Time for an update as it's been a while!
The Blistex medicated and the hydrocortisone didn't work so I contacted my derm nurse. She said it's a common problem and prescribed mupirocin 2% ointment that I have to use 5x a day for 7 days. I'm due to see her tomorrow so she can check on my progress. I haven't really seen a change so far but I only started using it on Tuesday afternoon so I'm going to give it a chance.
The main problem I'm getting at the moment is awful pain in my lower back, around the sacro-iliac joint. I went to see a physiotherapist today and she gave me some exercises to help, but she said that because it's caused by the accutane, it probably won't go away until I stop taking the pills. I'm going to have a word about that tomorrow too and see if anything can be done as I REALLY don't want to back off on the dose, as a lower dose has a higher risk of relapse after the end of treatment. 40mg for 2 months and then 30mg for another 2 months might not be enough and I don't want to have to take another course!
I started experiencing back pain as well but it is not debilitating. What is more bothersome about your latest post is the relapse bit. I never read that but unfortunately I have had to skip/alter days of doses, not because I wanted to but because of hiccups in the pharmacy ordering the prescription. I hope the back pain goes away for you, I will follow your results to see what happen.
I spoke to the nurse today and she said that to combat the risk of relapse, if I had to lower my dose she'd extend the treatment period instead. I decided I'd rather try and get it over with and with her advice that I can take ibuprofen daily for the rest of the accutane course as long as I take them with food I think I'll be ok.
Plus, the mupirocin ointment is working a charm - the cracks are healing! Yaaaay!!
Not much to update at the moment, just ticking along. Skin is dry but manageable, no spots. Back pain is much improved with regular use of ibuprofen. Cracks at the side of my mouth have healed and are staying away. I'm now just into my third month of treatment so if it can stay like this for another couple of months I'll be happy!
Woohoo, collected the last month's worth of pills today! Can't believe it's been this long and I'm nearly at the end of my course already. I mentioned to the nurse today that I'm nervous about coming off the pills in case my skin goes all to hell again, and she reassured me that it shouldn't. She also said that there is isotretinoin gel that I could use, and the last ditch option of doing another course of accutane. It sounds like I'll be well supported so it put my mind at rest a bit. I'll be going back in 4 weeks time when I finish my course to be reviewed by the dermatologist, and then I'll be seen again 5 weeks after that for a review and my final pregnancy test before I'm discharged. I'm really looking forward to it but I'm also terrified in case the cysts come back!