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We've got some rotten weather moving in, with a chance that te power could go out, so I figure I had better update this journal before that happens.
There really isn't really anything to report as far as skin and hair (I've had a couple more good hair days). One thing that I have discovered, though, is that my back is really, really hurting me. At first I thought it was just a little irritation, like I'd had before I started, but as it has gone on for days and days, I've about decided that it is the dreaded low-back-pain side effect. It really is horrible. Normally I am extremely flexible, able to bend backward enough to see the floor behind me.... but now I can barely lean back at all without being in pain. 
I wake up in the mornings aching so much that it hurts to breathe, and I can barely turn over to get out. Standing up after having been sitting produces the same results, as does standing up after having bent over. I am going to push on as much as I can, though.
Kim, the cake didn't turn out. 
We ended up buying chocolate for each other. The same chocolate. Which was really funny, and very sweet. 
We've got some rotten weather moving in, with a chance that te power could go out, so I figure I had better update this journal before that happens.
There really isn't really anything to report as far as skin and hair (I've had a couple more good hair days). One thing that I have discovered, though, is that my back is really, really hurting me. At first I thought it was just a little irritation, like I'd had before I started, but as it has gone on for days and days, I've about decided that it is the dreaded low-back-pain side effect. It really is horrible. Normally I am extremely flexible, able to bend backward enough to see the floor behind me.... but now I can barely lean back at all without being in pain. I wake up in the mornings aching so much that it hurts to breathe, and I can barely turn over to get out. Standing up after having been sitting produces the same results, as does standing up after having bent over. I am going to push on as much as I can, though.
Kim, the cake didn't turn out. We ended up buying chocolate for each other. The same chocolate. Which was really funny, and very sweet.
Oh no, I am sorry about the back pain! That stinks. Have you every tried Epsom salt baths? You put a cup or two of the salts in your bath (Not the expensive bath salts, just normal old epsom salt. They sell the bags in the pain relief section in my pharmacy, and they are rather cheap). Soak for 10-20 minutes, and voila! Pain is abated. I find that it is especially helpful at night, and I wake up less crampy. When I joined in on the P90X craze (something I will never, EVER do again - nothing but pain and anger and more pain) I was soaking in a bath almost every night.
It has been a few days since I have posted.
The pain in my back is still hanging around. Meg, I have tried epsom salts, but I think this pain is actually more spinal (sacral) than muscular. I am willing to try anything though. Nearly an hour soak this afternoon helped quite a bit.
I am still having dry skin, and I am learning how much lotion to put on in the mornings, and how much in the evenings. And of course removing makeup immediately after I get home does help. I've got one weird spot on my chin that seems like it could become something, and a spot on my cheek that looks like a zit, but has no other zit-ish symptoms (tenderness, etc).
One other thing I have noticed that could be directly related to Iso, or it might be something to do with stress and tests, and such, is that i am tired pretty much constantly. Sometimes I get out of bed, and I can feel the pillow under my head for the next several hours, and I want nothing more than to snuggle in for a while longer. I've managed not to doze off at work (I can imagine my kids' reaction to that) or in class, but for the most part I am only moments away from dropping into a sound sleep.
It's March 3. I should be planting broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, and onions.... but there is 4 inches of snow on the ground, and we're expecting another 3-5 inches today. Thankfully the ice did not get very thick before things transitioned to snow, so the electricity stayed on.
I am supposed to have a derm appointment today. I will have to call and reschedule. Just hope I get the 1 woman in the office who is willing to actually look through the schedule for empty spaces, and not the one who says, "Our next available appointment day is in 3 weeks."
My skin is staying really dry, and my hair is dryer than ever. Seems very strange to get up and brush my hair and have it look good. My lips do okay as long as I always have something on them. Aquaphor is still my favorite. I've run one tube completely out already, and I'm working on my second.
My back pain is still hanging about, but it isn't getting any worse. I will definitely be asking the derm about that whenever I can get an appointment. It does seem to get better the longer I am up and moving around, but it "Freezes up" as soon as I sit down, or bend over.
Best of luck to everyone! I hope to get caught up on the blogs later today!
I'm glad to hear that your pain isn't getting worse (although not so glad that isn't getting better either)! It sounds like you are doing well. I wish I could be excited about my dry hair, but boy, it just looks sad and over-processed :\ How is the tiredness? I have also noticed that one cup of coffee doesn't cut it for me anymore, and I am definitely experiencing the kind of fatigue and de-motivation I usually attribute to periods of extreme stress (happily, I am not in one of those periods right now!) so I assume it must be the iso.
I have completely lost track of the days I've been on Iso, but it seems an eternity already. I didn't get to go to the derm appointment I had scheduled on Monday, so I have to try and reschedule sometime relatively soon.
