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Hi Becca! Thanks for your help to me on Katie's log (kaydon). I responded but my reply posted weird so hopefully you'll be able to see what I said to you. You (and the other girls that do it too) are so brave to post photos!! I could never do it because I'm not technically savvy enough to figure out how to get the stupid things on here, haha! I'm 48 so some of the technology passed me by and I use my kids as a crutch to do some of it so I haven't learned it all properly.
My only request to you is to not use the word "ashamed" ever again. I completely know what you're saying, I've felt that way many times because of my acne, especially when I doing things with other moms and they all have perfect skin, but I remind myself it's not my fault I have this issue - it's nothing I did wrong it's just how it is for me. And now we're both doing something about it and that's brave too!! Be proud you're taking charge of your future.
I know you know it's still early in your course but it can be so discouraging not to see major results right away can't it? This medication is such a journey, just remember we're all feeling your pain and we're here to support you! Hang in there!!
Thank you! I'm feeling better about my progress but my skin looks pretty crappy tonight! Isn't it hard being an adult with acne? Of course it's hard for anyone but it's so frustrating to be way past the age that we should be dealing with this. I'm really happy I'm taking this journey and happy for you too! Thank you for the reminders
Your skin just looks like it's purging- remember it's meant to get worse before it gets better so just see it as a positive thing that the medicine is working
But I'd much rather have everything come up all at once and then go away forever rather than have them come up over the course of a long period of time; I wouldn't be happy with my skin either way and lucky for us we can cover it up!
Yes I think you are right, it's purging. Lots of little junkies coming out of my pores in addition to the bumps. But soon enough it will be all smooth and clear for both of us!
Becca! Neat name. I've never known anyone with that name.
I wish we could have a support group in real life sometimes. It would make things a lot more fun.
How are you doing today?
Short for Rebecca.
It would be fun of some of us lived close to each other and could support each ther face to face...pun intended.
I'm doing alright today. Had a horrific headache with major fatigue yesterday but today is better. My skin looks pretty bad but I've seen it this bad before. Now its just drier
Keep your head up beautiful! (: I see a difference!
Thank you dear!!
How are you doing today Becca?? I took my first 40mg pill this morning for my bump to 80mg a day instead of 40mg a day - totally freaked me out but I'm trying to shake any negative thoughts right out of my head! Gonna blast that acne that doesn't want to leave!! Yes, it totally sucks to be an adult battling acne - very depressing and spirit crushing and just plain wrong.
How are you doing today Becca?? I took my first 40mg pill this morning for my bump to 80mg a day instead of 40mg a day - totally freaked me out
but I'm trying to shake any negative thoughts right out of my head! Gonna blast that acne that doesn't want to leave!!
Hi! How is your bump up going? I'm sure you're doing GREAT! I'm doing better and not worrying about these pesky breakouts at much....it's all part of the process!
Becca...I could really see progress in your photos! I am so impressed with your positive attitude and it's helpful to read what you write. I believe you are going to have amazing results because you can already see change. Awesome!!
Thank you! I'm glad others can see progress. I can't see it in the photos but I can see it in "real life" so that's the important part!
Hey y'all! I started accutane yesterday. 30 mgs on even days 60 mgs on odd. Is that normal?(:
And also body and soul your skin looks ALOT less congested! (:
Hi savannah! My guess is your derm is just starting you out lower/slower to prevent an IB...that's why I started on 40 for the first month. I should be bumping to 60 at the end of this week.
I think you are right about my skin... even though it's still breaking out, it definitely FEELS less congested. That's a good way to describe it.
I definitely see improvement!!!!
Thanks Katie! I'm glad to have other people seeing a difference!
Hi Becca
I hope you are doing well today! I wanted to be sure to follow your advice and stock up on vitamin E and fish oil so I checked out your dosage and I plan on following your recommendations. (400 iu/day and 3g/day respectively) I'm assuming that the dosage would be the same for me regardless of size and age? I'm 16 and 120 lbs. What do you think?
I'm very, very active and unfortunately I am always in pain as it is. I have HORRIBLE knees and other issues with my hips, back and ankles. I swear, it will be a miracle if I can still walk by the time I'm 30. The thought of NOT being athletic is horrible, so I will just have to suck it up. I hope the oils help.
Thanks for the advice and have a great one!
~Celia
Hi Becca
I hope you are doing well today! I wanted to be sure to follow your advice and stock up on vitamin E and fish oil so I checked out your dosage and I plan on following your recommendations. (400 iu/day and 3g/day respectively) I'm assuming that the dosage would be the same for me regardless of size and age? I'm 16 and 120 lbs. What do you think?
