267 replies to this topic

[Vanessa13688]

thanks for the reply...see other board. Thanks again, helped an awful lot

[Vanessa13688]

I went to my derm last night, overall happy with the little progress I have made on my face...very concerned about my limited peripheral vision though so has referred me to another specialist...

Blood test today, arm hurts more than last time but nevamind. Hope everything comes back ok...

Turns out the myths about what to eat and what not to eat at the same time as taking tablets are all false, goes to show that you should never believe what you read.

Will post again soon, just got a load of stuff from the doctors to deal with the dryness but what is Aquaphor?????!

[Vanessa13688]

Have found Eucerin which is great for my dry skin! Recommend it any day. I have been so tearful the last few weeks and am not entirely sure what has caused it, theres so many things going on but normally I dont think I would be too bad. Just had a derm checkup so I should be ok but am feeling very down. Im not sure but recently I feel as if Im scared of being alone - I have always hated being lonely because acne always singled me out since I was 8 so I was lonely an awful lot - but now it seems more prominent and I get panicky if I think I might be alone in the near future. This could be linked with my boyfriend going on holiday with his family - this is the first time since February that we have not seen each other every day, however I get sudden uncontrolable fits of tears. I dont want to think that it is 'tane related but has anyone else found this? Im in week 5 of 60 mg/day.

Vanessa

[Vanessa13688]

A bit less tearful today, however am currently crippled with excruciating stomach pains and am unsure if it is related to 'tane - very worrying as the thought of doctors prodding and poking me in stomach related areas is very unsettling! Started with a headache w/nausea at lunchtime, then lower back pain in the afternoon and couldnt eat for crying at about 8.30. Theyre easing off now but its still unnerving because Im really not sure what could be causin this...maybe something I ate??

Had comments on how good my skin is looking when I worked in the office again (after a week) today, glad that someone outside family is now noticing!

Have found that Simple Plans songs, especially "Crazy" really sums up my feelings at the moment, so glad I got their album and highly recommend it to anyone regardless of what genre of music they listen to.

Have to resist picking...so tempting but the thought of further scarring is enough to stop me!

Only a few weeks of summer holiday before college starts again but theyre so busy with helping run a summer school but after what a primary pupil commented last time Im a bit apprehensive.

Am researching Aquaphor for my dry skin with little luck...

[Vanessa13688]

Have got over the painful stomach to find that my skin has got a lot worse overnight! I cant seem to predict what its going to do, and I dont see why it does it because I am doing exactly the same each day. Less tearful today, lets hope it stays that way, I hate feeling down...

Well not much to report only the steady increase in the number of active spots onmy face...I have to run a summer school for 11 year olds the next two weeks; what do I say if they ask whats wrong with my face???

[rhonda1956]

Dear rosie13688

I want to thank you for your honest posts. my 18 year old son started accutane on june 4. He seems to be experiencing exactly what you are. He started at 60 mg/day and last week was put on 80 mg/day. He weighs 135 lbs. He started on tane while in boarding school. We brought him home this week and we are trying to find a doctor for him. The derm here is booked until Sept 27th! I am very concerned with all the bleeding and "sores" on his face. His lips look swollen and painful-like he has no skin on his lips! He has been using Burt's Bees on his lips but started putting "Palmer's cocoa butter with Vitamin A & C on his face because he says it feels so good. But I am concerned about the cocoa butter clogging his pores. Hope we can find a doctor to run this by. He is committed to staying the course and believes from all we have read and heard that THIS IS THE CURE. Hang in there and thank you again for all your posts here. Your information has helped tremendously.

[Vanessa13688]

Its no problem, I started the journal having seen many others and thought it was a good way to track my feelings, then people emailed me saying that they read it...am glad it helped. I am about to mentor a boy as well if we can persuade his parents to let him try it.

I hope your son is ok but would like to say that normally people are advised to stay away from Vitamin A as that is what isotretinoin is made from but I suppose its OK as long as it isnt ingested but I would check.

