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I ended up in emergency surgery on Monday to get a hernia repaired and my long hair became a small issue. I don't know why it mattered, but they wanted my hair tied back and under a hair net, but the hair tie I used couldn't have any metal. To be fair, women have the same issue at this hospital, so they weren't being bigoted, but it was interesting that they didn't have anything on hand in case I didn't already use snagless hair ties. Anyone else run into similar problems during medical procedures?
Sounds like they were just being useless. There's a product called Stockinette, which every hospital has in stock. It's a tube of knit fabric that comes on a long roll. It's used for things like creating a sleeve to hold an IV or a dressing in place. A piece of the narrow tube can be used as a hair tie-back. A piece of the larger tube can be turned into a cap by tying a knot in one end. You see neurosurgery patients or chemo patients who have lost their hair wearing Stockinette caps all the time.
No, quite the contrary during major abdominal surgery in 2010. Hair was left loose with no comment at all.
Hey Michael,
So sorry to hear about you having to need surgery but the main thing is everything turned out well and your recovering my friend:)As for the hair issue I'm surprised they didn't have their own restraints on hand as you can't be the first human who walked through the door with long hair!Good thing you had your own tie as I guess you'd have to step out to Wally World to pick up some, then return for your surgery.Guess as longhairs we must always be prepared;)Cheers
Mârk
I would think they didn't want any metal since they may have had to use an MRI. But as was mentioned in this thread there are
alternatives the hospital can use.
My understanding is anything metal can become a dangerous flying
missle in an MRI. (MRI = Magnetic resonance imaging) hence the avoidance of metal.
Many years ago I had a hernia and the used an MRI at the time.
My long hair was not an issue.
Hi Michael,
Last year I had surgery to remove one of my kidneys and the doctor wanted me to wear a cap to contain my hair. At the time my hair was just past my shoulders, so much shorter than yours. As long as they didn't have you cut your hair which is good. And also I hope you are recovering nicely and can get back to normal activity soon. Please take care of your hair-I have always admired it:)
Ted
Hi Michael, hope you are on the mend.I had open heart surgery this time last year when my hair was nipple length. No comment at all about tying it back or anything. I don't know what was done with it during surgery except that when they put a line in my neck at this time they were a bit careless and some of my hair got caught in the very sticky white tape that they use. I disentangled most of it a few days later when the line was taken out. A"sticky moment" but I only lost a few strands
Regards
Andy
In truth it doesn't matter the length of your hair; the issue at hand is the contamination risk. Having your hair tied back and under a cap prevents any shed hair from entering a wound and providing a source of infection from your non-sterile hair into a sterile surgical field. The metal comes into play as some of the instruments use electricity to cauterize the wound. While you are grounded, they don't want to risk any electricity arcing off metal. If you didn't have a non-metal tie on you, they would have given you a rubber band.
I once actually had a nurse tell me that if I didn't keep my
hair well brushed she'd arrange for me to have a haircut.
Can't remember any particular issues when I had my hip surgery last year.
Frodo
I've twice had medical types complain about my beard. Once was when they wanted to connect a machine to blood vessels in my neck. On my insistence they just tied my beard away from the area, and I'm glad they did, since the hole they made left a scar. No one sees it because it's under my beard.
The other time was when I fell and hit my head on the sidewalk. They put a collar around my neck and left it on for about twelve hours. Every time they'd move me or adjust it, it would pull my beard hairs like crazy.
I could add that my dentist tries to use a sticky piece of paper to keep my shirt clean, and it won't stick to my beard like it would to a shirt. I asked him why not use the chain with alligator clips that other dentists have always used on me, and he said he didn't like those and didn't have one.
Then there's my eye doctor who always sets too low the bracket I'm supposed to put my head in, because he thinks my chin is much lower than it is.
I suppose a lot more people have long hair than have long beards, and they are not accustomed to folks like me wandering in. Lots of women have long hair even though lots of men don't, but women don't contribute much to the long beard crowd. [grin] So it's my beard that causes them to not be prepared as to what to do.
Bill
Hi Bill,
I would just like to say that you have a fine full beard and I love the color! So, it is worth all of the extra effort required to undergo the various procedures with it. Heck, I can't even grow a respectable mustache to save my life! Keep it growing and flowing friend!
Take care, Ted
Thanks! I don't do anything to it but let it grow. And I don't want anyone else (like medical folks) doing anything to it, either!
Bill
Well, it sounds like I just had a group of people that just didn't care. Thanks for the well wishes and advice. I'm glad my hair survived the ordeal.
Keep growing. :-)