I'm very, very active and unfortunately I am always in pain as it is. I have HORRIBLE knees and other issues with my hips, back and ankles. I swear, it will be a miracle if I can still walk by the time I'm 30. The thought of NOT being athletic is horrible, so I will just have to suck it up. I hope the oils help.
Thanks for the advice and have a great one!
~Celia
Hey Celia!
Because you're 16, I would suggest talking to your Dr about supplements. I know recommendations are sometimes different for younger people.
Having said that, my Dr recommends 3-6 grams of fish oil per day and I'm only a few pounds lighter so I think that dosage is appropriate as far as weight goes. The 400IU of E is pretty standard too. Get a high quality fish oil and keep in mind that the grams should correspond to the amount of EPA & DHA (not the total # of milligrams in each pill...you want a high concentration of those good omega 3's).
I think a lot of people take glucosamine for joints too, but I don't know much about it personally.
Good luck!
Day 26
Week 4
Yesterday I had my blood drawn done and I'll go to the dermatologist on Friday morning. Fingers crossed that my bloodwork will be good and that I'll be able to continue on my dermatologist's dosage plan. I'm also going to visit my regular doctor just to follow up and also do an iron test if that wasn't already included yesterday's bloodwork.
I've been experiencing quite a bit of hair loss, which is why I want to get my iron levels checked. I've had problems in the past with low iron causing me to lose a lot of strands so I'm hoping that's all that's going on here and that it's not a scary side effect (I've heard about major hair loss on accutane! yikes). My hair is super dry and my scalp is still itchy though it does seem more manageable now that I'm washing it every other day instead of daily.
My face is still breaking out but overall it feels much less inflamed. I think it's still just purging so I'll let it do it's thing. It's very dry and flaky, but that's the point, right? I hope month 2 will bring on lots of healing!
Still working on choosing some healthy makeups. I miss the coverage of my old makeup, but I love that my face can breathe now without it! And I'm finding that usually, for the most part, I don't really care that it's not covering....because I know I'm healing!
I'm having a hard time curbing my caffeine intake....I need to slow that down. I thought giving up wine and beer would be hard but it's the coffee that I don't want to do without! 
Wow can't believe you're already done with your first month! Fantastical. I agree about the alcohol being easy to give up, but not caffeine. However, I will say, that one day a month ago, I didn't drink coffee for 2 weeks because I was done with school and realized I didn't need it to stay awake. Then I randomly had a rice milk latte on the weekend and I felt shaky, nervous, stomach ache. It was terrible. I tried it again the next day, and same reaction. I haven't had any since then, so besides those two times, I've gone an entire month without coffee, which is crazy for me since I live in Seattle. 
I've seen even faster skin healing, better sleeping, just overall I feel better with less stomach aches. That said, I also drink like 2 cups of green tea a day, and sometimes a cup of Earl Grey in the morning or afternoon.
Just my personal story. I tried the whole "weaning" way, but it didn't work. Cold turkey worked better for me, then trying again, and observing for reactions.
Wow can't believe you're already done with your first month! Fantastical. I agree about the alcohol being easy to give up, but not caffeine. However, I will say, that one day a month ago, I didn't drink coffee for 2 weeks because I was done with school and realized I didn't need it to stay awake. Then I randomly had a rice milk latte on the weekend and I felt shaky, nervous, stomach ache. It was terrible. I tried it again the next day, and same reaction. I haven't had any since then, so besides those two times, I've gone an entire month without coffee, which is crazy for me since I live in Seattle.
I've seen even faster skin healing, better sleeping, just overall I feel better with less stomach aches. That said, I also drink like 2 cups of green tea a day, and sometimes a cup of Earl Grey in the morning or afternoon.
Just my personal story. I tried the whole "weaning" way, but it didn't work. Cold turkey worked better for me, then trying again, and observing for reactions.
It's so funny you wrote this. I had coffee this morning, and now I feel like total crap. I am SUPER dehydrated (more than normal) and I feel all jittery.
I guess this is my sign to cut it out. I love green tea, hot or iced, so I'll start drinking more of that.
I want to drink a ton of water right now, but I feel so full from it, I can't. I'm going to have to stop eating to make room for water...
Hi Becca! Don't worry too much about the hair loss except if you do end up with low iron. I was completely freaked out about the hair loss thing too and the first side effect I had was an itchy scalp and more hair shedding than usual but it stopped after the first month when my body became used to the medicine. I do use a good dandruff shampoo a few times a week which helps the itching. Hopefully with my dose increase I won't have that side effect again. I have fine hair to begin with so losing any of it is a panic situtation.
