267 replies to this topic

[Vanessa13688]

I feel so crappy today, I have a virus or something which is attacking my nerves...I stand up and it feels like someone is stood behind me, knocking my knees out! Head aches badly and I have an infection or sore in the outside corner of my right eye. Ouch. Supposed to be going to my boyfriends to house sit with him so hes not on his own but dont know now.

Not long left on tane now! Hope I get another round because I have cysts all over my back still, just when I thought Id got rid of them.

V

[Vanessa13688]

I missed my 3 pills yday and i have a few new spots! NOOOOO! All my hard work is going down the drain it looks, what a disapointment. Face looks awful, flushed and scarred and spotty. not a good day.

[guy20uk]

Hiya

Just been reading through your logs. Thought id make myself known as we're all in this shitty roller coaster of tane together. Your a great girl, it seems you've had some ups and downs, but I saulte your confidence and determination. Its all worth while in the end and I wish you all the best with your course.

What have been your 3 favourite products which have helped during accutane (can include vitimains, creams, supplements, lip balms, moisturisers, anything)?

[Vanessa13688]

Hey great to see you here, Ive been reading your log! Yeah, my experiences have been really mixed from highs to major lows but I struggled on and Im nearly done with my first course. Im hoping to get another because I dont want to let what I have accomplished to go waste.

My 3 favourite products? Has to be...
Blistex, such a wonder balm!
Eucerin facial moisturiser, only needs applying once and it lasts all day
and...
Boots Flax Oil with Omega 3 and Vitamin E. They loosen aching joints great and really help with dry skin.

Good to see you here though

Vanessa

[Vanessa13688]

A quick post before bed...things are really shitty at the moment, I feel really down and want to cry all the time again...home stuff, college, boyfriend, mates, EVERYTHING! Feels like this is the only way I can let people know how Im really feeling coz I'll just breakdown otherwise. I dont feel in control of anything at the moment and its not a good feeling. I cant see whats going to happen next and Im fed up of it all. I was so happy before but seem to be really down now, just things were looking up. People praise me for feeling happy about myself coz it doesnt happen often and now I feel as if Im going to disappoint people. I knoe some people will think Im getting depressed but I have SAD so get down anyway I just needed to get some things off my chest.

V

[Vanessa13688]

Things are still crappy. Everythings a mess and I got no sleep last night, spent all of 5 hours crying. Need to break this circle. Taking a step back from my relationship, give me more time to think. Skin very dry as I have been forgetting to take my flax+O3. Missing a few pills by accident. Have clear fluid draining from my ear and not sure if its tane related or if its coz Ive just had a virus. Not good.

V

[Vanessa13688]

Im at college, I finished at 12.20 and cant get the bus until 4.30. It sucks. Also, I have a driving lesson 2-4 so I will be travelling for a grand total of 5 hours today. Great.

I have an ear infection and a blinding headache from this virus so things physically arent great.

Emotionally they arent much better, things are still really nervous between my and my boyfriend and I really hate college right now. My friends dont seem to want to be my friends and 3 has become a crowd. I have a BIG workload because all my frees are taken by driving lessons which are a priority as my dad will be working away again soon. I just want to cry all the time. Although I have seasonal depression Im scared that I will get as depressed as last year which was very scary. I use a special light to combat it but timing is difficult, leaving the house at 7.15 and not getting in until 5.45, then to have dinner and do work...there just isnt time.

I havent posted in ages because nothing has changed really, some people who saw me in the middle of my initial then last night said what a dramatic improvement but I still see myself as having acne - I know where all the scars are and to people do still think they are spots when they arent.

I just want to curl up and lie in the corner until everything sorts itself out, I want to give up. It doesnt seem as if anyone checks this anymore so what the hell, I could write whatever I want.

Glad theres only 15 days of this stuff left now.

V

[pabloreynoso833]

Hey "Rosie"
I know it's tough, but hang in there! Accutane was probably one of the hardest times of my life, simply because I felt sooo vulnerable and self-conscious and my emotions were drained on that medicine!~
I'm 17 years old, and I started Accutane in the January of '05. I know it seems scary once you start, as there are SO MANY health risks involved, but don't worry about those. Generally, people are fine. I had some pretty big cysts; I had acne on my neck, face (obviously), and the back of my shoulders. Once I started Accutane, I became VERY dry. My face would always be peeling, my lips would be chapped (until I found Cocoa Butter, which is AMAZING), and I actually lost hair if someone would ruffle it or after I got out of the shower.
Now, I have practically no acne. I had to stop in the end of July, because my doctor put me on it for another month since it took me for a while to react. I'll get little pimples every so often, but they'll always go away.
Don't worry; hang in there!~ You should be happy with the results~
Paul

[gamarwil]

Hi Vanessa! Hope you're doing better today. I pm'd you yesterday. Hope it helped!