I have to say that the bleeding and the sore on the face are uncomfortable and painful but its short term pain for long term gain...thats what I remind myself at least.

Try Blistex Intensive Moisturiser for his lips, it reduced the tendecy for them to bleed and stays on longer than anything else I have tried, also Eucerin face cream.

Its good that he is determined to finish the course. At this rate I may need another one and there has been many times when I wanted to pack it in and give up, but Im fed up of acne and its physical and psychological effects.

Keep me posted of his progress? Hope he does well, I know how important this cure is.

Will keep all of my threads updated.

Vanessa

[Vanessa13688]

I now know when Im going to get an outbreak ... I get exzema on the underside of my fore-arms. Its not itchy, just red scaly and dry. Yuck .

So far the group of 3 that seem to have joined together on my right cheek still havent improved and I seem to have loads along my jawline. Hmmm wonder why.

I have had 3 minor outbreaks already and Im only in week 5. I was hoping that the last, worst one was the predicted one at 6 weeks but I think Im wrong as Ive developed exzema agaaain. lol.

My shoulders and back aches a lot more than pre-tane and when I had just started the treatment, feels like theres a funny lump just below my jaw on each side, but then when I put my hand there theres nothing there...! Must be psychological hehe .

Got to go, am posting this at work.

Later

Vanessa

[catmin]

Hi Rosie/Vanessa,
Im having those scaly patches on the underside of the forearms too. They're not itchy, just there. My derm said to rub Aquaphor into it...hopefully you've received yours ( I think I read somewhere tht you ordered it from the US)
Im also on 60mg, end of week 6. I started on 20, then 40, then 60 for the last 2 weeks. I hate the unpredictability of what Im going to look like tomorrow; everyday something on the face changes.
I have the active uglies on my right side and hoping they will subside SOON! And lots of darker marks on the left
I know what you mean abt wanting to pick, but fear the scarring!
I hope your symptoms are manageable; what did the doc say abt your peripheral vision? Did you get a visual field test?
Take care,

CAT

[Vanessa13688]

The peripheral vision test is how they found it, they did a random test for some reason as Ive never had it before but I havent had my appointment through yet...Will let you know what they say. Bit worried that iot could be intercranial swelling though I know its rare. However as Ive never had the test before I could have had it since birth!

Yep Im definately lop-sided. Loads on my right side; 3 active ones that have been there since day one and seemed to have joined together...not sure whats going on there. My friend is getting me Aquaphor from the US but I can get bog-standard Eucerin here which will do for now. The scaly skin is really ugly and it disappeared when my face settled down, only to come back now Im breaking out. I suppose it could act as some kind of "early warning system" on the bright side! It wasnt there when I saw my derm but he said it was exzema??!

Will keep my log updated but bye4now

Vanessa xxx

[Vanessa13688]

Yay! Got some more comments about how much clearer my skin is looking last night! Working as a waitress part time its always on my mind how other people have clear skin, but Im getting there!

The Omega 3 + Vitamin E are great, already Im less achy and look less puffy, and the dry skin is easing off a bit. Thanks to all those who recommeded them!

Got work again today, hopefully my confidence will stay but...

I think I get more stressed a lot easier on 'tane than before, hope that stops. I spent hours tidying yesterday and felt so much better, even though the room was relatively tidy anyway - I've been doing that a lot and dont know if thats a good thing or not?

Aw just found a biiiiig one on my shoulder was hoping they would stay clear but aw well.

Will post later if I remember


Vanessa

[Vanessa13688]

Whoops looks like I forgot to post again last night. Ive been drinking soo much water the last 2 days (well relatively coz I dont drink much anyway) and its helped loads.

Work went fine today as I stayed hidden cooking in the kitchen but I really think the grease from the fryers blocks my pores.

