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i am deff. having memory loss and its only my 3rd week! i cant remember peoples names, i literally couldnt remember one of my friends names because i hadnt seen her in a few weeks. it took me a good 30 seconds of haardd thinking. im wondering if it could be associated with headaches? since brain swelling brings on all sorts of bad stuff, im sure brain farts are just one of the many symptoms lol
and i wanted to let ya know your progress pics look awesome! what a difference the 4th week made. i cant wait to see the new pics!
Matty and Amanda - I hope that the damage is not permanent!! I tried to remember what I did this past weekend and it seriously took me like 5 minutes. Amanda, I hope I don't have issues with names, because I have 60 new students, and therefore, 60 new names to learn. I'm going to look into supplements that help with short term memory retention, because this could potentially be a serious problem...
Hey Giselle,
I had that memory problem on accutane also. Once I was buying fast food with my friend, going through the drive through lane. We order our food....I pay the money...but I forget to get the food!
I drove away from the window without the food, and my friend was like WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?
I was so embarassed. 
But now my memory is back. Phewf.
oh man giselle you are a trooper - 60 students!! after the first 3 id be like uuuhhhh im just going to call everyone else jim. teachers are crazy- my intro the psych teacher rememberd me the other day, and i was one of 90 students 3 years ago! that mans got talent lol
if you hear of any supplements let me know, and i'll be on the look out too.. 
Sounds like your improving that's always a good thing to hear........You gotta watch out for those nasty torrents they will def mess wit your computer.....Just be sure to read the comments on the torrent your downloading....As for the short term memory loss I kinda feel you on that one ....
oh geez short term memory loss! that should be fun when midterms and finals roll around ugh maybe ill for go that nice side effect.
Hey Giselle do u use cerave moisturizer or cream? how is that working for dry skin, and how often do u apply it? im kinda worrying about that.
Month 2, Week 2
Day 39
I have another new side effect to report! WOO HOO!!!
I have a slight rash on my right hand/wrist. I didn't notice the more severe rash on the medial/posterior side of my forearm until it started itching a couple of minutes ago.
On Friday the lecture was actually about learning and memory, which is ironic since I noticed my lack of short term memory retention this past week. The lecture focused on the physiological basis of memory formation but didn't explicitly mention the effect of certain medications on memory. I spoke with my instructor after class and he told me that there aren't any supplements on the market that have legitimate evidence of increasing memory, and that the ones that are marketed for that are gimmicks. He said that Accutane is most likely affecting my ability to concentrate, which would indirectly affect memory retention, and that it is probably not permanent. Clearly my concentration is nonexistent since I am blogging on here rather than at the library studying. I guess I will just have to talk to my PA at my next appointment to see what he recommends. I don't want to mess with my dosage until I talk to him about it.
511_603_Learning_and_Memory_lecture_notes.pdf I attached the lecture notes for fun, read it if you want to be put to sleep. 
I played pool last night after a date and felt sooooo uncomfortable leaning over the table under the obnoxiously bright light. Bright lights + acne = bad!! The guy told me a couple of times to lean over more but I would just shoot really quickly so I could stand up, away from the mean, stupid light. He probably thinks I am a weirdo! It's funny how my skin has cleared up SO much, and yet I am still left with my old avoidance mannerisms. I'm scarred for life!!! On the bright side, going on a date is a good sign that I am getting some confidence back - I haven't accepted an invitation out for a couple of months because of my acne. Yay for me!
Kaitlyn and Nightdreamer - Thank you for stopping by - I couldn't be happier with my progress!!!
John - Glad to hear that your memory returned after treatment. That confirms what my professor told me after class on Friday. That is hilarious about the drive through!! I am so broke from paying for accutane I hope that I don't forget the food once I've paid for it.
Amanda - I still googled memory supplements despite what my professor said, and ginkgko appeared on several sites. I have heard before that tuna is supposed to help with memory, I am a bit superstitious/OCD and eat tuna for 3 days straight before exams. I am almost inclined to get a prescription for adderall or ritalin for the duration of my course, lol.
Persisted - Glad I am not the only sufferer of memory loss - I thought I was imagining it!
Megan - I have been using CeraVe, and it helps somewhat on my face but not on my arm rash. I also have vanicream that I am going to use tonight on my rash/dry patches on my face and I'll report back on the results! How many days until you start treatment!?
Vsteph - Good luck with your treatment - have you seen results yet? I have been using cetaphil cleanser for years, and when I started accutane I switched from the oil-prone bottle to the gentle formula. I recommend it, it works well!
