53 replies to this topic

[FrankieBGirl]

Jen!!! We did it again! Hahaha!! I just wrote in your log!! Oh god, you went to Hard Rock, right? LOVE it there!!!! I gotta go there soon, that's a good idea! Anyway- Yes things definately go by quicker when you're having a good time. Yep, I hear you on the makeup- mine looks good with it, but without it im still not where i wanna be.

And no worries about the skin colored bumps- just dont think about them and they will vamos!!!!!!!!

[beentheredonethat]

Hi Frankie - just going to leave you a little note with my product recommendations.

eye drops - try Refresh Liquigel, it's a very thick formula, takes a minute to see again after you apply it, but it lasts much longer than other drops i tried. Every time i thought i had a headache, it turned out to be an eyeache and these eyedrops fixed me up.

lips - i recommend a two step approach. First Dr. Dan's Cortibalm right on the lip surface. It's a waxy formula that prevents further evaporation, and contains hydrocortisone which really tones down the inflamed redness and can help heal cracks (especially in the corners of the mouth), and doesn't contain any irritating ingredients that can aggravate peeling or inflammation. Then put something moisturizing on top - i loved Clinique Superbalm, but Aquaphor worked pretty well too.

achiness - take fish oil supplements.

[FrankieBGirl]

Beenthere- awesome!! thank you! I have heard of Dr Dan's cortibalm. I'll give it a go. Is it normal for your lips to be super dry one day, normal the next, etc? Mine seem to be doing that alot. As far as fish oil supplements..do you reccomend a certain brand or anything?? Ive heard that some are better than others- like some wont benefit you at all, while others will improve skin, hair, etc. Ive been using a new eyedrop called... damn it i forgot, but it seems to be doing pretty good..so far, anyway!! I will try that, though- because I like to switch off so I dont get too used to anything. Is it a RX or otc??

Day 18~

Seeing as though I stayed up almost all night talking to a guy Im interested in last night- I am relatively not tired.. AND I worked 10 hours today.. so yeah.. No achiness today, I even worked out a little bit (for the first time in my life- a friend of mine suggested trying it to see if I feel better because it helps get you going and gives you energy, etc) I never worked out before because Im about 105 lbs and I dont want to lose any weight, so I always thought that working out was bad.

My lips were tolerable today.. and my chest didnt hurt, nor my head- however, I never say never because likely it will come back once I let myself think its gone.. Haha!! My skin is matte all day long.. I really like that.. Nothing to report, but thats not a bad thing.

[Jen121]

Hey Frankie! I use Dr. Dans balm and love it!! it really does help the cracks and i barely apply it. At night when i go out i put that and then a pink or neutral color over it. Also I would try the omega 3*6*9 pills.. I am taking a walgreens brand of them and it has fish oil in them also. I take them with my accutane pill and it even helps absorb that. So since you didnt mention any pimples... im guessing your doing good and that great to hear!

and yes i get the same way..sometimes the side effects are worse on certain days.. Hang in there!!! were all going to make it with perfect skin at the end

[beentheredonethat]

Beenthere- awesome!! thank you! I have heard of Dr Dan's cortibalm. I'll give it a go. Is it normal for your lips to be super dry one day, normal the next, etc? Mine seem to be doing that alot. As far as fish oil supplements..do you reccomend a certain brand or anything?? Ive heard that some are better than others- like some wont benefit you at all, while others will improve skin, hair, etc. Ive been using a new eyedrop called... damn it i forgot, but it seems to be doing pretty good..so far, anyway!! I will try that, though- because I like to switch off so I dont get too used to anything. Is it a RX or otc??

You'll have to ask your pharmacist to order the Dr. Dan's Cortibalm for you. I got mine at Walgreens (tell them it's in their special order book) and it always came in within 24 hours. For fish oil i used the odorless fish oil that they sell in groceries and pharmacies. I don't know about some brands providing no benefit, i know these worked fine for me and didn't give me fishy burps which are really gross. My aches weren't too terrible, so i only took one fish oil pill each day right along with my Accutane dose (might as well take them together as extra insurance that you have enough fat for absorption). I moved up to two a day every now and then if i felt achy and then moved back to one after a couple days. I wasn't taking it for skin and hair (as far as i can tell it didn't help that at all, but i wasn't taking a whole lot of it). If you aren't achy then i wouldn't bother. The eyedrops are OTC.

Yes, it's normal for the dryness to fluctuate, especially early in the course or after you've been on a particular dose for some time.

[Jules70]

Seeing as though I stayed up almost all night talking to a guy Im interested in last night- I am relatively not tired.. AND I worked 10 hours today.. so yeah.. No achiness today, I even worked out a little bit (for the first time in my life- a friend of mine suggested trying it to see if I feel better because it helps get you going and gives you energy, etc) I never worked out before because Im about 105 lbs and I dont want to lose any weight, so I always thought that working out was bad.

