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Considering (Ro) Accutane Privately - Uk!

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(@carolinelina)

Posted : 12/10/2014 7:12 pm

Hello everyone!

This is my first post on acne.org and I'm looking forward to joining the community! I'll give an overview first but my main questions I need help with are numbered below! Feel free to have a nose at my story but if you want to get straight to the point its clear too...

I'll give a brief (if I can, I have a tendency to ramble!) overview of my skin history; so I'm 23, based in the central area of the UK. I've always suffered from minor breakouts that never bothered me through adolescence, however, about a year ago (Sept 2013) started experiencing worsening breakouts, I reacted to this by buying into Proactiv (worst mistake ever) and using BareMinerals (second worst mistake) and skin worsened, after these learnt more and switched cleansing and make up products to ones that were gentler and non-comodegenic. As the acne worsened into the new year (2013-2014) I got fed up and saw my local NHS GP (general doctor, non specialist, not a derm), she prescribed topical treament Zineryt (used twice a day when cleansing) combined with Tetralysal Lymecycline (one tablet a day) on a repeat prescription basis. After 4-5 months my acne had pretty much totally cleared up and I was basically just tackling the scarring which was fading well (i think due to me applying tamanu every day but not sure, advice?!), anywho, I came off the meds knowing they had done their job. Only problem is, its been a few months since I came off and my acne has come back with an absolute vengeance! It's way worse than its ever been and scarring and hyperpigmentation is becoming prevalent (adding to the scarring and hyperpigmentation I had before).

So right now, I'm currently looking at all my options, keen to steer clear of the NHS as I don't want to wait a long time for a referral etc (2-3 months last time I had one), so thinking of going privately!

Also an extra point, I am VERY self conscious of my acne, I'm a very confident, enthusiastic person normally but this is just absolutely bringing me down to a new low i've never experienced, even make up isn't doing much for my self confidence now to the point that I'm scared of even seeing a derm cause of how low my self esteem is with AND without make up

BUT THE MAIN POINT OF THIS POST (LOL) is:

  1. to get people's opinions of WHERE to go privately (not NHS) in the UK (England, central) to get a roaccutane consultation? Including pricing? and/or;
  2. other treatments to consider?

‹I have posted a few pics below to show you the stages my skins gone through and also the current mountain range i'm dealing with , so you can see what you guys think with regards to my above questions

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post-379330-0-35870200-1418256709.jpg

post-379330-0-29741000-1418256711.jpg

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(@punchyoual28)

Posted : 12/13/2014 6:12 pm

Hi Carolineina!

It's spooky, you're really similar to me (except blonde, a girl, and good-lookin'!)

I live in Warwickshire as well, and started on Isotretinoin today. I'd look at Spire Hospital in Solihull if i were you. It'll set you back 180 for the first consultation, and 90 for follow ups, but if you mention that you're not insured, the doc will take your finances into consideration.

I went a month ago with the express purpose of getting on Roaccutane (or equivalent), and was put on a more basic regime of cleansing and antibiotics, I guess just to see if i was overcomplicating things with products. The doctor, aware of my financial situation, said that it's my right to be able to use the NHS for this, and he'd send a letter to my GP to get them to do my blood test and refer me back to him so that i could get a roaccutane script via the NHS.

Long story short, my skin got worse this week, and I discovered that the NHS appointment wasn't until the 2nd March. So I was happy to stump up the 90 to go back in. I had my blood test results with me, so he was happy to put me on a starting dose of 20mg, to be upped in January as long as there's no particularly awful side effects. The pills cost just 11, so at the moment it's cost me:

180 + 90 + 11 = 281

I'm going to have to pay for the appointment in Jan, but then I believe I'll be able to switch to the NHS, as I've kept my March appointment. So then it'll be a lot cheaper. So it's pretty much the cost of 7-8 nights out, for the chance to get started on a life changing treatment ASAP!

Let me know if you need any more info

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(@carolinelina)

Posted : 12/18/2014 5:38 am

No way did I just reply to your other post?!?!?

 

Right, thank you so much for replying to me!!

 

So good to see someone in the eXact same position. And thanks for the compliments jahaha it's just the wonders of make up though!!

 

I spoke to a few people and they've mentioned the spire in Solihull! That sounds like a good plan, I'm currently on holiday so I'll ring them as soon as I get back this Saturday, so glad that you've been to the spire too so I know someone that's had a decent experience!

 

I've tried all sorts of cleansing regimes and things too as well as antibiotics so I think I have a good case for accutane straight up really considering that nothing has really worked!

 

I don't mind paying either, my mom said she'd go halves with me so that brings the cost down a lot for me and I really just want to steer clear of the NHS to be honest, wasn't happy with the treatment I got (my GP was clueless and a bit insensitive) and I was too scared to go to the referral with no make up :( but now in just fed up and wil do anything to be seen quickly before I get more scarring!!

 

Keep me updated on your journey with it id love to hear how you get on especially as you're so near!

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(@punchyoual28)

Posted : 12/20/2014 6:09 am

I'm generally a little bit funny about going in public with my skin, but at the hospital they see far worse things every day, so I don't feel too bad. I know exactly what you mean about being fed up and just wanting to be able to live a 'normal' life. I see people absentmindedly touching their face and I think, "you have NO idea how lucky you are!"

If you're calling the hospital today, Christmas might slow things down a bit but it'll probably take a week or two to get you in. Then just be really prepared about what you've taken in the the past so there's no doubt that you've tried everything. The doctor I saw was very sympathetic though.

I think the NHS is absolutely brilliant, but after I made the firm decision that I wanted to go on Isotretinoin, I didn't want to wait 3 months. However, I will be switching to NHS treatment with the same dermatologist after a couple of months. The way it worked was:

1. Went to Spire

2. Advised to try very basic cleansing/antibiotic regime, and told that an NHS blood test would be booked to save money.

3. Had blood test done by NHS. They also referred me to the same derm on the NHS.

4. Letter came through from NHS, confirming a March appointment (pff)

5. Went back to Spire with NHS blood test, and was prescribed Isotretinoin.

6. I've got to have another couple of appointment at Spire (blood tests etc), but then my appointments/prescriptions will switch to NHS.

Hopefully that makes some kind of sense?

I'm excited for you though, I know how much It meant to me to finally be on the road to sorting myself out. Fingers crossed that it's smooth sailing for you!

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(@carolinelina)

Posted : 12/23/2014 5:27 pm

Yeah i'm really funny about my skin. Don't want to go out without make up on and even at home, i only really allow my parents to see it without make up. Debating whether to get up early on Christmas day to put my make up on before I see my sisters early on! So it's affecting me pretty badly. I know I'll have to really try hard to go out of the house for the initial consultation. :(

I will probably phone them this weekend now instead, as i'm really busy with the Christmas period and stuff! Do you mind if I ask which dermatologist you saw? They seem really understanding and flexible so I'd love to see them! Especially with the plan of switching to the NHS!

I know, I'm on a really basic regime at the moment, I just got sick of trying everything and with a basic regime its definitely calmed down a bit but its still pretty severe. I've just got so much scarring and marking that I can't risk it much longer otherwise my face will well and truly be messed up for life haha!

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