My skin continues to be a little flakey every now and again, especially the skin on my back, which is incredibly hard to lotion smoothly, and on my elbows and knees. Other than that, things seem to be doing well, with my skin. I do notice that my hands are reactive to the cold. The colder it gets, the worse the rash it. Lotions, and a prescription cream help a ton with that.
The back pain is still there, but it isn't getting worse, so it is still bearable. I made the mistake of lying on my back on the floor a few days ago. I thought I would never manage to get up. Rolling over was hugely difficult. And I know I looked totally ridiculous.
I am still tired a lot, and with daylight savings time approaching I have a feeling that is only going to get worse, for a time. It was awesome waking up at 6:30 this morning and seeing daylight. I think I have a 3 day weekend next weekend, so maybe I will get to rest. Come to think of it, that is spring break at college, too... so no homework!
I'm late pretty often, too. I try to leave myself a bit of leeway, but I end up using the leeway.
My cold is pretty well simmering. It hasn't turned bad, or gotten worse, but I just have a little drip going on.
My eyes are pretty dry, but refresh eyedrops help a lot during the day.
I am having some second thoughts. The pain in my back has continued, and I am also experiencing some pain in my elbows and ankles. I had hoped that would go way after a while, but it has been almost a month now. I am going to call the derm today, and try to get an appointment to talk to her about it. Otherwise, I am probably just going to have to stop. I hate to, being 3 months in, but I am having other physical issues (I am choking on my food every few meals), and I do need the money to handle that issue, instead of focusing on my skin. <sigh> I feel like I m trying to convince myself to stop, and I guess I am, in a way. It doesn't help that it looks like a crow has stomped all around my eyes.
Oh no! Do you mean the skin around your eyes seems dry when you say a crow has stomped on it? I am noticing the same issue, although moisturizing with eye-cream morning and night seems semi-helpful. As for your back...I am so sorry. I really hope your dermatologist has an answer about the back pain issue. I am so sorry to hear you are in so much pain right now . Maybe you can stop for a while and then try again at a lower dose? In any case, I'll be sending fuzzy feel-good thoughts your way Jess. Please keep us posted!
Oh, Jess! I'm really sorry. That sounds like a hard decision. I agree with Megtree, maybe the dermatologist can write you a smaller dose. Or maybe recommend that you'll only have to take a temporary break and then return to the meds a few months from now. Please let us know how the appointment goes; you'll be in my thoughts.
Consider a lower dose! Side effects tend to be greatly diminished, and there is great research out there showing low doses over longer periods can often be more effective! Of course, staying on it for a LONGER time is probably not that tempting to you right now, but if you could get your side effects to lay off, maybe it would be an option?
Hoping all is well.
Hey i hope things work out! here is my experience with a side effect.
so i was accutane for 4 months; first 3 months 40mg and last month was 60mg. i thought i was having decreased eye vision because before i didnt use my glasses when i walked around, etc. daily things... only in lecture for school.
which i told my derm about 3rd month in; she didnt think it was a problem but then last month i saw it being a real problem as i was kinda sure i was having decreased eye vision.. anyway though the problem was when i wore my glasses my vision was fine.. 20/20 (i went to the opthomologist and got it checked.. even though he didnt have records of my vision without my glasses checked (last time they did that on me was 4 years ago), and even though he never had a patient on accutane.. he told me he was almost sure that the accutane wasnt causing it because my vision was 20/20 with accutane and the glasses on.
Anyway to stay on the safe side, and after talking to my derm i stopped taking accutane for 2 weeks; i am currently 1 week without it. i think i am slightly getting my vision back to what it was before? the thing my derm said it could be but doesnt know much about optho and what the opthomologist was adamant about was that it was a coincidence that my vision (without glasses) got worse and he thinks its slightly worse because the same prescription glasses give me 20/20. but of course any eyeglass wearer can tell you that they know how things look without their glasses on and with their glasses on - i could tell that my vision without glasses was worse - to the point that before i hardly needed my glasses for daily things except for lectures in school.
It could be that this was a coincidence and that my vision just happened to get worse now (cuz glasses again did fix it) but im planning on finishing up the course but staying on 40mg/day (maybe just stay one month longer on it to get the full body-weight dosage i am supposed to get). 1 more week should tell me if it was the accutane and if it was just a temporary thing.
Thank you everybody for the encouragement. I appreciate it more than I can say. I am still struggling with the decision, and I am going to try (again) to talk to my derm today, to see what she can recommend as a possible solution.
firsttimeaccutane I really hope that you get the situation with your eyes straightened out. Being nearly blind without vision correction (contacts or glasses) I know how scary it can be walking around, not being able to see.
Kim, I am thinking maybe a lower dose, though I have been taking 40mg every other day recently, trying to stay on, but not overwhelming my system. The pain has lessened some, but I still have issues standing after I've been sitting a little while, and if I happen to lie down flat on my back, I am in deep trouble when I try to roll over.