Actually, there are many some supplements for memory...and others anecdotally supported by thousands of years of Chinese medicine.
Try Bacopa Monniera. It's been used in India for years to improve memory. There have been studies to confirm this. *caution: vivid dreams. Seems to affect hippocampus, just as accutane does. lol.
Try Ginseng WITH Ginkgo, as they have a synergistic effect. Studies that show lack of gingkgo doesn't say much, as in Chinese Medicine Gingko is never used in isolation. *caution: gingko supplements found at places like costco have huge dosages that simply aren't used in Chinese medicine, are used in isolation, and can increase blood flow to your brain to the extent that you feel like you have a migraine. It's interesting that Gingko and Ginseng can actually increase your body's usage of EPA, the brain healthy omega 3 fat that you are getting when you eat your tuna!! That's a proven fact....
Or try Magnolia Bark. It's a nice anti-anxiety herb that calms your spirt, which is increasingly being researched.
Zizyphus, Angelica (great for women) are others you can check out if you are a dork like me.
As you can see, I became really interested in memory stuff after I went on accutane years ago......
Month 2, Week 2Day 39
I have another new side effect to report! WOO HOO!!!
I have a slight rash on my right hand/wrist. I didn't notice the more severe rash on the medial/posterior side of my forearm until it started itching a couple of minutes ago.
On Friday the lecture was actually about learning and memory, which is ironic since I noticed my lack of short term memory retention this past week. The lecture focused on the physiological basis of memory formation but didn't explicitly mention the effect of certain medications on memory. I spoke with my instructor after class and he told me that there aren't any supplements on the market that have legitimate evidence of increasing memory, and that the ones that are marketed for that are gimmicks. He said that Accutane is most likely affecting my ability to concentrate, which would indirectly affect memory retention, and that it is probably not permanent. Clearly my concentration is nonexistent since I am blogging on here rather than at the library studying. I guess I will just have to talk to my PA at my next appointment to see what he recommends. I don't want to mess with my dosage until I talk to him about it.
511_603_Learning_and_Memory_lecture_notes.pdf I attached the lecture notes for fun, read it if you want to be put to sleep.
I played pool last night after a date and felt sooooo uncomfortable leaning over the table under the obnoxiously bright light. Bright lights + acne = bad!! The guy told me a couple of times to lean over more but I would just shoot really quickly so I could stand up, away from the mean, stupid light. He probably thinks I am a weirdo! It's funny how my skin has cleared up SO much, and yet I am still left with my old avoidance mannerisms. I'm scarred for life!!! On the bright side, going on a date is a good sign that I am getting some confidence back - I haven't accepted an invitation out for a couple of months because of my acne. Yay for me!
Kaitlyn and Nightdreamer - Thank you for stopping by - I couldn't be happier with my progress!!!
John - Glad to hear that your memory returned after treatment. That confirms what my professor told me after class on Friday. That is hilarious about the drive through!! I am so broke from paying for accutane I hope that I don't forget the food once I've paid for it.
Amanda - I still googled memory supplements despite what my professor said, and ginkgko appeared on several sites. I have heard before that tuna is supposed to help with memory, I am a bit superstitious/OCD and eat tuna for 3 days straight before exams. I am almost inclined to get a prescription for adderall or ritalin for the duration of my course, lol.
Persisted - Glad I am not the only sufferer of memory loss - I thought I was imagining it!
Megan - I have been using CeraVe, and it helps somewhat on my face but not on my arm rash. I also have vanicream that I am going to use tonight on my rash/dry patches on my face and I'll report back on the results! How many days until you start treatment!?
Vsteph - Good luck with your treatment - have you seen results yet? I have been using cetaphil cleanser for years, and when I started accutane I switched from the oil-prone bottle to the gentle formula. I recommend it, it works well!
Hey, and thanks for responding. I'll have to try the gentle Cetaphil cleanser. My course is going as expected I think....Friday was 3 weeks for me. My face is sooooooo dry right now, especially around my nose and chin. I'm continually having to rub on the Cerave cream. I've had a few of those spots pop up on my hand as well and I've been rubbing the Aquaphor on them throughout the day and again before I go to bed the next morning they're gone. I wish you the best.
Also, What brand of vitamins are you using and what is the dosage you are taking.....do you think they're helping with the dryness?
