Feeling Stressed

[Spanker]

So since my date was set, I have been feeling extremely stressed out.

 

I keep looking at my hair, spending too much time in the mirror.

 

I feel a little guilty for spending this much on myself (my wife is surprisingly cool with it).

 

I have been paranoid about being able to camouflage when I go back to work.

 

I have been paranoid about further loss and wondering how long this HT will last me.

 

I was dreaming about hair last night.

 

 

I actually get a little irritable over it.

 

 

Did anybody else go through these things or want to chime in?

[Icecreamman]

We all have these thoughts, or at least I think we all have them. I was a total nervous wreck, and the night before I wanted to call the whole thing off and just let nature take its course. I'm glad I didn't.

 

Unfortunately it's IMO, hard to conceal a ht if recipient area is shaved, especially if you have a fair amount of hair. I, like you, had a good amount of hair pre op. people at my work, family, friends, would certainly be taken a back had I shown up with head shaved and a big line running across the back of my head. I do have the luxury of wearin a hat, so that has helped me immeasurably. and socially I have dropped off the earth for the past couple months. If you can take a good amount of time off that helps too, unfortunately most of us don't have the luxury.

 

I am basically at 3 months and really just now at the point where i feel good about my hair again and not hiding under a hat. Tiny hairs are poking thru and I feel that at the end of the day, this was all worth it. Or at least if my hair continues to grow its a ll worth it because the obsessing over losing my hair really started to get out of control for me.

 

As far as losing more hair, it could happen but I feel with my family history I should be ok and if I need a 2 nd ht I would not hesitate to do it again. I made the whole thing out to be much worse in my head than the reality of it is. You seem to have a great head of hair so I wouldn't worry too much about future loss. Also, you picked a great doc. Chill out, have a beer, don't worry much about it, you'll be very pleased after all this is over and you see hairs start poking thru, trust me!

 

:cool:

[orlhair1]

You will find that all of the pre HT anxiety is unnecessary. I know it is hard, because I went through the same thing. The procedure is not bad at all (not a walk in the park, but for surgery, not bad). You can't completely conceal it in your eyes, but with the size procedure you are having, no one will notice after the first couple of weeks. I went out to dinner 3 nights after my HT and told the person I was eating with that I just had a HT and they told me they would not have known if I had not told them. You will look back and say to yourself, "why did I get so stressed out over this?" and you will be happy you finally did something about an issue that has bothered you for a long time. You are in great hands dude. Hang in there.

[Shampoo]

Unfortunately it's IMO, hard to conceal a ht if recipient area is shaved, I do have the luxury of wearin a hat, so that has helped me immeasurably. and socially I have dropped off the earth for the past couple months. If you can take a good amount of time off that helps too. I am basically at 3 months and really just now at the point where i feel good about my hair again and not hiding under a hat.

 

IceCreamMan.....I understand the need to keep a bit of a lower profile after a transplant. Like you I will be able to wear a hat, but I am curious as to you having such strong "dropping off the earth" feelings. Again I understand that the first 3 months are an "ugly duckling" phase, but is it really that bad where even wearing a hat doesnt help that much? I was hoping to attend some college football games a month or so afterwards and wear my hat. You think I will feel different after my procedure is done and I'll wanna be more of a hermit?

[Icecreamman]

IceCreamMan.....I understand the need to keep a bit of a lower profile after a transplant. Like you I will be able to wear a hat, but I am curious as to you having such strong "dropping off the earth" feelings. Again I understand that the first 3 months are an "ugly duckling" phase, but is it really that bad where even wearing a hat doesnt help that much? I was hoping to attend some college football games a month or so afterwards and wear my hat. You think I will feel different after my procedure is done and I'll wanna be more of a hermit?

 

Shampoo,

 

I guess I exaggerated a bit. I have gone out a number of times .. I just haven't been as socially active as i usually am. I live in manhattan and have been used to going out 4 nights a week or so, an I didn't really wanna keep going out as much cause I was wearing a hat all the time, so I'll lay low for a bit cause I figured my friends would wonder why I'm always wearing a hat when I never used to. But don't get me wrong, I have been doing essentially everything I always do, working out, drinks, dinners, movies, allman brothers concert, nba games...Just with a hat on.

