600 replies to this topic

[RCRanger03]

I don't know if you're not supposed to be taking Ibprofen or not. I have been taking some every day for the last 2 weeks and havent seen any ill effects.

I go to the University of Texas at San Antonio, but im here through a conditional transfer program from UT austin. I applied to UT Austin and they basically said we'll take you, but prove yourself in college first (I had super high SAT and ACT scores but a so-so GPA, because i kinda boycotted homework in high school and would just take zeros and then ace the tests. It all balanced out in the end, but UT was supicious). Anyways it requires me to get a 3.2 GPA, and nothing below a C and I get auto admission next year in Liberal Arts, but to get into the school at UT i want to get into (Communications which is where the major Radio Television Film is) is like one of the top schools at UT Austin. So i'll probably have to get around a 3.6 - 3.7 to get directly in. Which by what i've seen here shouldnt be too hard, because theres not really that much homework, and I actually find test taking fun.

I'm going to start a little recurring feature here, because I'm kinda a quote afficianado. So officially debuting the QUOTE OF THE DAY (<--they're so excited it makes me happy)

Dream as if you will live forever, but live as if you will die today

Some wise words from James Dean.

[i'd rather dance with you]

you're not supposed to take acetaminophen?!!!? when i had surgery i was def on percocet for like a week cause the doctor was like " i think you can take it...erm..."! shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope this isnt bad.

[livelaughlove]

Should you be taking ibuprofen on acne? I know you're not supposed to take acetaminophen.

JW, GL man

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/isotret_ad.htm


Scroll down, it has a list of drug interactions, nowhere does it say you can't take acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. What do you think we can take for pain relievers if we can't take ibuprofen or acetaminophen? lol That pretty much leaves...Advil?

[poredecision]

Advil is ibuprofen.

It's the same reason why on acetaminophen containers (i.e. Tylenol) they warn against people who drink heavily and regularly from using their project. It's tasking on the liver.

[RCRanger03]

Is that question directed at me?

If you're asking me what book i get my ideals from it would be a long list, but also the people i've known, and the choices i've made and the resulting consequences.

As for my little inspirational advice i gave a little while back that was greatly influenced by a speech by Marianne Williamson in her book "Return to Love" which was one of many books given to me by my youth group leader and very close friend. You've probably heard it at least in part in a movie, or quoted in a Nelson Mandela speech from the early 90s i believe.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

It's painted on my wall at home, along with various other quotes and poems that have given the perspective i enjoy today. Its a great book I recommend it to anyone. Some other good books that i've read that have had a significant impact on me are The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (taught me that though i am just one person that having right ideals and the will to live by them even if society condemns it, can affect more than you could ever imagine.) Enders Game (a surpising choice probably, but its been very important in my view of people i dont understand, and is one of the main reasons i dont feel the need to compete with other people in looks, wealth, or status) and A Simple Path by Mother Teresa (this is more faith related so it might not be something for you, but its a beautiful book and it has basically taught me everything i know about humility which makes my situation so much more easier to deal with)

Quote of the Day

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

A little Mother Teresa wisdom along with the quote thats in my Sig. LATERS

[RCRanger03]

I bumped in to a guy i hadnt seen since graduation when i was pretty clear and we had always been pretty good friends so talking about my acne with him was something that was perfect ok with me. Sure enough the first thing he told me (albeit very jokingly) was Holy Acne Explosion Batman. I laughed, because if you knew us it was pretty funny (yeah i know im kind of a nerd and im not really ashamed of it Firefly, Stargate, and X Files for life *chest bump with a vulcan salute*). But it really got me thinking that almost nobody here at college knew the clear me. In fact nobody on the site knows what the clear me looked like so i thought i would provide yous guys and girls with a little Matt Clarity Montage.

Ninja Turtle Me (Skin like that and it was never appreciated tsk tsk)

Middle School Me (with a smokin hot pefect bowl cut, thats right Justin Timberlake i was the first one to bring sexy back)

Freshman Me

Sophmore Me (this was the last time i had zero acne on my body)

Junior Me

Senior Me

Right Before I had the breakout that has continued to what you have seen, and yes i'm in a folding chair semifloating with the use of 8 noodles

Me and The First and Only Girl I've Ever Loved (Good lord i miss her)(#1) (#2) (I thought these were important bc it very viceral uncalculated basic me. I dated her basically my entire senior year 8 months, but she was a junior in austin i graduated and came to san antonio, and then even if i get to transfer back she is headed off to Notre Dame for a life long dream. We both decided that our relationship was going to be too difficult for our situations, and we remain best friends)

Me and my older sister and my little cuz Caden .... And all the girls now with a collective "AWWWWW"