I have the same problem with coffee now but mine started before accutane. I gave it up both times I was pregnant and then only drank it every once in a while and over the years I've become really sensitive to caffine but mostly only in coffee. I still get coffee once in a while but I get decaf and it doesn't effect me at all. I also do green tea too but I have to have a flavored one because I think regular green tea tastes like grass, haha. I drink a flavor from Teavana called blackberry mojito. It doesn't taste anything like a mojito sadly but it does have a nice berry flavor.
I haven't given up alcohol but I only have a glass of wine or champagne now and then and so far my liver levels have been fine and I make sure to drink extra water. I'm glad to hear you feel like you're making progress. I'm on day three of my dose increase and so far so good but I don't really expect to feel it until the end of the week - hopefully I'll just notice more dryness on my face, although my muscles and back are much more sore than last week. I'll have to cut back on exercise again for awhile I'm sure. If that's all that happens then I'll be a happy camper. Def don't need drier eyes or lips and I really am hoping my hair stays status quo!
Thanks! The scalp itching has gotten better and I have noticed other side effects that start out terrible and then die down as the days go on. I bet I'll experience the same thing when I bump up to 60 but I'll be ready! And I'll know that the worst part is probably temporary. And then it will ALL be over in a few months
I like herbal and fruity teas too as long as they don't have sugar. I should get a few different kinds so I don't get bored and try to go back to coffee!
I have had a couple of drinks since starting a month ago, but not much at all.
What day are you on?
Thanks! The scalp itching has gotten better and I have noticed other side effects that start out terrible and then die down as the days go on. I bet I'll experience the same thing when I bump up to 60 but I'll be ready! And I'll know that the worst part is probably temporary. And then it will ALL be over in a few months
I like herbal and fruity teas too as long as they don't have sugar. I should get a few different kinds so I don't get bored and try to go back to coffee!
I have had a couple of drinks since starting a month ago, but not much at all.
What day are you on?
I think I'm on day 93ish. My derm wants me to go 6 months. I saw all the posting about cummulative dose (on Betsy's log I think). I'll be way over my cummulative dose since I did 40 for the first three months and now I'm on course to do 80 for the last three if my side effects don't get too crazy and my labs are good. My derm wasn't aware of the whole cummulative dose thing and she doesn't perscribe according to weight. In her experience she has decided 80mg for 6 months is the magic number for most people in regards to clearing and not relapsing. I hate how all the derms do it differently - makes me very nervous but I guess you just have to trust your doctor. I feel mine has really listened to me and she is very confident about how she doses so I'm putting my faith in her - kinda scary!
Hi body and soul! Glad to hear your skin os not really inflamed that's DEF a good sign that your skin is healing! I'm sureyou look beautiful with the light coverage makeup but I totally get what u mean about missing full coverage foundation. On mu first course of accutane i didn't go ANYWHERE without liquid fountation but I started only wearing powder and i felt like I was helping my skin heal. Anyways short story long is that soon you wont even need that powder! It seems like so far away but accutane is a WONDER DRUG! I know I'm on a secondncourse but I guess that I didn't reach my accumulated dose? Hmm.. oh well soon we all wont have to wear face makeup 
Also for hair this is gonna sound DISGUSTING but put Mayo in your hair! It really helped me. Even tho I smelled like.... well Mayo haha but this is only till u rinse it out
Yeaaahhh...I think I had a little minor freak out over there on Betsy's log! haha. I'm over it now. Gotta trust my dermatologist and stay positive that I will heal and that I will not relapse or have negative side effects!
Haha, I saw your minor freak out. It's good to know everybody else has freak outs not just me. I'll be way over my cummulative dose too with my increase to 80 for three months. But I'm trusting in my derm too and knowing it will hopefully prevent a relapse. I def don't want to do this again!!
Well tonight I have not one, not two, but Three big ol' breakouts on my chin...two are the painful red lumps and one is an ugly whitehead. Not to mention the breakouts on my left cheek. Last week it was my right cheek.
Ugh. Annoyed at my face tonight.
Plus, today I had another headache coupled with major fatigue. I layed down thinking I'd rest for 20 minutes....woke up two hours later. And I'm still exhausted with a headache. Crazy.
Going to bed now. Tomorrow will be better.
Hang in there! The breakouts on your chin is just more purging and then healing. They will heal soon. And your skin is probably really happy without the heavier foundation. Good luck!
