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Oh, Rachel, I'm so sorry to hear about your insurance. That just doesn't make any sense!
I've had some crazy-stupid s * * * happen in that regard, too, when I was on doxycycline. My insurance covered 20 mg. pills, but not 40mg (which is why they didn't cover Oracea, which is basically 40mg of doxy, but which for some reason is a $500 drug for a month's supply when doxy is a $65 drug). So I just took two pills a day.
Madness.
But GetMeTheResults is right. You'll clear on 40mg. Just probably not as quickly.
That being said, I'm not sure why your doc is hesitating about the 80mg. That was what everyone STARTED on "back in the day."
But like you said, you should have an answer at your next appt. Hang in there . . .
I'm still chugging along. I'm into the second week of my 3rd month and I'm breaking out like crazy still. It's frustrating, but I know it has to stop soon... Right?
I have a lot of spots that are just left over and healing and some fresh ones too. I'm still not dry at all, no flushing, no dry lips, or dry anything and my mood is fine. I do have slight muscle aches and the inside of my nose is very dry. That's really the only place and it's really annoying. Aquafor is helping.
I can't believe I'm in month 3! Time passes so quickly! I have some updated pics, but there's really no progress yet. I'll post them when I can.
Hey Rachel!
That's unbelievable that you don't have any side effects, what's your dosage (and if you don't mind me asking your weight)?
Are your lips at least sensitive if not dry? Mine are and it is uncomfortable to apply aquafor chapstick straight from the tube which is a little rough. I'm really excited lol, I don't know if I am the only person on here celebrating each little side effect. Hopefully it'll be the same way with the IB... How long has your IB lasted so far?
Hey Rachel!
That's unbelievable that you don't have any side effects, what's your dosage (and if you don't mind me asking your weight)?
Are your lips at least sensitive if not dry? Mine are and it is uncomfortable to apply aquafor chapstick straight from the tube which is a little rough. I'm really excited lol, I don't know if I am the only person on here celebrating each little side effect. Hopefully it'll be the same way with the IB... How long has your IB lasted so far?
The only side effects are the dry nose and occasional joint ache but I'm not even sure it's related to that. My lips are totally normal. I do keep them covered at all time. I don't think my IB has stopped yet! I started breaking out the first week and there has been no break at all! I must have a LOT of stuff lurking beneath the surface! I'm on 40 mg a day and the dr talked about 60 before my insurance shot that down. I really want to be on 80 but I think she's hesitant because of my anxiety issues but they are totally under control with zoloft and I've had no depression at all!
Hmmm,
I know what you mean with the anxiety. Did you take Zoloft before accutane or you just started it?
I've noticed a lot of clogged pores on my face so I think the IB should be next week for me (week2) or by the end of the month the latest. I'm not too worried about it though. We all go through it.
Rachel, definitely talk to your doc about upping you to 80mg. Your body may just be super tolerant of this drug, if that is a possibility. Just guessing. I have read many logs, though, where folks broke out like crazy right up until the fourth month, and then, BAM, they cleared.
What's interesting is that your lips aren't even dry, as this does seem to be a universal side effect, regardless of dosage. At any rate, if you find 80mg intolerable, you can always bump back down.
Hmmm,
I know what you mean with the anxiety. Did you take Zoloft before accutane or you just started it?
I've noticed a lot of clogged pores on my face so I think the IB should be next week for me (week2) or by the end of the month the latest. I'm not too worried about it though. We all go through it.
I've been on Zoloft for about 7 years. I don't mind breaking out as long as this is the means to an end!
Rachel, definitely talk to your doc about upping you to 80mg. Your body may just be super tolerant of this drug, if that is a possibility. Just guessing. I have read many logs, though, where folks broke out like crazy right up until the fourth month, and then, BAM, they cleared.
What's interesting is that your lips aren't even dry, as this does seem to be a universal side effect, regardless of dosage. At any rate, if you find 80mg intolerable, you can always bump back down.
I agree about the lips. It's insane. I would love to go up to 80 mg. Fingers crossed she considers it and doesn't shoot it down immediately. I think I have about 13 days until my next appt. The Dr's number one concern is my mood and I've been happier than ever that I may actually be acne free one day!
Rachel, I don't know much about the mood/Accutane connection. My doctor didn't even bring it up. And I'm pre-menopausal and have been working two highly stressful projects for the past four monthsboth of which conditions you'd think Accutane would amplify. But so far, I'm feeling fine, maybe even better than when I started.
All you can do is try it. I'll keep my fingers crossed your doctor is cooperative!
Here are my 9 week pictures. I feel like I'm worse than ever. I really need to clear up before I go crazy!!!
Hey Rachel! I know the frustration of breaking out and not seeing progress as that was my last course to a T. I think upping your dose will do the trick. There is a guy on you tube: humerus fitness, who does weekly accutane videos and he didn't start to clear till he upped his dose big time. You definitely should be getting dry.