Basically my default setting in pictures ..... aka looking like an idiot ....... and Again ... idiocy

Warming up for a very icy bitter cold Relay For Life

Really cool sketchbookification of me

Me giving a Keynote speech to about 300 central texas catholic teens about Forgiveness. On a weeklong retreat that basically was my senior year youth group project aka my baby. I planned it, coordinated it, and lead a small group. (Sorry for the shameless pride right here, but i have paralyzing stage fright so speaking publicly even to small crowds was and still is terrifying so that speech and the whole week probably the proudest of my life)

My Youth Group LEader Proteges (i let them skip the whole padawan rat tail)

When I still cared about a red spot on my chin

Quote of the Day

Courage is the resistence to fear, the mastery of fear, but not the abscence of fear.

Mr. Clemens himself ...... you dont know who Samuel Clemens is ..... oh right its Mark Twain

[KKristenMMarie]

sniff, sniff...this is my favorite line:

If you would be confident, and daring, and charming, then if you can truly see yourself that way those attributes will shine through anyways, because in truth they've always been there just waiting for you to set them free. People see what you show them. So show them what you want them to see

Ah, someone who outwits me, has faith, AND is comfortable in their own skin no matter how bumpy? Can't be true...but it is! And now I shall stalk his log blog.

you really are a great optimistic guy. Keep it up! It's funny the ways God blesses us..isn't it?

[jennylala]

I really enjoy reading your blog:) I think you are an amazing person:)

[Kraven Moorhead]

I agree with her, koo pics..You didnt look like a nerd, Look like one of those cool guys that goes to the nice suburban school and everybody wants to be like. I've only went to one suburban school and it looked like you fit the mold.

[RCRanger03]

YEah i was sort of that person once with lots of bad influences and doing alot of stupid dangerous stuff. But i had what catholics call Metanoia which basically means metamorphasis. And it changed my life to where i couldn't have friends that would lead me down that path. So i told them that i had to be this person and i lost almost all of my friends. Luckily i was now so content with myself that it didnt destroy me and i made new friends, ones that i could be proud to surround myself. And after 3 years of continuous self reform I arrive at where i am now. I can say that if i hadn't changed my life, had kept the popularity, had kept my chemical happyness I wouldnt have been able to handle what i am going through now. Honestly it probably save my life.

But u was I was a nerd all along but i had to keep it hidden along with many parts of myself to maintain the image that i projected to that certain group of people.

[shavingwoes]

Wow, I have enormous respect for you. I don't get cystic acne but I've got little red bumps all over where I shave and it's extremely frustrating to have had these for approx. 3 years now as well as mild/moderate acne for 5 yrs and not been able to find a product that helps with them. I was feeling really down and after I read your posts I finally joined acne.org made a post about my situation seeking some help and I just had to tell you that you're awesome.

[lameness]

You're really handsome. Hope things continue to go well for you!

[RCRanger03]

Thanks, and welcome my friend to a world of support. You will find comfort here that will surpass your wildest expectations. We're all in the same boat no matter how little or how great. Together even the weary are strong. Together even the fearful are brave. Together WE ARE THE ORG!

And now i thought i would give an update for once, because after all this is an Accutane Log even if i practically never talk about my accutane experience. I'm feeling good about my progress so far. Most of my cysts have either gone away or moved from deep to shallow. So they dont hurt as much as they used to. I have been noticing that i have been losing more beard hair than usually but im not sure if thats because of accutane because ive never had my beard this long. I have to take my dose (20 mg Sotret) every other day so i can stretch my perscription to my next derm appointment. I dont know if that will affect my results, but ill keep yall informed.

Quote of The Day

Until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words,--'Wait and hope'.

A little something something from my favorite classic literature novel. The Count of Monte Cristo. LATERS

[Platinum007]

I read your log. I just want to let you know that accutane rocks! I am completely cleared of cystic acne after 25 years. No more pain and disfigurement. No more treatments of any kind.

I've been off of accutane since March and not one cyst.

I think accutane works on our type of acne the best. Or, it may just be the dramatic difference. Whatever the case, I see more cystic acne people on this board that have success with accutane than any other type of acne.

Good luck. Your skin will catch up to your spirit in a few short months. It's just lagging behind right now. And, even though you seem to be taking this painful and disfiguring disease in stride, you will LOVE having your pretty face back. Trust me. I hid my acne behind sarcasm and tight jeans. Well, I still love tight jeans but the sarcasm is long gone.

Platinum

[ewok]

Hello again and thanks for tuning in to todays broadcast. I know this is going to be disappointing to all of my lady fans (and some of my man fans), but i've not been able to procure a camera yet so the week one photos will have to be delayed until one is found. SOWIE

As for the Secret O' Happiness Del Mateo its all a matter of perspective. Let me hit you with some knowledge.

