60 replies to this topic

[Kirbatha]

Well, guys. I did it. I bit the bullet, and now Accutane is in my near future. It's been a long struggle with this silly acne, and I'll admit, it's given me a run for my money. But I'm here to end this nonsense, and I've got an excellent dermatologist and a course of the big guns for it to try and survive through. If it does, well...it won't, so I won't postulate further on that.

I get my blood work done tomorrow, and my course begins Friday. I've always had issues with acne, and I've tried a lot of stuff (DIM, fish oil, chromium, niacin, Benzaclin, glycolics, Duac/Tazorac combo that actually worked but did nothing for my body acne, tetracycline, doxycycline, etc.) Some of it has worked somewhat. Here's a picture of me, about...hmm, six months ago.

Six Months Ago

Look at that guy. Doesn't he look like buckets of fun? He's a happy one, he is.

Well, in short, my dermatologist refused to continue prescribing me my meds, because I wouldn't come in for another consultation. Now, you may ask, why? Why not go in?

Well, for one, she's in another city, and I am off at college. I'm too busy. She could've refilled my stuff and everything would've been fine. But she didn't, and this is what I have to look at these days.

Front Pic

Left Pic

Right Pic

Just in time for college. Oh boy, lemme tell ya, it's loads of fun.

So, today, I walked for 30 minutes to reach my dermatologist's office, ready to fight for my right to Accutane. I was willing to kill to get it if I had to. I went in and waited, studying for a test later in the day, and before long I was talking to a nurse, who reluctantly mentioned Accutane. I heard that sweet whisper and expressed my interest in the drug, and she wanted me to consider other options. This fight was not going to be easy.

My doctor finally walked in. He took one look at me, and the first words out of his mouth were, "What do you know about Accutane?" Well, after introductions and such. The point is, he knew what I was there for, and he was willing to hand it over. Added bonuses include the fact that my pharmacy is a four minute walk from the dorm. Hooray!

So, this is the beginning of my log. I will be keeping a journal here as often as possible describing the side effects, and posting pictures monthly to show my progress. I hope that, after six months, my problems will be solved.

My dosage is 40mg/day.

I'm ready.

Edited by Kirbatha, 29 March 2010 - 12:46 PM.

[AhMyFace]

You lucky dog. I can't believe you're starting so soon. But best of luck to you and I'll be right behind you in treatment once I prove I'm not getting pregnant as a hobby. But yeah, I know what it's like to deal with unhelpful dermatologists. Such a pain. Like acne.

Anywho. Once again, good luck. And buy lotion.

[giety87]

Yay! I am so psyched for you! This will be good, and you will be clear once and for all! Welcome to the World of Accutane!

Keep posting updates, because I'll be checking on your progress!
Carly

[lets_dance]

woohoo!!! you must be so excited
you're gonna clear up so well.
i'll make sure to check back in every once in a while, keep us updated!!!

[Kirbatha]

Thanks for the support, guys and gals! Yeah, I'm excited definitely, and I didn't mean to look like a sad puppy in my first acne picture haha, I'm a happy guy, even with the acne.

This isn't actually getting started soon, I've been dealing with acne since I was 12. If you mean soon in regards to other people starting as adults, then yeah, I definitely have that advantage. I'm thinking very positively. Even if I have weird side effects, I'm ready to blow into them head on. I'm the last person in the world to ever have to worry about depression, so if that happens, I'm gonna have fun with it.

I'm just happy that I'll be able to spend most of my college life acne free. Now might not be my time, but I'm gonna kick my sophomore year's ass.

And as added insurance, I bought Chapstick last weekend, knowing that I'd need it by the end of the week.

EDIT: I just got my blood work done. With luck, I'll be starting my run tomorrow. For some reason, I've been noticing my current red marks being very indecisive. At various points during the day I'll look in the mirror, and think "Oh wow, what happened?" and at others I'll think "I'm not even on the drugs yet, and I'm already improving!" It's strange.

Those of you starting around the same time: let's form a club.

Edited by Kirbatha, 29 October 2009 - 02:57 PM.

[AhMyFace]

This isn't actually getting started soon, I've been dealing with acne since I was 12. If you mean soon in regards to other people starting as adults, then yeah, I definitely have that advantage.

Yeah, that's what I meant. I've also had acne since I was 12 and it took me a while to finally find a dermatologist who would prescribe Accutane. And when I finally did, she was like, "Well, you have to wait 30 days." Sunuvabitch!

But November 13th is my appointment. I am waiting anxiously.

And I'm excited to hear how your first few days/weeks go. Your acne looks sort of similar to mine. My younger brother took it years ago (we had different dermatologists) and said the first month was hard but by the second month, he saw improvement. But some people get lucky and notice change within the first week. So... we shall see.

A club sounds good. We'll call it, "WHY AM I STARTING ACCUTANE DURING WINTER MONTHS?!?!" At least, that's what I'm thinking to myself.

Good luck, keep updating.

[Kirbatha]

30 days, oh my. That sounds lovely. Well, when you're starting, I should be in the midst of my initial outbreak, assuming I get one, and my lips should be chapped to hell and back, but otherwise I should be a happy camper. I find that my glycolic lotion (Aqua Glycolic) is fairly tame, so I'm thinking I may continue using it for the while before my skin begins to royally **** itself. To help out the redmarks and such that I have now, you know? And I've got me some Cetaphil sunscreen/moisturizer, so no deepening of the marks should happen.