[Vanessa13688]

thanks gamarwil. im really short of time atm but ill PM you back. it really boosted my morale, thankyou so much

[Vanessa13688]

Quick post - had the day off college yday to recuperate from these viruses and seems to have done me good. I struggled though 2day but managed and dont feel as bad now.

V

[gamarwil]

Hey Vanessa! Just wanted to check in to see how you're doing. Hope all is well.

[Vanessa13688]

Thanks Gamarwil, things have started improving lately thanks - things are starting to fall into place again even though Im still really stressed about my university application and things. Ive been away on a geology res. trip for the last few days so havent been on and am still too tired to post properly! Only a few days left now though I still think I need more tane but I dont think my derm will agree.

How are you?

[smileinyoursleep]

Hey rosie.

I'm glad to see a post from you. Good to know things are starting to progress for you here. I know you probably already know that Accutane can continue to work and show results even after you finish taking the pills. I'm sure it will get better as the continue to fly by.

I haven't really had any bad side effects at all. I'm starting to wonder if this drug is a little "over-hyped" if you know what i mean. So many people are deadly afraid to take this drug, thats a shame, because it seems to give the lives back to almost everyone who takes it. Or maybe i'm just one of the luckier ones to have gotten no harmful effects.

Anyways. Do you have any experience with "Hyperpigmentation" ? I think i might have a spot of it on my cheek. I'm not too sure yet. Hopefully it fades away soon.

[Vanessa13688]

Not really, I had a dark patch on my cheek for about a month but it went, no-one really noticed it apart from me. Also, my new scars from my initial appear really dark, whether thats realated Im not sure.

Nice to hear from you again! I know, I havent really been round the forum much recently, Ive been away and so busy! Im going to post properly soon, honest. I'll write about how things are goin coz its been general stuff recently, not much tane related but ahwel.

You're lucky not to have side effect, the main ones for me were definately the cracked bleeding lips (cheilitis (sp?)) and mood swings.

I read on peoples logs that they "popped the first pill" and were really scared but I took mine without any thought really and saw no effects for a while, most of the reactions within a few days MUST have been psychological.

Have you asked anywhere else about the hyperpigmentation?

So how are things going then?

Rosie aka Vanessa

[Vanessa13688]

I went away Mon, Tues and Wed on a geology residential trip to the Lake District. It was the worst 3 days of my life. No joke. I spent 7 hours travelling on Mon, did the coursework but no-one knoew what to do so we made it up, then my mates decided to disown me and comletely ignore me.

I phoned Mum the 2nd night, I missed my boyfriend (who made me feel like shit by not thinking about me enought to text to see how it was going) and family and wanted out.

Life sucks. I have no job, my bf earns £50 per weekend and I have no income, no education maintenance and dont get allowance or child benefit. Crap.

Oh, I bought a car which wiped out my savings. Shit.

Well I'll post more soon, my face is looking quite clear but its that time of the month so got a few minor spots on my chin. Nothing major.

Post more soon

Vanessa :'(

[j.l.r.m.]

Hey thanks for posting on my log. I understand what you're going through too, things can get really rough... Just keep trying to look at the positive side of things? How is your skin doing these days anyway?

[Vanessa13688]

No probs, I check it fairly regularly, everytime Im on the forum.

My skin isnt too bad, Im considering putting beofre/after pics but dont know if I dare!

I have lots of red marks and scars and about 5 small spots, mainly round my chin. It isnt as dry as it used to be but my lips are still really bad. Hope my derm puts me on another course though.

Well I think we should both take each others advise, even though its the same, and try look on the positive side; you about your skin and me about my life in general!

Grr its so frustrating having no income and everyone around you is raking money in, left right and centre!!!

Vanessa

[michael1019]

lets see some b4 and after pics vanessa!

[Vanessa13688]

i dont dare!!!!! Let me find some half decent ones then. Im warning you they aint pretty!!!!