141 replies to this topic

[Perplexity]

Well it's nearly been a month since I started my antibiotic and I start my accutane course this week on Thursday or Friday. I have seen maybe slight improvement overall, but definitely not any groundbreaking results. I still have all the nodules and deep under the skin stuff, it just seems like maybe a few spots have become less inflamed and protruding. I can't say that's from the medicine though, because that has been happening on and off for the longest time.

I don't know what the doc will say when I meet with him again this week, but I'm looking forward to starting the accutane process.

Staying as positive as possible through all of this, I'm in a bad situation with my household right now (divorced parents and step parent issue) so all the added stress that has been building up for so many years is seriously not helping my mentality. I know all of this will make me stronger and a better person, I just need to find strength through struggle.

[Perplexity]

• Hey guys. I just got home from the derm apponitment and it went pretty good. He was pleased with the improvement from the antibiotic and actually gave me the option to continue taking over starting the accutane. I decided to go with accutane and go for it. I have been given 40mg a day twice a day so a total of 80mg per day of claravis. I feel like it's a super high dosage for me since I'm only 120 pounds, but I will take what I was given. I just took the first pill a few minutes ago and there are so many mixed emotions running through my mind. I'll keep updating things as I go and thank all who have supported me so far in this wild journey.

[candyyan114]

I know you are going through a tough time. I have been on accutane started from Feb. And it's almost 2 months now...I hv brokeout during day 19 to now but I got a few pimples now...but there's still redness..Just don't give up!! You will getting better and better !

[Perplexity]

I know you are going through a tough time. I have been on accutane started from Feb. And it's almost 2 months now...I hv brokeout during day 19 to now but I got a few pimples now...but there's still redness..Just don't give up!! You will getting better and better !

Thanks man, I hope everything ends up working for you as well, take care.

[Perplexity]

Day 4 - Things have been up and down so far. I have been getting bad headaches starting day 2 and got another at the end of day 3 and now still going into day 4. I'm really scared because I rarely get headaches and these are lasting for hours. I went to bed last night with a horrible headache and all throughout the night (8-9 hours of sleep) I would wake up and still have the pain in my head. My skin feels really tight on my face and kind of painful. I don't know why I'm getting these, I'm eating properly and doing things I'm suppose to do. I called the doctor about being put on 80mg a day and he said it was the right dosage. I guess I was just really shocked it's that high since I'm only a mere 115-120 pounds. I'm just really scared right now, I can't keep having these headaches, I'm going to call tomorrow and explain whats going on, to see what he says about it.

[*Spiro*]

Day 4 - Things have been up and down so far. I have been getting bad headaches starting day 2 and got another at the end of day 3 and now still going into day 4. I'm really scared because I rarely get headaches and these are lasting for hours. I went to bed last night with a horrible headache and all throughout the night (8-9 hours of sleep) I would wake up and still have the pain in my head. My skin feels really tight on my face and kind of painful. I don't know why I'm getting these, I'm eating properly and doing things I'm suppose to do. I called the doctor about being put on 80mg a day and he said it was the right dosage. I guess I was just really shocked it's that high since I'm only a mere 115-120 pounds. I'm just really scared right now, I can't keep having these headaches, I'm going to call tomorrow and explain whats going on, to see what he says about it.

The first week I started accutane I also had horrible headaches. Just when I was starting to get really worried they went away. I said to myself I will give it 2 more days before I call my doctor and the next morning I woke up and they were gone. That happened somewhere around day 6 or 7 I am now on day 13 and have had no headaches. I know it's pretty common. If your that worried I would call the doctor and / or stop taking the medicine for a couple of days and see if they go away then maybe restart. Your doctor will know best though. Good luck, let us know how your doing!

[Perplexity]

I went to bed last night feeling good, but woke up in the middle of the night with a bad headache again. I had trouble sleeping the rest of the night and woke up later on still with a very minor headache going. It went away after I was up for a few hours and now I'm feeling good. Just going to keep pushing through all this.

[*Spiro*]

I went to bed last night feeling good, but woke up in the middle of the night with a bad headache again. I had trouble sleeping the rest of the night and woke up later on still with a very minor headache going. It went away after I was up for a few hours and now I'm feeling good. Just going to keep pushing through all this.

