82 replies to this topic

[mx123]

Ok so this log is probably going to be pretty boring and I'm mainly making it so I can keep a record for myself but maybe some people might want to read it, I dunno.

Anyway, incase anyone is interested here is my acne history:
Age 12/13 - used to get about 1 spot a month which would go within a week
Age 14 - broke out pretty bad on my chin and didnt go away and eventually spread to my cheeks and then all over my face pretty much, I just used lots of different over the counter products which didn't seem to help.
Age 15 - I eventually went to see the doctor about it and got perscribed some anti-biotics and Panoxyl BP gel. I found the BP dried out my skin really badly so I only used it at night. I also used products along side it which were too harsh and I shouldn't have really been using.
Age 16 - asked the doctor for a different BP and they gave me Duac. Later discovered CSR and started that. Have been doing CSR for over 5 months with hardly no improvement apart from reduced redness. Doctor suggested I should see derm so I made an apointment, which leads me to about 2 weeks ago.. Derm perscribed me accutane straight away and I've had my blood test, still waiting for results but whenever I phone the hospital to get them they don't answer, so I'm getting very impatient and a little annoyed and I'm just going to start tonight anyway without the test results.

I weigh 60kg and am on 30mg a day at first but its 20mg one day and 40mg the next day because they only had 20mg tablets avaliable.

I'm going to carry on using BP until my skin starts to get dry and then I'm going to cut down the dosage and eventually stop using it all together.

I will not be posting pictures as I don't even feel comfortable taking/looking at them let alone posting them here for everyone to see. However, I might take a few photos along the way and maybe post them when I'm finished to show my progress.

That's it for now.

[mx123]

Took first pill, stomach started to hurt shortly after, probably not linked though, I dunno. Kind of worried about the IB too.

[mx123]

I seem to be having muscle aches in my one arm too, great.

[mx123]

Day 2

Eyes and lips slightly dry but nothing vaseline and eye drops can't handle. Muscles have been a bit sore which is kind of annoying me and has lead me to thinking about all the side effects of accutane and all this crap I'm putting my body through, and for what? So I can get clear skin for a year earlier than I would grow out of it. Not really sure if it's worth it, but I've started now so I'm going to go through with it. Also broke out today, got 2 new spots which sucks but surely it's too early for IB to be starting? Probably just a coincidence. Meh.

[beagle13]

the thing is, there is the real possibility you will not grow out of it. I have thought the same thing for the last 16 years!!! I figure its about time to face the reality that this is a chronic condition for me and it's time to do something about it. I commend you for starting accutane now instead of waiting because all you will have to show for waiting will be more scars...trust me, i know. Good luck with your course.

beagle

[LiviMarquette]

Hello,

Has your doctor told you to take the pills with food? I've heard that taking them with some type of fatty food is best.

All the best!

[ksod]

Just wanted to stop by and wish you good luck!

[mx123]

the thing is, there is the real possibility you will not grow out of it. I have thought the same thing for the last 16 years!!! I figure its about time to face the reality that this is a chronic condition for me and it's time to do something about it. I commend you for starting accutane now instead of waiting because all you will have to show for waiting will be more scars...trust me, i know. Good luck with your course.

beagle

That is a possibility, but I think I would grow out of it soon because my older brother had also had acne, worse than mine, and he outgrew his by the time he was 18 so maybe the same would happen to me, but at the same time it might not.

Hello,

Has your doctor told you to take the pills with food? I've heard that taking them with some type of fatty food is best.

All the best!

No, he didn't tell me that but I read it somewhere so I've been doing that. I guess that's good also because I'm a fair bit underweight and it will help me to gain a bit of weight too maybe while I'm eating more fatty food.

Just wanted to stop by and wish you good luck!

Thanks man.