My lips were tolerable today.. and my chest didnt hurt, nor my head- however, I never say never because likely it will come back once I let myself think its gone.. Haha!! My skin is matte all day long.. I really like that.. Nothing to report, but thats not a bad thing.

Hey Frankie!! I know what you mean about the long work days and then the long nights. My problem is they wipe me out now. I used to get by but not right now. I've been spending more time outdoors doing some type of physical activity. Not a gym person. I figure if this drug messes with you, I'm always hungry, I might as well try and make it work for me any way I can. I don't need to gain anymore weight. But I haven't found myself to be achey from that. Although I will admit my back was bothering me last night when I was trying to go to sleep, couldn't get comfy. Well, here's to no achiness or chest pains today!!! Take care, Jules

[TennesseeGrl]

Yay for your side effects going away! I had those weird chest pains, and so did AmberLynn and Henry (Speakeasy3d). They went away after the first month!

[FrankieBGirl]

Hey all!!! Its been awhile, damn! I'm back, though- How's it? I got a car today!!!!!!!! Boooo-Yah!!! Such a happy girl right now.

For me, Things have been good. Totally matte skin ALL day- Literally. I love that. My skin was literally flawless the past couple weeks, but I didnt want to jinx myself and say anything about it... Nonetheless, i woke up to a small few breakouts. They are sort of scattered, but they are definately not cysts. I have one small cystic type thing on my chin..but it's weird..it doesnt hurt, but it's definately a cyst.. I dunno I hope it goes away. I would say I have about 7 small zits. My back broke out, too- and that sucked cuz i couldnt wear my fun (aka Skimpy) tops... I have a super fitted tshirt on tonight that says "TIPS WELCOME" and i thought thatd grab a little attention, haha!!! Ill do some bar dancing... Yeehawww! I think Im going to a sports bar type place tonight just to hang out and have fun..they have good wings...and its on the beach, so that leaves some opportunities open... Its so weird cuz I havent had fun like this in a long time and IM really enjoying myself.. I hope this lasts.

As far as side effects.. Eh...Ive felt better in my life, but im also not feeling really ill, either. I think its during the work week that I feel worst (obviously).. I have like back pain and everything.. Other than that, nothing bad. My lips get dry one day, normal the next- its weird. Pieces of skin come off, though and it leaves a raw spot which really blows. They bled the other day and it burned like crazy to put lip balm on that spot.. Oy!!! And every time i pick my pup up, his claws leave scratch marks on my arm. It looks like I was in a catfight, haha! My mood has been great..very happy lately, but also sad sometimes cuz I lost ALOT of friends from avoiding them when I was at my worst with my skin... So, I dunno..that bums me out.. but Im trying to meet new people and have a good attitude about it.

Anyway- I will respond to everyone later on because Im about to step out.. So I will talk to yall later.

[Jules70]

Go and have a good time girl!!! Of course you know we'll want to hear all about the evening later on!!

[FrankieBGirl]

Beenthere- Hey hun, how's it? I haven't been able to get the Omega pills, so I decided Im gonna wait until my next derm appt on June 7 for my first checkup and ask her what she reccomends. As far as Dr dan's cortibalm- this stuff rules!!! Thanks so much for the rec. I hope you are doing well, please let me know how things are!!!

Jen- I do the same thing!!! I have been using MAC Underage lipglass over the Dr Dans and/or Aquaphor and it is awesome. I hope you are feeling better. I gotta peek at your log and give you a holla. LOL Youre damn right we will have clear skin at the end of this. Its nice to have other people going through the same things. Did you notice an increase in breakouts around Day 20 or so? I didnt have any signs of initial breakouts until about then i think.. Its nto bad, but I had good skin for awhile and woke up one day with a bunch of smaller zits. Oy!

Jules- Oy! Oh my god, long days and nights- i hear u. I used to be able to function on like 3 hours of sleep..but now, I get exhausted halfway through the day. Usually if I take a quick nap I am ok until the nighttime and/or I can stay up later. Back pain seems to be my most bothersome side effect. It hits me on like, Wednesdays and stays until Friday- then Im fine during the weekend. Which, actually- makes me feel better because I thought something was really wrong, and since it goes away when Im not working..its obviously my job. LoL Physical activity and me dont mix. Oy I am SO lazy- but I am naturally really thin (Im built like Giselle Bundchen.. Very tall, and very lean but with curves.) Im lucky in that respect but lately my appetite has been HUGE. I said in a previous post that I could stand to even gain a few pounds so Im not worried. Let me know how you are feeling, ok? We gotta support each other in this battle!!!