That's the only thing we can do. Put up with the bs of the meds and push on through. The things we do for clear skin huh? I know the headaches will stop. For your sake I hope that they subside sooner than later. I noticed my headaches felt like dehydration headaches and I started to drink more fluids and that might be what solved the headache issue. Water seems to become your best friend when being on the accutane. For the headaches and the lips.. Have a good night. Check with ya later keep on keeping on

[Perplexity]

Day 6 - My skin has been progressively getting more red and dry mostly on the face. For me, the majority of my acne is on my shoulders/back/neck/random spots that piss you off and make you go who the hell gets acne here? so for the pain in my face, it just sucks since that's normally the only clear area. It has this sunburn feel to it, It's hard to describe, but it's got this tightness and just uncomfrotable feeling to it all the time. The redness isn't horrifying, but it's definitely prevalent.

I woke up with a headache this morning so that's not good, but hopefully after I eat and wake up more it will fade away. Reading all the forums and people posting about their accutane experience, I knew it would be rough, but wow, this drug is no joke. I have never felt so weak and just overall depleted in my body overall.

[*Spiro*]

Day 6 - My skin has been progressively getting more red and dry mostly on the face. For me, the majority of my acne is on my shoulders/back/neck/random spots that piss you off and make you go who the hell gets acne here? so for the pain in my face, it just sucks since that's normally the only clear area. It has this sunburn feel to it, It's hard to describe, but it's got this tightness and just uncomfrotable feeling to it all the time. The redness isn't horrifying, but it's definitely prevalent.

I woke up with a headache this morning so that's not good, but hopefully after I eat and wake up more it will fade away. Reading all the forums and people posting about their accutane experience, I knew it would be rough, but wow, this drug is no joke. I have never felt so weak and just overall depleted in my body overall.

You know the accutane is no joke. Things change everyday with me since I started a few weeks ago. Are you moisturizing your face. You mention tightness and sunburn effect. That can happen sometimes when your not moisturizing well enough.

We are all here for you to lean on . Seriously. Any question or any support u need just hop on to my log and ask anything. I will try to help anyway I can. We are all in this together hang in there.
The headaches should stop soon hopefully, this is the hard part about the meds. Everyday something changes Good or bad.

It will get better! Just give it some time

Edited by Betsy6165, 27 March 2012 - 09:49 PM.

[Perplexity]

Day 7 - Well, the headaches have been much better yesterday and into today so far. I haven't had a severe one pop up or anything, so I'm very happy with that. In school today, someone came up to me and goes "Looks like you got quite a sunburn there" I wasn't upset about it because they wouldn't understand, but still no fun dealing with that. My face has started to feel better though from the tightness and pain.

It's still red, but since the pain is much less, I'm hoping that means it's healing somewhat. I have been moisturizing pretty much all day the past 4 days, and will continue hoping it gets rid of the redness more and more.

Other than dry lips and what I already explained, I feel pretty good. Weird that it's already been a week after today, feels like I just started. As for my acne, no breakouts really, no noticeable differences in the current acne on my skin either.

[Perplexity]

Day 9 - I have started breaking out a little bit so I guess that's a sign it's doing what it's suppose to. I feel a new cyst coming in, but the rest are smaller whiteheads above my lips and what not. My skin is still red, but less painful, drinking tons of water and moisturizing like crazy hoping it gets better.

As for my physical state, I have felt a lot better the past few days, no headaches, I feel pretty normal witch is a good sign.

On my sheet that gives me information on what to take for certain symptoms, It says to take 400 IU twice a day to combat the dry skin. I have been taking one a day starting about 3 days ago because it says to take one a day on the bottle. Should I go ahead and take two a day even though the bottle states to take one?

It also states on the sheet to use SPF 30 sunscreen daily, even if I don't go outside or anything should I be applying the sunscreen daily?

Edited by Perplexity, 30 March 2012 - 02:04 PM.

[*Spiro*]

Your taking 400 IU's of what for the dry skin?

Thats excellent news that your headaches went away!! I do use sunscreen everyday. It is inside my AM moisturizer so that makes it easy. Plus since my moisturizer is a noncomedogenic I don't break out from it. Usually I break out if I use sunscreens on my face.