Keep on keeping on sistah
^ Totally! The first derm to suggest Accutane to me said that was totally normal. I'm just about to complete month 4 and I have about 4 cystic bumps on my face. So don't feel so bad 
Before I had acne ALL over my face, so it was hard to tell what would trigger it. Being on Accutane, I can pinpoint it better because everything goes good until I do something that triggers a breakout. Wheat, dairy, sugar and overly processed foods freak my skin out for sure. I know it's like that one thing we all already know, but sometimes we need that little reminder as to how much damage it actually does. I'm paying the price of consuming all of the above, with 4 HUGE painful cysts. Not sure what your diet is like, but cut these things out if you consume them on a regular basis. Could be why the breakouts have been continuous!
Definitely follow that guy's journey! He's so funny and positive it's mood uplifting!
Tomorrow is my appt to start my 4th month. I'm still really broken out. On one cheek, a pimple has a pimple, two are joined. It's so weird! Anyway, I'm actually glad because I want the doctor to see and hopefully up me. My insurance pays for the 20, 40, and 80 doses. None of the 30's which is why I had such a problem last month. Wish me luck that I get this prescription with limited drama.
Symptoms: virtually none at this point. My nasal passages were really dry but that's gotten tons better.
No dryness, no dry lips, no joint soreness anymore. My mood is fantastic. My eyes aren't even dry. My hair has never been oily so I don't know if there's any change there.
I'm just trucking along. I ran out of pills on Friday so I'll probably be out until I can get my meds Tuesday or Wednesday.
Just finished at the doctor now I'm awaiting bloodwork results! She agreed to bump me up to 80 mg as long as my bloodwork is okay and she mentioned that we will probably go to 6 months instead of 5 since I'm breaking out. She thinks I also have folliculitis which can happen during acne treatments. I think it's basically when a strain of staph gets into the hair follicles and causes an infection.
She was going to prescribe Bactrim but said since we are going up to 80 mg that will take care of it. I currently have 5 actives spots on one cheek. Good times.
Ok the doctor called and all my bloodwork is fine except she wants me to take another triglyceride test in two weeks to make sure they are okay. The first test was 103, the second 233, and this time 215. She just wants to make sure it's okay on 80 mg.
Sooooo I need any advice anyone has on lowering triglycerides! If it goes up too much she's going to lower me back down to 40 mg and I don't want that!
Fish oil is good as well as better eating habits - fish, veggies, whole grains, limited processed food, etc. Hopefully the increase in dosage will do the trick.
My current game plan is to take 2,000-4,000 mg of Fish oil, which is the dosage to lower triglycerides everyday. Eat red grapes which have lowering properties, as well as extra fiber. I've been eating salads every night so I'll continue to do that. Cut out red meat and add more seafood.
I know taking the 'Tane without fat can also make the tri's go up so I'm going to make extra extra sure it's taken with fat.
I'll be avoiding anything with added sugar and wheat.
Hopefully I can maintain or go down. I really don't feel they are all that high. I went from 105 to 233 to 215. From what I've read most doctors don't start panicking until it hits 500 or so. My dr must be extra conservative.
Fingers crossed this works! My prescription has been called in and the pharmacy had to order more so I'm hoping to have it tomorrow. I've been without pills since Saturday.
I have my biggest cyst that I've ever had. Right now it's a little more than a quarter an inch wide. I really want to get clear soon.
Congrats on getting bumped up! I struggle with high cholesterol, too, but my tris are really low, so I'm not sure what specifically works for those. Overall, I have been avoiding saturated fats, eating oatmeal pretty much every morning, using Benecol on my toast, and taking fish oil supplements. First couple months, my cholesterol went way down. Last month was bad, with traveling and social stuff, so I'm back up about 20 points.
You plan sounds good, and here's to clear days ahead!
I wanted to document my symptoms, and lack of symptoms, after 3 months on 40 mg a day.
Slightly dry eyes at night
Tons of breakouts. Nonstop IB.
Completely clear back and KP on arms is MUCH better.
No mood issues.
Slight joint soreness, but not positive it's from Tane.
No dry lips or dryness period.
Skin that isn't broken out is VERY smooth.
Did you get your script for 80mg pills?
I DID!!!! It was a relatively easy month. They were out and had to order them but I got them the next day. I've been on 80mg for 5 days and few cysts that have been lingering for months are getting smaller! They are about half the size they were yesterday so I hope everything is working!
I've been eating seafood, pork, chicken, and avoiding red meats. Still taking Fish oil supplements and eating grapes, and oatmeal. I redo my blood work in 9 days and hoping my triglycerides doesn't go up.
It's so interesting, how everyone responds differently to different doses. A friend of mine was on 20mg a day, and had to stop after only about a month, her side effects were so bad. You on the other hand hardly noticed 40mg a day.
At any rate, glad to hear the good news, and fingers crossed that you begin to dry up and clear up!