A Bad Hair Day?

**Rosebush3** · 05-09-2011, 06:56 AM

On Friday, I had surgery to remove four cysts on my scalp. One I'd had since early childhood and it had gotten rather large, one was too close to the front of my hair and large enough I had to wear my hair a certain way to hide it. With my family history of adenocarcinoma I decided to get rid of things that might cause issues later.

The doctors and nurses said, "Oh, we'll only take just as much hair as necessary - it wont be much, you'll hardly notice."
So one of the first things I hear after coming out of sedation were apologies on behalf of the surgeons for butchering my hair.

They wheel me to recovery and the nurses set to work trying to get the huge bloody clumps of hair out, the shaved hair all got tangled up with the still attached hair making sticky nests. I opted to have those cut out in the end.
A nurse walks in and looks startled, says "ohmygod", turns and walks out.
I giggle and say... "now that isn't good, is it?"
I get dressed to go and peek in the ladies room mirror, I see one large, lemon sized bald spot with a caterpillar scar down the center on the top front. There's another one to the side that some hair is stuck to and covering, and another just behind that.
The back of my head has a rather large swath shaved into it, the biggest of the incisions as the big cyst was back there, 13 lucky stitches.

I wasn't mortified. I wasn't embarrassed. How am I not? People suggested a hat, I don't wear hats and suspect they'd probably hurt my then tender scalp or get caught on stitches. Besides, I really didn't care. Which still surprises me.
I left the hospital to go doorknob shopping at WalMart. For sure I wasn't going to be the freakiest looking thing there.

Yesterday I finally got to rinse my hair, can't properly wash it yet but it's a LOT better without loads of dried blood in it. I smell better as well.
I've discovered areas of dermabond in the perimeters of the shaved spots, can one safely get superglue out of hair or will that have to go too?
I feel great, happy they're gone, sad to discover another one last night but since those 4 were benign I wont let it bother me now.

And the awesome punch line to this is I need to have my license renewed in a month.

That should be a great pic, huh?

**2_at_the_farm** · 05-09-2011, 07:14 AM

OMG...I'm glad that it all ended up okay, super glad that you have such a positive attitude about it!

What about wearing a long scarf for your picture? I had a friend that lost her hair from chemo. Someone showed her how to wrap and tie a scarf that looked pretty dang good.

That surgical super glue will eventually loosen up enough to be combed out.

**Ceashels** · 05-09-2011, 07:51 AM

What a relief that they are benign.

I'm happy for you. As for the hair, I would reach for a scarf too, bright, colorful, silky and fun.

**Debbie-cat** · 05-09-2011, 10:25 AM

OMG, I love your positive and carefree attitude and thank goodness they were benign. I say take your pic the way it is for your license! Now that would be a picture.

**shoiji** · 05-09-2011, 01:03 PM

I would definately go with the silk scarf.

Hopefully your hair will start growing back quickly. Really do not know if I would be as brave to go shopping right after the procedure!

**Ramona** · 05-09-2011, 05:37 PM

I'm happy the lumps were benign and join the others in suggesting a scarf. There are some really cute bandana types and regular scarves,
see here:

[ame=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1016&bih=516&gbv=2&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=scarf+as+hair+accessory&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=]scarf as hair accessory - Google Search[/ame]

I particularly like the beige scarf at the end of the second row.