Wow, it's great that you're going off to grad school! I plan on doing the same thing once I finish college! What's your major? I know it sucks to have acne while in college, I'm suffering but I'm also on the accutane right now. It's been giving me side effects, I'm also feeling a bit out of focus with memory when it comes to school. But I guess everyone goes through them? Anyways I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one out there
Month 1, Week 1Day 5
I am so excited to be back on Accutane, but I want instant gratification that I know is not possible. I keep checking the mirror thinking that my acne is going to magically disappear. My friend that graduated with me in May is back in town this week and I made an excuse to avoid seeing him last night. I really want to see him and catch up since he moved to the east coast for grad school, but I am too damn self conscious about my face. I need to suck it up!!!
The active cysts on my face have already started to dry up and I haven't had an IB yet, knock on wood. The red marks seem to be less severe, although I could care less since they can easily be concealed with makeup. I hope my face looks better in time for New Year's!!
As far as side effects, my lips are already chapped. The past three nights I had strange dreams, which is uncharacteristic because I never dream. I wonder if this has anything to do with Accutane?
I have myself under house arrest, as I have not left the house since Christmas, when we had an extensive family get-together. That was fun, I got asked about 20 times if I have a boyfriend, or if I am engaged, or if I am married. I felt like Bridgette Jones, haha! I have made the most of the situation by spending time with the parents since I rarely come home, and when I do, I go out with friends.
That is so funny that you mention the dreams. I have been dreaming nonstop since I started accutane. I also wake up at night and I'm more tired. Craziness. Good luck!!
Giselle, your log is a hot commodity, I can't believe how far I had to keep reading to reply to your last post haha.
So glad you posted a picture of the rash.. That is something I always wished people did in their logs when I was reading so I could actually SEE the side effects. Smart thinking!
And Woohooooo on the date 
Ps I finally started today!!
i havent been back to check your log in afew days, ive been so busy. but anyyyywho
i have a rash on my arm that looks exactly like yours! i havent finished reading your log to see if it went away, but ill do that in a sec. mine is on the other side of my arm though, like the side where my pinky is on. its worse near my wrist then goes down a little past my elbow. ive been moisturizing it alot and that seems to be helping. it almost looks like eczema, something ive never had, and now i have it on BOTH arms.
and i can totally relate about playing pool! i am bad at it but i love it whenever i play, but the bright lights make me not lean over as far which probably contributes to me sucking lol. i really thought i was the only one that worried about that.
yay for your date!! did it go well, are you seeing him again?
how has your memory been lately? i think i too am going to start eating tuna more often. that will be easy cause its like my boyfriends favorite thing to eat for lunch, so now when i pack his lunch at night ill have more of a reason to make it lol.
if your going to try and get adderall, beware! it helps a tonnn which is why i take it but only when im studying for exams. if you have OCD it might make it worse. my anxiety/ocd go wild when im speeding out, so just a thing to keep in mind! drink looots of water when you take it, it dehydrates you so bad
alright back to reading your log hope all is well!
Month 2, Week 3
Day 47
I am sorry to anyone that read this before because of my 'positive outlook', but accutane is really taking its toll on me. I am so exhausted all the time, and it is an extremely difficult task to get out of bed in the morning. I just feel overwhelmed because I have a massive to-do list and no motivation to accomplish anything.
My first exam of the semester was on Thursday, and it was ridiculous trying to concentrate on studying. I am usually very driven when it comes to my academics, and devote an entire week to two weeks for studying for an exam. The scores were emailed out on Friday and I ended up with a solid A! The funny thing is, even with my lack of preparation, I did not feel as stressed in the few days before the exam. I normally have major testing anxiety, but it works to my advantage because I make sure to learn every single detail. So accutane may kill my concentration and motivation, but it makes up for it by its valium-ish properties. lol
My mood has been affected too. I have been irritable and my patience is wearing thin. At least accutane does something for my backbone so I'm not an effing doormat. I hope that when I'm done with my course some of these bitch qualities remain with me!
As far as physical side effects, my lips are the main issue. There is dry skin in the right corner and i keep picking it. It is hard to open my mouth very wide because it is so painful!! I've been slathering on aquaphor like crazy, too.
So my skin. Looks incredible! Today I actually only wore mineral powder instead of the heavier consistency makeup I usually wear. I only have two small actives, one on each side of my jawline. My chin has some flaky patches so the oil production is drying up hardcore. I can't explain how amazing it feels to look in the mirror without makeup and not want to move to Alaska and become an eskimo. Or something. I might be confident enough to start wearing my hair up. Heaven knows that I need to because my hair is so damaged that I can't afford to keep straightening it every day. In spite of all the physical and mental side effects, I couldn't be happier about my skin...I just wish I had funny silly stories to tell you like I did before. I suppose even if anything funny or silly happened to me, I wouldn't remember since my memory is shot...I can barely remember my own name...