Had chinese and feel really ill now talk about lipid levels! As long as its not regular I suppose Ill be ok hehe

Well its late here, gotta go sleep as I dont really sleep enough.

Summer School tomorrow! Oh the joy...last time I worked with kids they asked why I had pimples all over my face - what can I say??? Hopefully my skin is a little clearer so they wont pass comment as much but its still a little unnerving.

Vanessa

[Vanessa13688]

Well, it was the first day of Summer School today and the 11 year olds were ruinning about and losing things - I cant keep up! Theyre also very good at basketball! My skin looks the worst it has been in a while today, I thought that it looked OK last night after a shower but I seem to have broken out overnight again and have about 5 new spots which are very tender and hurts to movemy mouth.

Completely lost my appetite again today but made myself eat to prevent weight loss but its really hard!

Also, my sores seem to be bleeding an awful lot more than they used to, even when the top is knocked off when its ready and I havent picked! I cant win!

Well its day 2 of SS tomorrow and I hope that the kids stare less; theyre gifted and talented and one excercise was to understand first impressions and we went round the group - I was praying that my acne didnt come up so hard.

Vanessa

[Vanessa13688]

Erm just a thought; Im a bit worried about SuperGoat if anyone has heard from him, he put a thread on saying he was depressed going a while back and he hasnt replied.

Anyone?

[Vanessa13688]

Well it was the 2nd day of SSchool and my face looks...Im a bit scared to say it and jinx myself...but looks relatively clear! No new ones on my forehead and the O3 really helps the dryness, and no spots have bled today! Yes!

Hopefully this is the start of the continuous healing with no more fluctuations but we'll have to wait and see.

I played basketball with the kids the last 2 days and drank loads of water, I have a sneak feeling that this has a lot to do with it so Im going to try keep it up.

Argh! AS Results on Thursday Im so nervous!

Sop overall a good day woohoo! Things are looking UP!

Vanessa

[gamarwil]

Hi Vanessa! Wow! You sound much more positive these days! Good for you! I can't believe you're running a summer school for 11 year olds! You're a brave girl! I have two 11 year old nephews and they stare at me sometimes (probably counting my zits ) but I try to move by them quickly.

Good Luck with the school and continue that clearing!!

[Vanessa13688]

Cheers, its nice to hear someone say Im sounding positive, everyone complains that I talk about my problems but I dont think they understand.

Im helping run it and am a sort of group leader, sometimes they stare and I feel really conscious of my spots but most of the time theyre OK. Most of them have relatively decent manners which is unheard of!

How are things going for you?

Will try keep positive as a new habit.

Vanessa

[LV Boy]

Hey Vanessa! How's it going? Summer school and all, hope it'll continue to go well. Good to hear that you're finally clearing (from what you've said in other topics). You and me are pretty much on the same page as far as treatment goes (in terms of situation and period in time on the drug). So just checking with ya! Hope you continue to clear and keep me updated.

-RyAn.

[smileinyoursleep]

Awesome! I'm so glad your starting to see some big improvement. It may take a while for Accutane to start working, but when it does it works in a hurry! So goodluck with the rest of your treatment, I have a feeling this is the beginning of a new life for you.

[gamarwil]

Cheers, its nice to hear someone say Im sounding positive, everyone complains that I talk about my problems but I dont think they understand.

Im helping run it and am a sort of group leader, sometimes they stare and I feel really conscious of my spots but most of the time theyre OK. Most of them have relatively decent manners which is unheard of!

How are things going for you?

Will try keep positive as a new habit.

Vanessa   

I'm in week 13 and I see my derm tomorrow. I'm not totally ecstatic with my progress, but I'm past the worst part, I guess. I was pretty clear a week ago or so, but then I got a couple more, and these won't go away as quickly....I guess it's just "'tane doin' it's thang" ? It's also "that time of the month", so whatever. Anyway, all is well here. Good days and bad, right?

Tomorrow is another day.......