I am struggling on the coffee - not because it is giving me a bad reaction but because I know I shouldn't have it for my health but I am SO tired on this medicine. I feel like I "need" it in the morning to get going. Probably in my head....
I'm liking the Real Purity stuff!!
Hi body and soul! Glad to hear your skin os not really inflamed that's DEF a good sign that your skin is healing! I'm sureyou look beautiful with the light coverage makeup but I totally get what u mean about missing full coverage foundation. On mu first course of accutane i didn't go ANYWHERE without liquid fountation but I started only wearing powder and i felt like I was helping my skin heal. Anyways short story long is that soon you wont even need that powder! It seems like so far away but accutane is a WONDER DRUG! I know I'm on a secondncourse but I guess that I didn't reach my accumulated dose? Hmm.. oh well soon we all wont have to wear face makeup
Also for hair this is gonna sound DISGUSTING but put Mayo in your hair! It really helped me. Even tho I smelled like.... well Mayo haha but this is only till u rinse it out
Thanks Savannah... I'm still trying to figure out what looks best and I'm probably being a bit over-obsessive about it.
I've heard that about mayo too. I have been using coconut oil and a deep treatment masque with shea butter - that's been helping.
Haha, I saw your minor freak out.
I don't want to do it again either! Let's knock this sh*t out!
Hang in there!
I am struggling on the coffee - not because it is giving me a bad reaction but because I know I shouldn't have it for my health but I am SO tired on this medicine. I feel like I "need" it in the morning to get going. Probably in my head....
I'm liking the Real Purity stuff!!
Yes, I'm struggling on coffee too...and for the same reason (it *usually doesn't give me a bad reaction) - I know I shouldn't be overdoing it on caffeine and that something like green or herbal tea would be way better for me. But I am like you - SO tired, I feel like I need it! Ahem, like this morning for instance.....it's a small though!
Overall I think almost everyone gets fatigued on this medicine. I'm going into my 3rd month soon and I'm still struggling with fatigue, but I'm telling you it did get slightly better after the first month. I'm thinking that the accutane causes fatigue either due to free radical formation when your liver is detoxifying it or some other process. So it might be helpful to increase your intake of antioxidant-rich foods: green tea, very dark chocolate (70-85% cacao), blueberries, any dark berries, cinnamon, curry spices, even coffee! So I would say, overall, coffee is high in antioxidants and compounds that lift your mood. I don't see how one cup a day could hurt, except if you're worried about adrenal fatigue from the caffeine and are having reactions to the coffee. I had to stop drinking it because it would pick me up, then cause me to crash later in the day and now I'm trying my best to only drink tea...I think it's helping...
But overall, if it helps you feel better, DO IT!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15059266
Overall I think almost everyone gets fatigued on this medicine. I'm going into my 3rd month soon and I'm still struggling with fatigue, but I'm telling you it did get slightly better after the first month. I'm thinking that the accutane causes fatigue either due to free radical formation when your liver is detoxifying it or some other process. So it might be helpful to increase your intake of antioxidant-rich foods: green tea, very dark chocolate (70-85% cacao), blueberries, any dark berries, cinnamon, curry spices, even coffee! So I would say, overall, coffee is high in antioxidants and compounds that lift your mood. I don't see how one cup a day could hurt, except if you're worried about adrenal fatigue from the caffeine and are having reactions to the coffee. I had to stop drinking it because it would pick me up, then cause me to crash later in the day and now I'm trying my best to only drink tea...I think it's helping...
But overall, if it helps you feel better, DO IT!
http://www.bbc.co.uk...health-15059266
http://www.psyweb.co...-and-depression
Interesting articles, thank you. I don't think I should completely deprive myself, especially if it's helping me combat this fatigue, but keeping it at one small cup a day is wise...especially because I enjoy an iced tea in the afternoon.
Sitting here waiting for my Derm appt! Fingers crossed that my bloodwork is good!
I feel good today! I woke up to my skin not flakey at all and my actives are healing. I think I combated the flakiness with the sweet almond oil I mixed into my moisturizer the last few nights. Seems like when I don't use that I get a lot more dry.
I was down and out last night for some reason but glad that I'm feeling so much better today!
All was well yesterday at the Derm! Bloodwork was normal with the exception of my cholesterol being a bit raised. I'm bumping up to 60mg starting tomorrow.
Now I'm sitting at the salon. My mom is treating my grandmother and me to a day out. I'm getting a dry hair conditioning treatment and a haircut and a pedicure.