27 replies to this topic

[Schmidtee]

Day 57

Face is breaking out pretty bad, and getting dryer again. Seems like I'm going to have worse acne when I get back to college than before I started 'tane. Simply great. Also my super cyst is coming back full strength, and with wingmen. Goddamn.

I got poison ivy on my left arm too, and it's itchy as shit. Gahhh.

Hopefully things improve dramatically in 9 days...or else my life will be signifigantly agonous.

Going up to Canada for a few with fam now. Perhaps the trip will do me good.

-Jeff

Good luck to you my friend. I also started Accutane two months ago and am slightly peeved that it hasn't cleared up in time for school. But the odds are really in favor of dramatic improvement for both of us. Hang in there, keep your head up, etc., etc.

ERS

[JeffyD]

Thanks ERS, I appreciate the words of encouragement. Solidarity!

Day 61

Derm wait for the accutane was a bit annoying, but a few days setback is hardly worth worrying about. I started using the pednisode in the middle of last week after I was getting way inflammation on my super cyst. This stop and restart caused much derm anger. I guess if I had kept using it, I'd be in shape to rack up my 'tane dosage, but because I didn't I'm still on 40. Oops. And restarting without permission...a biggg nono. So yeah, now I'm going to use the 'zone until it's gone, as he recommended...so I don't get yelled at again.

My cyst sort of destroyed itself a bit. It's still there, but it burst and let out a lot of the pressure, so it doesn't hurt as much and it's not nearly as notable. Yay. I'm actually looking pretty clear, nearly as good as pretane, which is nice. I was hoping for an improvement before arriving at school, but I'll accept the status quo. I do have these strange dry patches on the left side of my face, but one seems to be fading already. A tane side effect I guess. Mentally, physically, etc, things seems to be pretty good!

I've realized that things vary SO radically and SO quickly, that I shouldn't get too up or down based on the short term condition of my break outs, but instead just take a general assessment of my condition. And right now, things are improving.

My derm also gave me a cream for my poison ivy! Hopefully that'll be nuked by Monday.

THREE DAYS UNTIL SCHOOL! AHHH! CRAAAZZYYYY! 70 hours from now I'll have moved in!

Mad world,
-Jeff

[00Cardinal]

Hey Jeff,

I know what you mean wishing it had cleared up by the time school started, I'm in the same boat. But I guess we just gotta chill out for the semester, and know that next semester we will be completely clear!

[JeffyD]

Day 74

Well, really, I don't look that much better, but at school I don't have any time to focus on my face, so I feel great. Accutane is starting to get the job done, I think, which is nice. I think I'm going to just try to keep it on 40 mg until the end of my treatment, even if it takes a little longer. My face only needs to be moisturized once in awhile now which is way nicer, and my lips are practically falling off, and I want NO intensification of that during the collegiate hook-up period. I'm already chap sticking like a bandit.

The super cyst is very small and seemingly healing, but that might not persist when I take off the prednisone...but what can ya do?

Acne's effects are so psychological, I love how now that I don't think about it, it's like it's not there at all. It's true, people really don't care.

I've been drinking in moderation (as my derm said was ok) and maybe a LITTLE to excess, but nothing crazy. Alcohol definately has stronger effects while on this, my tolerance is pathetic, but that's kind of good/cheap.

Cheers,
-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 88

Went in to the derm yesterday (1 hour drive from school, boo) and got bumped up to 60 mg. Hopefully my lips don't get much worse, I don't think I can handle it. He said side effects should not worsen dramatically.

The Omnicyst, as I've so named it (It's been around for nearly 5 months now) got much bigger soon after I posted my last thing. But - it go nuked by the derm! First he tried to drain it, and then, failing that, nuked it with a cortisol shot.

THAT REALLY HURTS, by the way, I don't know if it's normal, but it was like getting punched in the zit, incredible amounts of ouch. ow ow ow ow, etc.

But wow, now it's flat, and now I'm really happy with my complexion. I would definately call my current acne level "light". It's hard not to be self concious about the omnicyst, I'm really glad he got rid of it.

I'm really happy right now. Too bad I feel so sick from this horrid cold! Oh well, next weekend I'll have fun.

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 94

Acne is not too bad...60 mg/day though, does not seem to be treating me well.

It looks like I suddenly have Rosacea. Looking in the mirror after my shower this morning, it's as if someone took a hypodermic and injected a thousands spots of red all over my face. What the fuck, man? I really am upset by this, I was feeling A-ok and content in my appearance up until about...20 minutes ago.

I switched from Claravis to Amnesteem...could that have ANYTHING to do with it? Or the move to 60mg/day from 40? How do I shake this? Ahhh, help please! It's like I traded zits for 50% less zits and having disturbing red blotchy skin...

-Jeff

[JeffyD]

Day 109

I'm pretty happy with how my face looks right now. I have a dent from the omni-cyst for sure, and I think I got injected with two much cortisol, causing a big area, but it seems to be slowly filling in and getting less red. I have very few zits, save for one big one under my left eye which I've really been resisting getting rid of. My lips are still pretty bad, but seem to be somehow more manageable lately. Organic chemistry is a hard time. My alcohol tolerance is quite quite low.

I have a rash on my arms under the sleeve line. I guessed it was from my overshirts and washed all of them...seems to be improving a bit, I think. Hopefully it goes away. It's nice to be a lot more self concious about that than my face, though. I think accutane def makes your more sensitive.

Just a month and 11 days left. Hardly seems possible. Looks like she got the job done, but we'll see.

-Jeff

[spottedhusky]

I look at myself as perfect except for it, hah.

lol...that's never a good thing. good luck with the accutane though! im hoping to get on it soon