless they get over this by 2009 LOL
Anyway, it wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined. I started off by telling the stylist what I wanted done with my hair and then I said, "but, there's this" and lifted up my hair and showed her my abutment. She took it all in stride and said "okay". She was really careful on my left (BAHA) side, but eventually she stopped cutting and just said "what is this?" I explained things to her and she told me she had seen something similar on the news recently. She also said that she was afraid to ask me about it since she thought I'd be "shy" about it. I told her that actually it was a relief since I was a little nervous that she'd take one look at my head and freak out ;D Oh, and I also gave her a large tip when she was done; good idea Lori.
The good news is that I was able to have my hair cut almost as short as I like it and it still covers the abutment, the bad news is that I think it will have to be a little longer in order to cover my processor. But I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. If the worst part of this whole BAHA experience is having to wear my hair a little longer than I used to, so be it.
Jan
-
Here's another BAHA "hair" question. If all goes well with my implant on April 8th do you think my hair will be presentable enough to go to a wedding on Sunday, April 13th. I'm pretty vain so keep that in mind. I'm thinking maybe I should call and cancel out.
-
Catflower -
IMO your hair should be fine. I wore my BAHA "hat" for 24 hours, but after that was able to take it off and just go with the bandage underneath it.
My hair completely covered the bandage - and I wear my hair short. In fact, I went to work for the next week while the bandage was still on and no one I worked with even realized it was there.
If you should happen to get to the stage of having the bandage removed and you have to start putting neosporin or bacitracin on the site, prior to the wedding, it shouldn't be a big deal. I'd suggest just "going light" on the goop. Even when my hair was "goopy" no one could see my BAHA site. My hair felt a little greasy to me, but it didn't really look bad.
Jan
-
Catflower, you should be fine. I went to a BBQ tha day after my surgery and no one even noticed the bandage. My hair is a little past my chin, so not real long. I didn't have to wear the "hat" that Jan had (apparently, her surgeon is more into accessorizing than mine is).
Lori
-
I don't have a BAHA (so I guess I shouldn't really be in on this), but I was SO GLAD I could wash my hair fairly quickly after the T3 surgery...I don't Jan, I think I gave you a run for you money on the "beret"!!!!!!! ;D
K
-
K -
BAHA or no BAHA, you can add to our posts anytime ;D
I can't stand to have dirty hair!!! In fact, when my doc said I'd have to wait about 9 days after the AN surgery to wash my hair, I told him that I could never survive that!!! He probably thought I was a drama queen :D I mean, there we were talking brain tumor and I'm concerned about my hair! Well, thankfully, I did survive and the rest, as they say, is history.
And, Lori, as far as the accessorizing goes, I think you are just jealous LOL All I can say it that my doc is a marvelous man who I feel is a very good surgeon. He occasionally has a great sense of humor, and in addition, he gives a pretty good haircut. I thank my lucky stars every day!
Jan
-
Jan, I told my doctor that if this brain surgeon thing doesn't work out for him, he's got a real future at Supercuts at the mall! :D Fortunately, he has a good sense of humor too! That always helps when you have me as a patient!!
Lori