Beenthere- I think so. That's the same thing as the auto-immune disorders.. Some people just have them. Such as my friend who has the same disease as Thumper.. Also suffers from severe cystic acne but she never took Accutane, and has only been on topicals for it.

Anyway- Thumper, Thanks! I hope you feel better. Only you know how you feel, and don't let anyone tell you that it's simply a mental thing.. You know whats what with your body. Hopefully this was not a result of Accutane usage. And you said you took 2 courses... Which really increases your chances of the dreaded side effects.. So I dunno. What was your dosage? Height/Weight? Length of time on each course?

On 4/11/2006 at 9:49 AM, ThumperLove said:

Just a warning I wanted to post! I wish I could:

 

I took 2 cycles of Accutane back in 1996-1997 for moderate to severe acne that wasn't responding to other treatments. It did clear up my acne for about 5 years afterwards but the acne DID come back a few years ago.

 

My experience:

 

About a few weeks into treatment I started developing some side effects, mild wheezing/Asthma, joint pain, frequent urination......and of course the usual suspects, dry skin etc. My doctor kept assuring me that these side effects couldn't possibly be from the Accutane and I had probably developed allergies (environmental). WELL, a few months later I started realizing that the wheezing and shortness of breath happened after I ate certain foods.......so during Accutane treatment I developed FOOD allergies, which I have to this day! And many chemical skin sensitivities, shampoos, soaps, lotions etc.

 

Now lets go back to the frequent urination.........Accutane successfully destroyed the lining of my bladder and left me with a disease called "Interstitial cystitis"/"Painful Bladder syndrome", which is a very PAINFUL disease, basically.......when certain foods or liquids hit your bladder, the lining is destroyed and it feels like BATTERY ACID is being poured on an open sore! AND I have to go to the bathroom 25-40 times a day! During accutane treatment, the increase wasn't as significant....I had doubled my bathroom trips, but the disease isn't cureable and has progressed to this level over the last several years. When I quit the accutane, these symptoms didn't go away! The joint/muscle pain continued and even WORSENED and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Interstitial Cystitis!

 

Joy oh JOY! Thanks to Accutane, I am now a Chronic Pain Patient with uncurable, not well understood by the medical community DISEASES!

 

I have since met others that developed SERIOUS bladder problems WHILE taking Accutane. One friend of mine started bleeding from her bladder 2 weeks into treatment and is NOW currently applying for disability because the pain is so intense she can no longer work.

 

I've also met people who developed serious food allergies while on Accutane.

 

I wasn't aware of the risks of IC, Bladder cancer, Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndrome when I began Accutane treatment........if I had a crystal ball, I never would've taken the stuff. It is TOXIC and I can't believe all the horror stories I've run into from people that have taken it over the last few months.

 

I've filed a complaint with the FDA and am currently in contact with 18 other people that now have serious irreversible bladder diseases, so if anyone here starts experiencing frequent urination/nighttime urination, or bladder pain..........please call your doctor and be aware that Accutane can destroy your bladder! AND cause Fibromyalgia!

 

Best of luck to all!

Thumper

Hi Thumper,

I took accutane in the mid 1990s as well and i developedinterstitial cystitisafterwards. I have been living in daily and nightly pain ever since, whereas I was completely healthy prior. As a result,Ive not been able to work for many years and it took me 12 years to get a diagnosis of Interstitial cystitis. Were you able to get an attorney to take your case? If so, what was the outcome?

W