[brandish]

your skin looked really good in the 6months prior photo
what made you go for accutane? shouldnt just getting a prescription of the past meds work again? That's if im understanding correctly, and that your breakout was caused by your derm not renewing your meds? anyway good luck, im starting accutane 2mr so we'll be really close lol

[Kirbatha]

I could get a prescription of the meds I was on. But my dermatologist insisted on me using those meds on my back, chest, and shoulders as well, and I refused, because there was benzoyl peroxide in them, and I have clothes that I really like and would rather not get bleached. And I refuse to put it on before bed, because I am very attached to my pillow and my comforter (I've had them all my life) and don't want them bleached, either. So, while I had a nice face, my back, chest, and shoulders were pretty horrid. They're still not so good.

Accutane will cure the whole shebang, not just my face. Plus, 6 months of one pill per day, or a year or so of cold, gross-feeling creams on my face every morning and night? I think Accutane is more convenient.

EDIT: I have it right here. It looks mighty appetizing, but I should probably wait until dinner to take it...actually, I should probably wait until tomorrow, as I am a college student and this is Halloween weekend...parties and such truck...

But the point it, I have it! This is the beginning of my Odyssey. I shall climb this metaphorical crag and arrive atop the mountain with clear skin.

Edited by Kirbatha, 30 October 2009 - 04:44 PM.

[Kirbatha]

First Weekend Update:

As this was Halloween weekend, and I was engaged in some very fun college activities on Friday night, I opted not to take my pill on Friday. So, Saturday at lunch, pill number one was consumed and assimilated into my body. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a glorious renewal. Now, I will admit, I did a dumb thing, and continued my college activities well into Saturday night/Sunday morning (the time change added an extra hour to the partying), but I seem to be okay, and luckily the next holidays I'm looking at are holidays where I'll be home, so I should be pretty safe.

I popped pill number two today. No side effects so far, but I just started. Night vision is still crystal, skin is still supple, lips require no chapstick. Wouldn't it be awesome if nothing bad happened and my acne died a quick death?

My face looks gross, though. It's kinda depressing. And it doesn't help that the fact that I'm on Accutane has made me feel like it's okay to begin popping again. Gross gross gross but whatever. Better out than in.

[RipTheJacker]

Get ready, man. Creams are 'icky' and inconvenient but having chapped lips and dealing with the other side effects that come with this drug is no party. Trust me, its worth it. Id take it every day for the rest of my life if I had to. Best of luck to you.

[Kirbatha]

It'll be a party for me. I'm quite the optimist when it comes to things regarding myself.

Now, in a month, you can bet I'll be taking that back. But really, I think I'll be super. Once everything starts receding, I'll be peachy, even if I've got some redmarks. I am eagerly anticipating the blackhead purging that a lot of people describe. I think it'd be cool to wake up and find them all forcing themselves out of the Accutane bath they'd be taking otherwise.

[Kirbatha]

End of Week 1:

Well, I feel pretty normal still. My lips are getting just a little bit drier than normal (nothing a swift swipe of the tongue can't fix) and I've had some bizarre ribcage pressure going on (I don't know how else to describe it, I felt like I was inflating), but I'm otherwise sterling. Had a semi-headache behind one of my eyes for about 10 minutes not too long ago, but I can't exactly attribute that to Accutane.

My skin is still looking like crap, and I expect it to for many more moons. I'm still able to use my Aqua Glycolic, though, and I plan on keeping that up until my skin won't let me.

I think I'm gonna do pics every two weeks. What do y'all think?

[rrw]

Hey!
You're about a week ahead of me. I'm on 40mg also.
Best of luck with your treatment!!

[roxygal]

Good luck with your course!!

I love the title of your log, btw

[Kirbatha]

Haha thanks Roxy, I tried to sum up my honest feelings toward my acne in one sentence, and that's how it came out. I wanted something rebellious, something determined, ya know? I wanted to let it know that even though it might have reared its ugly head and conquered parts of my face, it is still, unquestionably, my bitch. Not the other way around. And my bitch is about the get the living hell beaten out of it, for six months.

Sure, it might fight back at first (initial breakout), but in the end, I'm sure it'll see things my way.

[livinlife2]

Hey man,

I'm about in the same boat as you, but like 2 days behind.

I hope it works for the both of us.

Peace

[Kirbatha]

I'd like to mention that the pimples I'm getting now are a very strange variety. They are under the skin and more blood than anything else, but not particularly painful. Just big, squishy purple sacs. Wtf?

[anthony180]

I'd like to mention that the pimples I'm getting now are a very strange variety. They are under the skin and more blood than anything else, but not particularly painful. Just big, squishy purple sacs. Wtf?

damn man i have around the same story as you with real similar acne.. (just on cheeks) i was clear last year... like completely clear red marks and everythin from i remember i didnt evne think about it so i couldnt have had anything. then it slowly crept back into my life and got me all stressed out and blew up on my cheeks. now im on accutane.. started november 1st so add me to the club... i sorda got an IB but i think im starting to clear up now that im going on week 1 .. just mad red marks , putting some neospirin on em .. good luck brother

[Kirbatha]

Maybe we're the same person?

That'd be an interesting twist, although I don't think the world is ready for more than one of me. You're part of the club now, kid. Welcome to the 'Tane Train.