Day 9 - I have started breaking out a little bit so I guess that's a sign it's doing what it's suppose to. I feel a new cyst coming in, but the rest are smaller whiteheads above my lips and what not. My skin is still red, but less painful, drinking tons of water and moisturizing like crazy hoping it gets better.

As for my physical state, I have felt a lot better the past few days, no headaches, I feel pretty normal witch is a good sign.

On my sheet that gives me information on what to take for certain symptoms, It says to take 400 IU twice a day to combat the dry skin. I have been taking one a day starting about 3 days ago because it says to take one a day on the bottle. Should I go ahead and take two a day even though the bottle states to take one?

It also states on the sheet to use SPF 30 sunscreen daily, even if I don't go outside or anything should I be applying the sunscreen daily?

[Perplexity]

Sorry I forgot to include it in the post. I'm taking 400IU of Vitamin E. I am using cetaphil moisturizer, maybe I should look into the brand you use, since it has SPF 30 in it as well.

[*Spiro*]

Sorry I forgot to include it in the post. I'm taking 400IU of Vitamin E. I am using cetaphil moisturizer, maybe I should look into the brand you use, since it has SPF 30 in it as well.

I have been thinking about starting Vitamin e aswell. So let me know if you see a difference or if it helps anyway. I started taking fish oil and biotin a couple days ago hoping for the fish oils to help joint pain and dry eyes. Biotin I am taking because I'm scared out of my mind that my hair will fall out. So any preventive measure I can take, I will. I love my moisturizer doesn't make me oily or break me out!! All good things! What side effects are you having so far?

[Perplexity]

Day 10 - The redness has been getting better, I haven't gotten any headaches for a while now. I have started to break out a bit, but mainly all smaller pustules with white heads on them, so that's definitely nice. I went driving last night for a few hours and I could see just fine, so no bad night vision as of yet. The side effects I have been experiencing would be dry eyes, dry lips, headaches that went away for now, and maybe a bit more sleepy. I am on 80mg a day and only weigh 120 pounds, so it's pretty safe to say the drugs kicking my you know what! Been feeling a lot better, like i'm getting use to it more hopefully.

[Perplexity]

Day 11 - I ended up getting a few bloody noses last night in the middle of the night while sleeping. They were minor and didn't last very long, but a hassle nonetheless haha. I have always gotten bloody noses since I was a little kid so it's nothing new or scary to me. I noticed the blackheads on and around my nose are starting to protrude and feel more exposed or out if that makes sense. Definitely a weird feeling and different from what I'm use to.

[Perplexity]

Day 12 - I have been breaking out with a lot of white headed pustules, with the wonderful arrival of a few new cysts of course. I really hope this is the initial breakout even though I don't know if it's normal to be getting this so quickly into taking the medication. The redness is way better on my face, it's starting to feel more normal. It just sucks all these breakouts are happening all at once pretty much.

[*Spiro*]

Day 12 - I have been breaking out with a lot of white headed pustules, with the wonderful arrival of a few new cysts of course. I really hope this is the initial breakout even though I don't know if it's normal to be getting this so quickly into taking the medication. The redness is way better on my face, it's starting to feel more normal. It just sucks all these breakouts are happening all at once pretty much.

I bet its your IB. I got mine around day 6. I am on day 21 and it looks like my face is starting to settle down, I HOPE! My IB consisted of a bunch of white heads and a few breakouts of little cysts too. I hope its a small breakout and clear out quickly!

[Perplexity]

Day 12 - I have been breaking out with a lot of white headed pustules, with the wonderful arrival of a few new cysts of course. I really hope this is the initial breakout even though I don't know if it's normal to be getting this so quickly into taking the medication. The redness is way better on my face, it's starting to feel more normal. It just sucks all these breakouts are happening all at once pretty much.

I bet its your IB. I got mine around day 6. I am on day 21 and it looks like my face is starting to settle down, I HOPE! My IB consisted of a bunch of white heads and a few breakouts of little cysts too. I hope its a small breakout and clear out quickly!

I hope so too! I'm glad your skin seems to be settling down. My derm said my skin would be up and down for 11-12 weeks and then improvement from there on out. Did you have to get your second blood test yet since your on day 21?