Post-op Day 2 - Dallas

I started this blog to prepare those thinking about having this done would be better informed, and thus better prepared than I was as no one told me about what to expect, and I really wish some one had. A good example is the little blisters I told you about. They have increased, are a bit painful, easily break open, and bleed a lot. When there were only 2 or 3 I just figured it was a reaction to the Rogaine but then they began to spread, and my head is looking like I am a teenager with bad skin who continuously hits his head on sharp objects. So I decided to call Bosley's to find out what was up. Turns out it is the same as an ingrown hair if I understood the councelor correctly, and is completely normal.

I want to clear up the erectile disfunction joke I made early on. It was a joke, and nothing more. One of the possible side effects of Propecia is ED. It is a side effect I have thankfully not suffered from. Another joke you can use after you have the trnasplant done is, "I had half my brain removed so now I am only twice as smart as every one else."

Anyway, I just wanted to update you on the blisters thing. And by the way, you can see the donor scar line now that I have had a hair cut. I am going to have to make sure that from now on I do not get my hair cut as short as I normally do. The only way that is going to look good though is if the transplant fill in the bare areas. I will keep you posted.

OK I am at a month and a half now, and I think it is time for an update. Remember the "burn like a cigar" experience? Well, they continue but lessen in their intensity for about two weeks. Now I have little blisters that pop-up here and there. Notice I said blisters and not pimples though they look the same. The donor line has yet to completely heal, and still hurts in areas though the sun burn sensation is all but gone. The hair around the donor area has started to grow back (about 1/2 an inch now), and so I am thinking about getting a badly needed hair cut. That is where I still have hair. Again, if you are in a professional setting where grooming counts keep in mind the hat for over 2 weeks, and the look of your hair for what is now 6 weeks. I want to clear some thing up; After having gone through the pain of this procedure I will never, ever do that to myself again unless they refine the pain control methods of before, during, and after. I have yet to see any real improvement, and am told that I will not for a few months but if it is as good as I hope it will be then I think the whole thing was worth it. I am just letting every one know what is in store for them should they be considering it. I would have preferred better (stronger) drugs and sleep aids for after, and now that you know about how much pain is involved you can demand better, for longer (I would say a minimum of 2 weeks worth), and plan to have some one drive for you during that time. You will also have time to plan for the hats you will definitely want to wear, and inform your superiors that you may need to violate the dress code for a couple of weeks. The whole purpose of my little blog here is not to discourage you from the procedure but to better prepare you for it. I only wish some one had done the same for me.

Hey folks!!! Sorry I was unable to get back on as promised but some times life is just that way.

Well, let's see. On day 14 I still had stitches in which bothered me to no end. I mean the need to scratch was maddening. The little crusties as they are called were still very visible, and so I was still wearing a hat. I was lucky I was able to stay in the field so I could wear a ball-cap. That is something you may want to consider about your job in that are you able to wear a hat full time or are your co-workers going to be able to see the mess that is your head. The crusties did start falling off on day 15, and were completely gone in 3 days.

Getting the stitches out was a real treat for those of you into S&M. I am dating an RN, and she attempted to remove them with the suture removal kit I was sent home with but it was so cheap, and the scissors so dull, she gave up on them, and returned the next day with a surgical quality pair. Still, it was very painful even though I had saved one of the strong pain pills just for the procedure.

I am now 24 days out, and my head still feels as if I have the worse sun burn up there one could ever imagine. I did loose some of the implants as well as the existing hair up there as they had told me I would but surprisingly a lot of it started to grow. I am told that the donor line is invisible for the most part but because there is no hair there it looks as if I have a really bad hair cut.

I can say I did have a very strange event happen that can only be related to the procedure. A few days ago a portion of the transplant area about the size of a quarter suddenly felt like some one was putting a large cigar out on it. It only lasted a few seconds but MAN DID IT HURT!!!! As for the constant head ache, I cannot tell you went it finally receeded because I had a sinus flare up with head aches on day 17 that lasted 4 days but when it was over the head aches were gone.

All in all the pains are many and great, and so I will never do this again even though I can again in a year to fill in the back area of my head. It really is not worth it in that respect. I will write back in a month to let you know how the growth is going.