[mx123]

day 3

Struggled to get out of bed this morning and have felt shattered all day, despite the fact I got around 10 hours or sleep compared to my usual 8. Muscle aches were pretty bad this morning, especially in my back. Skin seemed a little greasy today so I used less moisturiser and didn't use any jojoba oil tonight. Also got my appointment through the post with the derm for after the first month, on december 6th, to see if everything is ok then up my dosage.

[mx123]

Day 4

Had same problem with feeling tired and muscle aches this morning. Skin seemed a little greasy again so I didn't use jojoba oil today. Had my first nose bleed this morning, albeit a very little one. Also I ran my hand through my hair and noticed there was about 3 hairs on it, so I ran my hand through again and had even more hairs this time, so it looks like the hair loss has started. Not much to comment on acnewise, just that those 2 new spots I got on day 2 seemed to have died down a bit. I've been using eye-drops and vaseline twice daily and my eyes and lips are fine. Actually my eyes are slightly dry, but I don't mind because usually they water all the time in the cold, but they aren't doing it now which is good I guess. I seem to be getting a burning feeling when applying Eucerin, like what you get when you first start using it. No idea what that's about..

[mx123]

Day 5

Didn't have any problems with tiredness or muscle aches particularly this morning. Skin wasn't greasy or dry, just normal, it seems greasy to me though because I'm used to it being so dry. I didn't use any jojoba oil as I don't feel I need to at the moment. I went to the gym tonight and spent 1 and a half hours working out and at first I was fine but after a while I could barely lift anything with my arms even on the lowest settings, so I went on the running/stepping machines after that. Arms are aching a fair bit now and it's even uncomfortable to type.

[mx123]

Day 6

My muscles have been aching so badly today, I guess I over did it at the gym last night. Not much else to report on really, skin is bit dry today, in particular areas at least (right cheek and chin), so I think I'm going to use a few drops of jojoba oil tonight.

[mx123]

Day 7

Nothing to report on really other than muscle aches being really bad today. I was going to go to the gym again tonight but the aches are too bad. Been thinking about accutane a bit today and I'm worried about the IB, ah well.

[mx123]

Day 8

Muscle pains still really bad, hurts to even move my arms to put my jacket on.. Not much else to say. I'm begining to wish I didn't start taking Accutane, I'm not going to be able to deal with the IB when it happens and the side effects are getting me down too, especially muscle aches/prolonged healing of muscles from the gym.. I'm getting a brace on Monday too, oh how great I'm going to look when I get the IB.. Fuck it. I can't be arsed with this log anymore either. I may continue with it when I get further into the treatment, and there is more to talk about.

[ksod]

Stay positive! In the beginning it takes awhile for your body to adjust. On day 7 I felt horrible and I was only 10mg - by day 15 my body has adjusted and I hardly feel like I am taking anything.

Good luck!

K

[mx123]

Meh. Hard for me to be positive right now for various reasons but whatever..

I just hope the muscle aches go away soon, so uncomfortable.

[mx123]

Day 10

Muscle pains are much better now, which is at least something positive to report on.. I woke up this morning and I've had a break out. 1 new white head on my chin and have got what I think is a cystic spot on my nose, I've never had one before.. It just looks like a red mark, it doesn't really stick out much, but it's really sore when I touch it. I'm pretty pissed about that, I wanted to look as good as I could for next weekend, but no chance of that now with this breakout and getting my brace on Monday. Also I'm pretty sure this is too early to be the IB, so it's probably just a small sample of what's to come. Great...

[Danno]

Hey man, good luck. Sorry to hear about the onset of the IB, hopefully it's not too bad.

[mx123]

Thanks. Just noticed I've got 3 new spots on my neck too. I hate this, I just feel like crying.

[mx123]

Day 11

Not much changes to report on skin wise other than my face being a bit dry/flakey so I think I'm going to start cutting down on BP. My lips are really dry too, I use loads of vaseline or lip balm on it and within 5 minutes it's all dry and horrible again. I feel really itchy today too, not nice. When I took my tablets earlier, I felt really badly sick and couldn't get my breath, I dunno what was going on there but it was horrible.