Megan - That is wonderful to hear that you are starting so soon! Needles aren't that bad, it's just a quick pinch. I'll stop by your log when I wake up (it's 3 am now - yawn!!)
John - I wish I had read your post before my exam on Thursday. Thanks for the recommendations, I will look into buying some before my next one.
Vsteph - I tried the aquaphor on my rash too and it helped immensely! You should buy some Vanicream for the dry patches on your face, it is an excellent moisturizer. For the vitamins, I am using Spring Valley Vit E (400 IU) and Omega 3 fish oil (1000 mg) once a day each. This is a cheaper brand and I could probably double the dose but I am trying to conserve my resources 
UTvols - We are on the same dosage, are you having the same issues as me as far as your mental state!? I am going to stop by your log when I wake up. Yea yea!
Mattysays - Dermatitis is not fun!! I feel like a scaly fish
Nrodriguez - You should start a log! Have you taken any supplements to counteract the memory loss? I'm going to look into buying some this week so I'll report back to let you know how effective it is. That is cool you are planning on grad school, do you have any specific programs in mind? I am a first year grad student getting my masters in physiological sciences. I got my bachelors degree in physiology/chemistry so I am getting the masters to give myself some time to improve my resume before I apply to any professional schools. You should look into getting a TAship, in which you get paid to go to grad school - best decision of my life!
Rai - My first course lasted about 5 or 6 months, and I am pretty sure I was on 40 mg/day. I wore makeup even after I was done, even though my skin was clear. I was overly critical of my skin due to the years of psychological damage the acne caused me. This time around, I am throwing my makeup into the grand canyon once my skin clears up because I am so sick of waking up a half hour early every day to put on makeup!!!
jbain - That is so crazy about the dreams. I still have them now and then but it has simmered down since I have had the accutane in my system.
DM - I have been a slacker, I should post more often in here. I feel too lethargic to even update my log, how sad is that!? THAT IS SO GREAT YOU FINALLY STARTED I bet you are so excited!!! I'll be stopping by your log when I wake up, yay I am so happy for you! I am sorry that this post was not very encouraging, but trust me it will be worth it regardless of the side effects. No matter how bad it gets, at least I can look in a mirror without bursting into tears.
Amanda - This rash is so obnoxious!! Put aquaphor on it and it should help. Mine will clear up by the morning but throughout the day it will return. The neverending rash! The only thing worse than having a rash on your arms is playing pool with a rash on your arms. And stupid bright spotlights. Don't people know that bright lights are undesirable for people with acne? The date went well, we went out again this weekend. At least I have a valentines date this year haha. I'll stop by your log tomorrow - hope you're doing well! I am going to buy a bunch of memory supplements/research some memory food and will let you know how it works!
aww giselle i was like awwing throughout reading ur post. 
i hope u feel better but im soo happy ur skin is responding so well! how r ur red marks doin? Im happy u did well on ur test too, thats awesome that even though u couldnt concentrate u still got an A! and ooh man i already irritable haha well in the morning more so...so that means on accutane ppl better not talk to me in the morning i might kill them. and thank goodness i dont have class til 10 on mw and 11 on tuth, since it sounds like i wont wanna be getting out of bed haha
aww thank you for the kind words you wrote, definetely appricated! my IB seems to be going away actually now im left with a couple small pimples and redmarks.
desitin wicked works on them! get the cream type.. it comes in a tub. you just put a dab of it on the redmark (dont rub it in) and let it sit. it actually makes the top layer shed way quicker and i swear cuts the healing time in half. i know some people use it on cysts too. a while back there was a long thread on it, check it out!
LOL I feel like I was reading a description of myself!! Especially about the test taking...I am hardcore about studying. I do understand your feelings very well, I have been experiencing similar effects...such as not being able to concentrate. I am suppose to have a huge math exam next monday...and math is a very sore spot for me, so normally I would have started studying LAST weekend, but I cannot bring myself to open up the book. I feel like someone needs to hold a gun to my head to start. Its also comforting to know that I'm not the only one who has been irritable. My patience is usually pretty sturdy, but lately, the tiniest things seem to really irritate me. Like one of my friends the other day kept repeating herself, and I kind of snapped at her, which I felt extremely bad about, and later apologized. Still, I sometimes feel like a ticking bomb. I think it is good that you are conscious of it though, which may help you control it better. Well I hope you had a good weekend...keep your head up!