1) I've talked about this in another post, but alas i am to lazy to go find it. I try to look at my acne in nuetral or postive terms. I'll be the first one to admit that there are some days to which I get frustrated beyond reason, but those are few and far between. The way I look at my acne is as an unvoluntary drastic personality reform. In my experience (which I'm not trying to force upon you) acne has made me who I am today. It has brought out many of greatest attributes, that otherwise would have lay dormant behind a pretty face. It has made me humble, non judgemental, and sympathetic. It also forced me to build my humor, and gave me determination to succeed beyond everyones expectations. In truth I respect my acne as two formidible opponents respect each other.

2) Alright this is one that even I have trouble with sometimes, but the rewards it yields are priceless. Dont let the mirror tell you who you are and what you look like, and dont let others tell you either. The most important opinion, in fact the only opinion who you should even give a damn about is your own, or if you subscribe to a higher power as I do you should care what they think (In my case mine is all forgiving and i was made in his image so i consider myself as an image of godliness, so ladies come to worship ) So back on topic ... If you can see yourself as how you wish you looked, then why cant you feel like you would if you actually physical looked that way. If you would be confident, and daring, and charming, then if you can truly see yourself that way those attributes will shine through anyways, because in truth they've always been there just waiting for you to set them free. People see what you show them. So show them what you want them to see.

3) Enjoy the world, and all the wonders that are presented to you every day. Watch the sunset and count the stars that follow, or the sunrise and welcome the first sunbeams of the day, put away the umbrella and walk in the rain, climb a tree and feel it sway ever so slightly in the wind. If you're constantly immersed in such beauty how can things be so bad.

Its a long and winding road out there people, and nobody ever said it would be easy, but in truth nothing worth getting has ever been easy to obtain. So live, love and never give up ..... and always always laugh as much as you can.

Wow!!!! I am truly speechless!!! You've gained an avid fan, and i will be following your progress regularly. You are incredibly inspiring. I was feeling like shit for 2 days, but after reading this, it is practically impossible for me not to see things from a brighter point of view.

[RCRanger03]

Ok so i was walking to class today as usual, except today was overcast and dreary so my iconic giant $5 aviator glasses were .... a little superfluous. Anyways i was listening to my ipod, and a song came on that i hadn't listen to in a long time, and it made me smile (it was No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley). The kicker is that my ipod died right then, and that made me laugh, because little misfortunes like that tend to be humorous to me now a days. So smiled even wider, and a pair of girls walked by and thinking i was listening to music and unable to hear them one said to the other something to the tune of this "OMG!!! His face! How can he be smiling? I would cry." And it got me thinking that i totally forgot to divulge one major cornerstone of my sunny disposition. So i thought i would share, for anyone who wass interested or bored or hungry (its a little know fact that paper containing my words contain 12 essential vitamins and minerals, and even the rare and elusive 13th ones). So without further delay .....

Try and smile as much as you can to everyone you can. Not only will this cause chemical endophins, and such to cause happy feelings in yourself. More importantly it will affect others. By smiling despite having a social unnacceptable skin condition you can essentially liberate the people around you from their worries. It can cause the whole well if that person can smile with skin lesions then my fat ankles dont seems so terrible anymore. I find that seeing it this way lends a bit of honor to my situation. I take my misfortune and use it to better the people around me. It might not be honor that anyone but me will ever know but does that matter. I have made myself not Matt the acne sufferer, but Matt the Liberator of Worry.

Quote of the Day
Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.

Einstein was pretty logical wasn't he. Later peoples and remember Smile

[livelaughlove]

Wow, rcranger03, honestly you share the same thoughts as me. I had bad acne, my mom died, and i constantly got picked on, and my friends said why are you so happy and smiley, and I said because smiling can cure anyones bad day.
Oh and by the way No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley is my favorite song of his (Try listening to the live version, too, its even better!)

[FightingTheGoodFight]

Ranger, you are a pimp, I wish I had your heart. I was on accutane last fall/winter and it obviously wasn't very fun. All i can tell you is use some sort of moisturizer to help the healing process. Unfortunately accutane causes scarring so just a warning man invest into some sort of cream. Im actually using a healing lotion call BioSkinCare which i wish i had known about when i was on tane. It is actually recommended for tane users since accutane slows the healing process. Just a fair warning because i have been depressed about my scars for a while and it takes a long time for them to heal.

[ClareB]

Wow. You really have a fantastic outlook on life. I've lurked here for a while, but after reading your posts I took the giant leap of faith and became a full-fledged-bona-fied member just so I could post my praises

Rock on and keep up the great 'tude.

C