Can I color my hair after transplant?

Posted by parojulie @parojulie, Jul 16, 2020

What is the reasonable time to wait before dying gray hair after a Transplant ? I have been told to wait since the immune suppression is high immediately after the surgery.

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@chickytina

Due to being sick for a while prior to my double lung transplant, I haven't been able to get my hair colored in about 6 months. What is the best hair color to use? My salon uses Redken Chromomatics which has no fumes. My doctor said that I can use natural hair color, but there is no hair color without chemicals. I am less than a month out from the surgery.

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They are still not sure what is causing the dizziness, but now that the prednisone levels are back to normal it has been getting better. They are trying to schedule some tests, but haven't been able to yet to just rule out other causes. It doesn't appear to be rejection thankfully.
Thanks for asking.

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@chickytina

Yes, you do deserve an A+.
I have a bronchoscope and biopsy every month right now. At first it was weekly, then bi-weekly and we just started to do it monthly. The biopsy is very small (pin point) and usually they alternate which lung to take it from.
The amazing thing (at least to me) is that my new lungs have actually grown (noted on X-ray comparison). Originally I was having x-rays 2x daily, which has gradually decreased to monthly. I think that my 4 mile walk every morning is helping with them grow and take back over the area that the other organs took when my old lungs were not working well.

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Tina, your progress sounds amazing!

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@chickytina

Yes, you do deserve an A+.
I have a bronchoscope and biopsy every month right now. At first it was weekly, then bi-weekly and we just started to do it monthly. The biopsy is very small (pin point) and usually they alternate which lung to take it from.
The amazing thing (at least to me) is that my new lungs have actually grown (noted on X-ray comparison). Originally I was having x-rays 2x daily, which has gradually decreased to monthly. I think that my 4 mile walk every morning is helping with them grow and take back over the area that the other organs took when my old lungs were not working well.

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Hey Tina, was it the covid that damaged your lungs that caused you to need a transplant? Also, did you have your Ltx at Mayo Clinic?

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@windwalker

Hey Tina, was it the covid that damaged your lungs that caused you to need a transplant? Also, did you have your Ltx at Mayo Clinic?

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COVID with pneumonia was the final straw (so to speak) for my lungs. My insurance doesn't cover the Mayo Clinic, so I had it at Mount Sinai (one of the only two hospitals that my insurance does cover for any transplants). I had made the decision to try Mount Sinai due to the reputation of the transplant pulmonologist. Also, I am not sure if the Mayo Clinic has the same requirement that you have to be within 2 hours to be on the list for Lung transplant, which there are none within my area. I hope no one minds that my hospital doesn't have a group for transplants yet (expected to start in January) and I found this one for the Mayo Clinic, which I have found to be very helpful and learned so much from.

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@chickytina

COVID with pneumonia was the final straw (so to speak) for my lungs. My insurance doesn't cover the Mayo Clinic, so I had it at Mount Sinai (one of the only two hospitals that my insurance does cover for any transplants). I had made the decision to try Mount Sinai due to the reputation of the transplant pulmonologist. Also, I am not sure if the Mayo Clinic has the same requirement that you have to be within 2 hours to be on the list for Lung transplant, which there are none within my area. I hope no one minds that my hospital doesn't have a group for transplants yet (expected to start in January) and I found this one for the Mayo Clinic, which I have found to be very helpful and learned so much from.

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@chickytina, Mayo Connect is open to everyone. It doesn't matter where you transplanted or where you live. We are patients who support each other and share experiences from our own transplant journeys.
I joined Connect when I was looking for others with a liver and kidney transplant because I didn't know anyone who was 'like' me. I am glad that you have 'Connected' already with other lung transplant patients. Your experience makes you a source of hope and inspiration to others who are on the path to lung transplant and recovery.
If I missed the opportunity to say, "Welcome to Connect", I want to say it now!

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@rosemarya

@chickytina, Mayo Connect is open to everyone. It doesn't matter where you transplanted or where you live. We are patients who support each other and share experiences from our own transplant journeys.
I joined Connect when I was looking for others with a liver and kidney transplant because I didn't know anyone who was 'like' me. I am glad that you have 'Connected' already with other lung transplant patients. Your experience makes you a source of hope and inspiration to others who are on the path to lung transplant and recovery.
If I missed the opportunity to say, "Welcome to Connect", I want to say it now!