Meg, I hate to sound vain.... I have always looked younger than my age. Until recently I never had much in the way of lines around my eyes. For some reason I have HUGE crows feet, especially on my left eye. My right eye is bad, but not nearly like my left. I am hopeful that when things aren't so dry those will somehow magically go away too.
Yorkielove, thanks for thinking of me. I will let you all know how it goes. Maybe I will get to take a short break, and then come back, or maybe she will do 20mg for a while.
I should also add that as of last night, and continuing this morning I have some kind of weird rash with spots around the right side of my mouth. They kind of feel like zits, but they itch, and they're oozing a little bit. Just one more thing to ask the dermatologist about. I've got an appointment this evening at 4:15 (which means more like 5:30), so hopefully I can get some answers.
After spending nearly 2 hours waiting for my appointment last night, I learned that ALL of the issues I have been having are related to the fact that I am taking too much accutane. My body just can't handle it. She told me to drop the dose from 40mg/day to 40mg/week. And then, eventually to add another 10mg a week. So, that is the plan. I have to drop off my prescription tonight after class. She said she wished she had known earlier that i was having so much trouble, but that this should straighten it out.
So, for the time being, the train has slowed down to a crawl, but at least I am still on it, and not hanging off the back of the caboose.
Thank you everyone, for your kind words.
I am starting to feel a lessening of the back pain and some differences in my eyes as well. Hopefully the rest will smooth out soon, and I can get back down to business.
I still have the rash around my mouth. it looks like I smeared poison ivy around my lips. Or like I have the breakout from hades.... or maybe like I am allergic to kool-aid. In any case, it looks horrible... the funny thing is I find myself really not caring how it looks because it isn't acne, and I know it will be gone soon. I am being extremely careful with it, because I have had some similar rashes that left light brown scarring, and I don't need any of THAT on my face.
Hoping that all of you are doing well!
I'm having one of "Those" Days. The kind of days where things that normally wouldn't irritate me are bothering the crap out of me. My shoulders are tucked up around my ears from the stress. I am telling myself to breathe, and listening to music, trying to relax myself. And of course, reminding myself that so-n-so ALWAYS makes those sounds, so it isn't anything new, and it shouldn't bother me so bad. Of course, Self isn't interested in hearing that, and would love to muzzle so-n-so. <sigh>. I am pretty sure this is accutane related, which is why I posted it here. Normally I can tune things out, and they don't bother me. Today every sound is excruciating. Loud ones feel like a physical blow.
The rash around my mouth is just getting more weird. It had started to spread, but it stopped, and then the parts that had been red and itchy is now red and flakey. It is like angular chelitis in color, but much much worse. It stretches about ... 3/8 inch out from my lips, most of the way around. The cream is helping some, but I think it is drying things out, which is causing the flaking. blah.
On the upside, I went to the doctor last night (got a referral for a barrium swallow and a GI appointment because of the choking problems I've been having), and she said that my skin is looking great. She has seen it at its worst. The best thing... it was the end of the day, I'd just awakened from a short nap, and I didn't have makeup on! So it really was my skin she was seeing last night!
I've started using Blistex Medex, and it feels great on my lips, and lasts quite a while. I don't think it does quite as well as the blistex medicated, and aquaphor (layered), and I'm not much for "pot lip glosses" that you have to stick your finger in, but I LOVE how it feels, and that makes it worth it.
The derm gave me some cleaner and moisturizer to try, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. When I do I will let everybody know how that goes.
Oy, the lip thing definitely sounds aggravating. I think I am dealing with a similar issue - mine started as a crack on the side of my lip that turned into an inflammed crusty ugly...thing. It's definitely not a cold sore (but it sure looks like one! Yay!). My derm told me to put the steroid cream I use for my hand/arm rashes on it until the cracking goes away, and surprisingly its working much better than anything else I have tried.
Wow, I can't believe it is almost 10 days since I posted. All in all, there has been a drastic improvement since my dosage was cut. I am no longer feeling so much pain in my lower back, and I don't have to walk like I'm 95 when I first get out of bed anymore. The rash around my lips is healing nicely, with one or two small exceptions, my skin is staying clear, and my hair is staying dry (which I really like).
I've been taking 40mg on Wednesdays, and I took 10 mg on Monday. It seems I am still getting the benefits while being on the reduced dose, and not having the side effects. I've noticed that I get tired earlier on the day I take the meds, but I am not having the extreme fatigue that I was having. That is surely a relief as my semester winds up, and I am getting into finals.
A few days ago I was cooking bacon, and a couple of splatters of very hot grease got on my face. It stung like mad, and I quickly put a cold wash cloth to them, but they still managed to leave little blisters on my skin. I am SO hoping they don't scar. They have started to heal, and they've gotten VERY itchy. It is hard, as I am studying, not to just scratch when they itch.
Wishing everyone well.