 

I think there are a number of photos and patients who can pull off concealing a ht very well. For me there was no way...not trying to be a bummer, just giving my honest opinion. But I'm at 3 months now and things are getting back to normal and hairline is starting to come in...I'll gladly take 3 months off in exchange for not obsessing over my hair anymore:)

[Spanker]

Icecreamman,

 

To me, it looks like I will be having a procedure similar to yours. To me, it seems if you cut you hair enough to to brush it forward a little, you could hide your ht.

[Spanker]

You will find that all of the pre HT anxiety is unnecessary. I know it is hard, because I went through the same thing. The procedure is not bad at all (not a walk in the park, but for surgery, not bad). You can't completely conceal it in your eyes, but with the size procedure you are having, no one will notice after the first couple of weeks. I went out to dinner 3 nights after my HT and told the person I was eating with that I just had a HT and they told me they would not have known if I had not told them. You will look back and say to yourself, "why did I get so stressed out over this?" and you will be happy you finally did something about an issue that has bothered you for a long time. You are in great hands dude. Hang in there.

 

Thanks orlhair

[wb280]

Spanker, pre op jitters are normal but to me, its the unsatisfactory end results which will throw u deep down into a dungeon...

[aaron1234]

With my last hair transplant I was still nervous. And I had two before that! So completely normal. I can't tell you how many dreams I've had about hair. For example: waking up a NW7, or stuck in a chair at Bosley, and also good dreams where I look like Brad Pitt. It's happened so often I'm used to it now.

[Spanker]

With my last hair transplant I was still nervous. And I had two before that! So completely normal. I can't tell you how many dreams I've had about hair. For example: waking up a NW7, or stuck in a chair at Bosley, and also good dreams where I look like Brad Pitt. It's happened so often I'm used to it now.

 

Haha,

I have never had the Brad Pitt dream.

 

I have noticed that I have been paying way too much attention to my hair. Psycing myself out, looking at every little spot. Noticing miniaturization in my hairline. Worried about post-op looks, etc.

 

I work in florescent lighting and the women that I work with pic me apart and notice every little thing about me. They will say things like, "Nice hair day." You stay up late last night?" "Different watch?" "Trim your beard?" I just wish I could be left alone, but they are always "sweatin" me and they are also gossip ninnies. So, I am feeling a little stress about that too.

 

The wait HAS to be worse that the real thing.

[michaeljames]

Hey Mate!

 

I'm chiming in too, sort of speak. Look, with the stress and stigma surrounding baldness this is no surprise. Hair loss patients take a long time usually to consider their surgery. In for most man or women there is a great deal of personal investment beyound the dollars in that decision and with hope for the outcome. Breathe easy, their's a lot of people in this forum right along with you. That's one of the best things about HTN; you're in an understanding virtual place. Before and surgery, big exam...life changing decisions...the subconscious helps out by trying to work it out in your dreams. If you are using one of the HTN recommended physicians, thoroughly educated yourself via this forum and of course had the all important consult and complete microscopic evaluation then you should move forward with confidence. Wish you all the Best, Mate! Michael

Edited June 18, 2012 by michaeljames
grammar change

[aaron1234]

Worried about post-op looks, etc.

 

IMO, this is the only thing I would be somewhat concerned about. The ugly duckling phase is no walk in the park, especially if you shave the recipient area. It royally sucks to be honest. Fortunately, you have enough native hair to restyle to cover the transplanted region. I think you'll be just fine.

[savehair]

So since my date was set, I have been feeling extremely stressed out.

 

I keep looking at my hair, spending too much time in the mirror.

 

I feel a little guilty for spending this much on myself (my wife is surprisingly cool with it).

 

I have been paranoid about being able to camouflage when I go back to work.

 

I have been paranoid about further loss and wondering how long this HT will last me.

 

I was dreaming about hair last night.

 

 

I actually get a little irritable over it.

 

 

Did anybody else go through these things or want to chime in?

 

 

 

going through similar feelings, as soon as my date was set , it felt like reality just hit

 

all these thoughts started going through my mind and started thinking about if i really want to go under the knife....etc

 

it's perfectly normal, i m glad you are sharing your thoughts, it makes me feel better knowing that im not alone and you should feel the same too

 

meanwhile, i would just keep your mind on the future outlook and how good things will turn out once it's all said and done. Cheers!