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Thank you so much. You are always such a positive person.

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@chickytina

I am exactly one month out and doing so much better. I had a rating of 75 before the transplant and really didn't know how much longer I would be able to hold on. The scale goes from 0-100 (the higher the number, the worse condition). Most people get the transplant between 35-50.
Now I can walk a mile without stopping (although not at my regular speed yet due to losing so much muscle mass before the surgery) without oxygen. I so grateful for the things I am able to do now, including have my hair washed, take a shower and just being able to breathe without oxygen.
The medication regiment is something to get used to, but is supposed to be lessened as time goes by. However, I had other complications due to some of the medications that I never had before. My heart rate went from 200 to 90 within seconds and then would keep going up and down when I would be just lying there. So I need to take medication for that. I need to watch my sugar levels and take insulin when high (had gestational diabetes, but never was diabetic otherwise).
I wound up using the Chromatics from the salon, but had someone come to the house and I wore a KN-95 mask the whole time including when I started washing it out. I took it off when the mask started to get a little wet.

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Good morning Tina! I was wondering if you ever used the Phillips Easy Go portable oxygen concentrator before you had your lung transplant? I am looking for a way to travel without lugging my Eclipse concentrator on airplanes. I take that one because you can sleep overnight with it. I am told conflicting things about the Phillips Easy Go. Some say yes, it can be used as an overnight, some say no.

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@chickytina

I am exactly one month out and doing so much better. I had a rating of 75 before the transplant and really didn't know how much longer I would be able to hold on. The scale goes from 0-100 (the higher the number, the worse condition). Most people get the transplant between 35-50.
Now I can walk a mile without stopping (although not at my regular speed yet due to losing so much muscle mass before the surgery) without oxygen. I so grateful for the things I am able to do now, including have my hair washed, take a shower and just being able to breathe without oxygen.
The medication regiment is something to get used to, but is supposed to be lessened as time goes by. However, I had other complications due to some of the medications that I never had before. My heart rate went from 200 to 90 within seconds and then would keep going up and down when I would be just lying there. So I need to take medication for that. I need to watch my sugar levels and take insulin when high (had gestational diabetes, but never was diabetic otherwise).
I wound up using the Chromatics from the salon, but had someone come to the house and I wore a KN-95 mask the whole time including when I started washing it out. I took it off when the mask started to get a little wet.

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Good morning Tina! I was wondering if you ever used the Phillips Easy Go portable oxygen concentrator before you had your lung transplant? I am looking for a way to travel without lugging my Eclipse concentrator on airplanes. I take that one because you can sleep overnight with it. I am told conflicting things about the Phillips Easy Go. Some say yes, it can be used as an overnight, some say no. Also, may I ask what your lung function measured at at your time of transplant? I am at 32% right now and have not experienced air hunger yet. I am super worried about when that day comes.

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@windwalker

Good morning Tina! I was wondering if you ever used the Phillips Easy Go portable oxygen concentrator before you had your lung transplant? I am looking for a way to travel without lugging my Eclipse concentrator on airplanes. I take that one because you can sleep overnight with it. I am told conflicting things about the Phillips Easy Go. Some say yes, it can be used as an overnight, some say no. Also, may I ask what your lung function measured at at your time of transplant? I am at 32% right now and have not experienced air hunger yet. I am super worried about when that day comes.

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I used the Inogen G5. It is quieter than a lot and goes up to 6 liters. However, it is a puffer rather than constant oxygen. So you need to know if you are able to use a puffer. It is also lighter than most. I had the regular case for everyday and bought the backpack for travel, but wasn't able to use it (travel plans were cancelled). One issue that I noticed (and might be the same with others) is that it needs to have the air circulating or gets over heated and then shuts off.

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@windwalker

Good morning Tina! I was wondering if you ever used the Phillips Easy Go portable oxygen concentrator before you had your lung transplant? I am looking for a way to travel without lugging my Eclipse concentrator on airplanes. I take that one because you can sleep overnight with it. I am told conflicting things about the Phillips Easy Go. Some say yes, it can be used as an overnight, some say no. Also, may I ask what your lung function measured at at your time of transplant? I am at 32% right now and have not experienced air hunger yet. I am super worried about when that day comes.

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The Inogen G5 can be used overnight (and I did use it overnight) and will charge while using it. I also had car charger, but it will keep at the same level of charge in the car.

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