I have heard and read about the side effects and thought that the best way to keep an eye on it is to keep a blog and see how everything goes.
I will not explain what acne or accutane is as am sure everyone knows, if not plss contact comment on my blog and i will explain.
I am at the age of between 25-30, have a very healthy diet and do lots of walking, probably 15-20 miles a day. Drink lots of water and try to have a stressless life. However i still have acne and it seems that nothing has helped so far. i have never had acne when i was a teenager but the moment i turned 24 i had a strange reaction and acne covered my face, especially my chin.
After 4 years of begging my G.P i have been sent to see the dermatolog.
According to her my only salvation is accutane, I start today!
Day one!
Here are some photos of my acne on a good day!
My dosage is 40mg per day.
I was informed that my skin would dry a lot so must drink lots of water and use mosturise cream.
Effects and results after Week one!
Skin: Skin has gone worst, though the doctor said it would get worst before it gets better.
my lips have started to get flacky but not a problem.
Emotionally: Feel fine, no mood swings, actually very happy, may be because i went away. It gets a bit annoying though when everyone keeps asking you what's wrong with your skin.
So far i have been taking vitamin B-Complex every day, use dead sea cleanser on skin, and nivea mosturiser,. I have been told to not use any creams or soaps that are meddicated.
Week 2!
My spots hurt as they are so deep and massive, they look very red and sore. Make up doesnt cover it well, no matter what i use.
Still, its not bad enough to make me think of stoping. I have read other experiences where people have given up. Its sad to put your body through this and not keep it up to see results.
Emotionally: I have noticed that i have snapped a lot this week. It seems that i cant control it. i raise my voice without meaning to. but then 2 minutes later i am calm. Work has been a bit stressful too so am sure that is one of the reasons i feel tense but the meds too.
It helps a great deal when you have family to support you. Mine have been very kind and have stayed out of my hair.
Week 3!
Skin: Still sore but not as much yellow stuff on top. (sorry to be so discusting). More little bumps coming up, but they all seem like white heads. When i wash my face or put mosturise i see some of the spots bleeding, i think its because the skin is so sensitive and dry the the top spin comes off and the infection plus blood comes out. I have used exfoliation twice so far and skin seems fine but am a bit worried if i am damaging it., i will ask the dermatolog when i see her next.
Emotionally: I have been almost as emotinal as the second week, however have felt tired. Very difficult to concentrate or finish my sentences. my spelling is rubbish and find it hard to grasp new ideas. Def get angry when more than 1 person is approaching me in conv.
Physically: Now this is a new edition as until this week i was feeling fine, however this week my back and chest area has been hurting, i can tell is the bones. I am sure that its not my imagination but my eye sight is affected and my hearing,. Not sure if its selective hearing but i do think i cant make out some sounds. Muscles feel like i have been working out like mad, but obviously there is no truth in that.
Week 4!
Will take some pictures tomorrow and i will post them in the afternoon but here is the update on words.
This week my skin has felt much better, softer. I have been very good and used neutragena (wrong spelling) on my lips. I know its an odd one but it has worked amazingly well, so far my lips have not cracked at all.
Emotional: DEPRESSION DOES NOT COME FROM MEDS BUT FROM DOCTORS.
You might ask why do i think this way, well let me tell you. I went to see my dermatolog as it has been 1 month and i have to get a new prescription. The doctor suggested that i take anibiotics, HOWEVER she didnt know what works with my accutane so she goes and GOOGLES it in front of me and checks different webs.
How can u trust a doctor who doesnt know the answer and above all relies on internet web info.
I think to control negative thoughts i have been trying to arrange events and keep spending time with friends. I love cooking for friends so have been inviting a lot of people that make me laugh.
Physically: Just very tired and the muscles on my legs have been hurting a lot. The back of my neck feels very sore and tense. I have tried to massage it and it seems like it helps a bit.
WEEK 5!
today is the last day of week 5.
Here are some photos at the end of week.
NEW UPDATES!
This week has gone very fast and been busy like mad, so no time to concentrate too much on my face until i took photos to post them here.
What i have noticed is that the spots have gone very red and are spreading around my face. They used to be only on my chin and now they are going higher and higher. I must say i did have plenty of little white heads before on my cheeks but they were hardly noticable.
I try to wear a little make up to cover them so not sure if that is very bad for my skin.
My dermatologist told me TO STOP USING NIVEA!!! She said is very bad for spotty skin as it contains a lot of things apart from plenty of oil and blocks the pores. So now she has given me a suggestion perscription to take to G.P for cetaphil to wash my face and some king of mosturise. No name so far, she said my G.P might suggest something.
I am going to the doctors to pick up my perscription tomorrow so will try to post TOMORROW what those things are.
Physically i have been fine this week. I think my body is getting used to it so not as many aches and pains.
Emotionally: Fine but as i said above, have been so busy so i have hardly had any time to concentrate on negative thoughts. However i have had at least 3 kids stop me and ask me why do i have so many spots.
The first one was a 4 year old little girl and asked me if i had chicken pox? i said yes as too difficult to make her understand :). She told me not to worry as she has had it before, her words " they will go away i promise, but it takes a bit long, it will be ok". how adorable is that lol.
the second child only tried to pull them off my face, she assumed that my face was dirty.
the third child spoke to me tonight when visiting a friend. She asked me what is the reason that i have so many of them. after a quick reply saying i am sick and need tablets she left satisfied. hehehe.
just a little note: the big spots get very sore and painful, u can actually feel your face muscles hurt, but the good news is that they do dry up within the week.
My pores are quite noticable so a bit worried if the skin will be affected by the dirt as i have to work somewhere where the air con is on at all times and get the tube in regular basis.
Well i suppose this should cover week 5. i will try to update at least one a week, either every wed or thurs, however tomorrow i will def add the info my gp gives me.
update friday:
Update on my prescription:
1. cetaphil cleanser and 2. neutrogena norwegian formula ultimate moisture day cream.
will start using them tomorrow (friday).
will update again on wednesday eve with photos.
1. cetaphil cleanser and 2. neutrogena norwegian formula ultimate moisture day cream.
will start using them tomorrow (friday).
will update again on wednesday eve with photos.
WEEK 6 & 7
Sorry i didnt get a chance to update my blog last week as had many crises!!!
family in hospital and crazy fighting viruses.
Anyway concentrating on the main subject:
Skin: very bumpy, i can see that the white heads are def coming out bit by bit. my lips have felt a bit dry, may be a bit more then usual. I was told that my skin all around my body would get dry, i only started to notice it on week 6 and 7. I am using baby oil and some cocobutter body cream, it seems to help.
Face seems ok, not as sore as week 5.
Phisically: all is fine, my back is hurting a bit and especially my hip but then i have always had a bit of a bad back, its only now that i feel it more. Muscles feel a lot better than week 4 & 5.
One thing that does worry me is that my sleep has been affected. It seems that i cannot sleep earlier than 2 in the morning, i have tried warm milk, no music or movies to not get excited but still it hasnt helped.
Emotionally: O.K. Nothing much to say, still a bit snappy. was in hospital through the whole weekend, helping a family member, i think the doctors dont like me much after snapping on them for not sorting out the problem and discharging that person whithout finding out what the prob was, now we'll have to go the long way through the G.P. Apart from that all is fine, i am trying to avoid the people that annoy me or r trying hard enought to get to me. (some people have no life).
People keep asking about the sport, however i am not telling a lot of people that i am on accutane.
I will try to be good and update again in regular basis.
