29 replies to this topic

[nomo]

Went for my first lab tests since starting accutane....not so good.  Triglycerides up from 71 to 255.  That's quite a jump.  However, I did have two glasses of wine the night before.  I am wondering how much of the trigs elevation was due to the alcohol.    My doc is gonna let me stay on it and just follow them, maybe end up on lipitor for a bit if they continue to climb. 

 

I thought I was doing really well watching trigs...no dairy and minimal animal--chx or fish only--only 1-3 times per week.  Only egg whites once a week.  Apparently, I could do better.  I didn't realize the close relation to carbs and trigs, so I am going to cut those out also.  Plant based entirely and low carb.

 

I am really, really, really starting to see results.  I am loving this shit and will be sadly disappointed if I must stop....I am willing to do anything for clear, smooth face now that I have a taste of what it feels like to not turn away from mirrors all day. I didn't realize how less oil made you look so much clearer.

[nomo]

Day 38: Any side effects are barely noticeable at this point.  My lips become chapped if I go without something, but no crack peeling.  My face hasn't cracked or peeled or flaked either.  I use Emu oil at night and sometimes vitamin E oil. The only side effect that I still notice is fatigue.  I sleep a full night, which I never did before, and enjoy a good nap on day's off.  Not too bad.

 

My skin is looking 30% less bumps and the texture is smoothing out also.  My pores are minimizing in size. I still am happy with accutane. 

[nomo]

Well, my face is a bit of a shit show right now.  Probably 10-12 zits. Decent sized ones.  It's kinda like the initial breakout again.  I'm sure this won't be the last! Scalp is no longer dry.  I always go through phases of pretty dry scalp and the over the counter shampoos dry my hair out way too much....I have finally found a perfect shampoo: Dermorganics. Works wonders.  I tried everything.

 

The skin on my hands feels smoother and thinner.  With a few tiny scattered blistery looking bumps. 

[electricbetty]

Don't worry nomo, mine's done the same. It was all good for about 7 weeks then my face exploded in boils. It looks as bad as when I started, but it will clear up eventually, you have to keep reminding yourself of that.

[nomo]

I sure hope so! It is still a mess.  I just read over some other people's logs and do feel a bit more hopeful...we all progress at different rates.  I sure wish it would stop already.

 

I have my 2 month appointment tomorrow...I'm sure my triglycerides are thru the roof considering they went from 171 to 255 in one month.  I considered cheating by not taking the med for a couple days, but decided that logic was beyond ridiculous.  I'd rather take Lipitor for a few months than risk pancreatitis.

[nomo]

My triglycerides came back down.  So...

 

Baseline: 71

30 days: 255

60 days: 81

 

I had two glasses of wine the night before the 30 day tests (and no fatty foods and fasted for 12+ hours), I blame that spike on the alcohol.

 

However, my cholesterol is soaring through the roof. LDL super high and HDL decreasing.  My total cholesterol was somewhere around 250.  My doctor said Accutane only affects triglycerides, but I don't believe him.  It seems ridiculous that they have risen in two months with no other lifestyle changes but the med.  And, I have found plenty of research that states Accutane can affect triglycerides,  cholesterol, and LFT's. I'm okay with it, because I am confident that they will drop eventually.

 

My skin is again improving, but not clear. I am satisfied with the progress at this point.  I am starting to forget I even take Accutane.  At first I was so obsessed.  I'm glad I got over that.  I am steering clear of wine for the rest of the course. 

[nomo]

Man, I don't know when I will ever clear. 3 months, 12 days in and I have about 5 monster cysts/boils/disgustingness.  And still a lot of microcysts.  Side effects are not bothersome.  I have bumpy red rashes on my arms if I'm not moisturizing, but with hydrocortisone or heavy lotion, it clears within a day or two.  Lips super dry and peely and nothing seems to be working. Carmex, Burt's, bag balm, aveeno, aquaphor, Vaseline, desinonide...nothing helps. 

 

I have been drinking wine and I wonder if that stalls one's skin from clearing??  Not sure. I hope I'm not one that this stuff doesn't work for.

[electricbetty]

Does alcohol interfere with it working? Crap, I've been carrying on as normal... okay I don't drink much anyway (in the last weekend I had two pints of lager on Thursday evening and one small glass of wine on the Sunday with a meal), but last Saturday I was celebrating a big competition win and had SO MUCH GIN. My skin has begun getting more spotty than month 1/2... hmm...

[everythingthatshimmers]

Have you tried hydrocortisone on your lips? Mine were really awful about a month ago and I used it for a few days per my dermatologist's recommendation and they completely turned around. Not normal now but better. I used the hydrocortisone ointment for my lips because it kind of looks like lip gloss (as opposed to the cream) although either would probably work. Just make sure you follow the label, you're not supposed to use it too much. How much longer do you have? I should be done in about ten weeks if I make it that long....can't wait to have this behind me. I'm glad your side effects aren't too troublesome, I bet your skin will make a turnaround soon! I've read about people having pretty dramatic changes in the last couple of months. Hang in there!

[nomo]

I'll try the hydrocortisone.  I do have some. Denison, I think it's called.  It didn't work much before, but I'll try again. 

 

I haven't been drinking regularly, but had a 2 week vacation that I over drank numerous times.  Done with that. I am just trying to figure out why the heck it's taking soooo long for me to clear up.  I have improved, but not great.