Tenn- Hey sweetpea! Yep, mine have seemed to go away, too. I still get chest pains (over on the left side) but it seems to come from my back. Its weird..it doesnt feel like heartburn anymore- so thats a relief. I hope you are doing well.


I do not have any concept of what the hell day it is.. Its about Day 24 I think.

So.....Socializing with other humans turns out to be fun. Haha!!!! It's really weird but I used to be a partier...then I became a hermit (cuz of acne).. and almost like, paranoid of other people. Now, I have been going out and having a good time and I can't seriously imagine how I survived the past year and a half. I get bored really easily the last month..which isnt good, but it means I have energy again... to like, want to live. Which is nice, haha! I had a great time last night.. I didnt drink, though- but i'm okay with that.. im not really a big drinker, anyway..when Im out. When I know im staying at someones house, I will bathe in the liquor haha!! I had guys giving me dollars in my jean pockets (cuz of my shirt) and that was hilarious and profitable. Perhaps I will make this a business venture. My next tshirt will have to say "Give me your wallet" haha


Anyway... Ok, so my skin. My skin is okay.. It's not perfect by any means, but it's coverable with makeup.. the cyst thing I had on my chin popped last night with fury- REALLY weird because it didnt hurt at all..and usually when something is that...umm...active?- it hurts. This didnt hurt..i just easily extracted it. Whatever, buh-bye sir! The other smaller zits are fine..they aren't welcome by any means, but they arent bothering me either. Its so weird how my opinion of acne has changed. I dont let it hold me back anymore- maybe because the bumps I do have are about a tenth of the size of the ones I used to get. Cysts fu*king SUCK, I tell you. They were SO big. Now they are almost flat, and very small. I hope I continue on this path until the breakouts just completely shrivel and are nonexistant and I have flawless, clear skin. My main goal with taking Accutane was to get rid of cystic acne... I dont expect perfection and my Dr liked that but she said she thought Id respond beautifully to it..so I hope so.

Ummm.. Now, side effects.. Yeah yeah, don't feel 100% but pretty damn okay. Im just trying to stop overanalyzing every ache and pain and get on with it... I had a really rough start.. I honestly did NOT think I was gonna be able to stay on this medication..but I waited it out and I gotta say, things are alright now. I dont have crushing chest pain, No more intense neckaches..etc. I mean, never say never- they could always come back..but Im hoping they dont. My eyes are dry and my vision is sort of shitty..which is not lovely.. but I have an eye checkup coming up anyway..so Ill let her know Im on Accutane and see what she thinks.
Ok, lovelies- talk to u soon. I think my log is boring.. but, whatever! It's okay..it's mostly for my own selfish healing process, haha!

[Jen121]

Frankie! You know I had to go the page number 3 to find your log!!! your SLACKING! haha its okay its probably better that you arent on 24/7 cuz it means your doing good and living life

Thanks for stopping by my log and telling me your experiences... its nice to relate to someone And esspecially since we are both the same age. Thats a real good way to look at the situations.. its my life and im going to live it how i want to. THANKS for the insights

I hope your skin is behaving and give us an update wont ya? haha Have an awesome weekend!

[DMBsDreamGrl]

Frankie, Hey girl, I've read the whole first page of your Journal and I enjoyed every bit of it, you crack me up I will definitely be checking up on your progress, Good luck with everything

[Heather F]

Frankie did you ever find out what was wrong with your ears? Sometimes I feel like a super hypochondriac but today my ears feel really strange- almost itchy. Like when you're a little kid and you're about to get an ear infection. Is that how you felt?

[FrankieBGirl]

Hey all.. Jeez I haven't updated at ALL... I'm sorry!!!

Everything is awesome so far.. Just about to finish up 2 months, I can't believe it! I go to the derm on Wednesday for my 2 month checkup. I hope my bloodwork is good.. I'm mostly concerned about that.

Also, my derm wants to up my dosage to 60 mgs, but I'm a little nervous to do so. first of all, it's expensive enough being on 40 mgs. I don't know what to do, I know I should just shut up and listen to her.. but I responded really well on 40 mgs, and I had a slew of side effects when I first started.. I'm afraid I'll be pushing my luck if I do an increase, but I also REALLY don't want my acne to come back ever again because I am enjoying the hell out of myself with clear skin.


Anyway- Thanks, DMB! Haha, You're too kind, I am a ramblin' fool sometimes! I went back and read some of my first entries into this log and I was like "I talk waaaaay too much."

Heather... Ya know, It SORT OF felt like that, along with a really strange pressure. You know when you go underwater and hold your nose.. it sort of feels like your ears wanna pop? Or in an airplane? That's how it felt.. and it would make these weird skipping noises.. like fluttering/itching. It went away, though- so hopefully that never comes back because it freaked me out! Hopefully you will be fine.. go to your doctor if it bothers you, and they can reassure you that nothing is wrong!