Thursday, April 15, 2004

day twenty-nine, week five The plot thickens. The progress I was seeing last week is all but gone now... my body does NOT like the dosage increase, so I'm pretty miserable. I'm not any more broken out, but my whole face is blotchy and my eyes are red and swollen... basically it feels like I've been crying all day. Anyway, read on. current medications/supplements: accutane 40mg (now 80mg every other day) Erythromycin Yasmin (birth control) vitamin e current products: Neosporin cream with pain relief Visine Original and Visine for contacts St. Ives 24-hour lotion cetaphil moisturizing lotion cetaphil face wash blistex lip balm lots of water current symptoms: rashes and body acne delicate skin red, blotchy skin all over dry, irritated eyes dry lips dehydration diet changes: went back to whole milk, but in smaller cartons (couldn't take the lowfat crap anymore) WEEK FIVE REPORT: It's no worse than I thought it would be, but it's still no fun. I can't wear contacts for more than a few hours anymore, and I feel like a troll. My face is very dry and flaky, I constantly look tired and sick. I'm experiencing minor depression from this, basically just a low self-esteem thing. No extra anxiety or anything. RECOMMENDATIONS: When having blood drawn during your monthly visit to the lab, stick with the arm that's easier to get blood out of! I thought I'd give my right arm a break (it was still bruised from LAST month) and try the left arm, but after poking it twice the nurse still couldn't get any blood out of it. With my sensitive skin and everything, and bleeding all over myself with all the extra holes in my arm, I actually passed out! (I was hungry too, that probably had a hand in it) So stick with the arm that's easy to poke. | || [11:46 AM]

Friday, April 09, 2004

day twenty-nine, week four Had my one-month derm checkup, and he says my face is calming down quite a bit! He increased my dosage to 80mg every other day, so I'll average 60mg/day for the next month. I also got my bloodwork back from the lab, and my cholesterol and triglycerides have gone up. With the heart problems I've already got, I've implemented some new diet changes to keep that under control. Anyway, here's the grits: current medications/supplements: accutane 40mg (now 80mg every other day) Erythromycin (antibiotic - makes me sick to my stomach) Yasmin (birth control) iron vitamin e (*really* helps! details later) current products: Neosporin cream with pain relief (for broken skin and zits that won't go away) Visine Original and Visine for contacts (for dry, irritated eyes) St. Ives 24-hour lotion cetaphil moisturizing lotion cetaphil face wash blistex lip balm lots of water current symptoms: delicate skin- lost of scrapes and blisters! red, blotchy skin all over VERY dry, irritated eyes dry lips (without constant lip balm application) dehydration diet changes: minimized red meat intake to 2 meals/week switched from whole milk to 2% switched from ranch to italian dressing increased intake of citrus fruits (can't turn down an excuse to drink more orange juice...) WEEK FOUR REPORT: Things are definitely winding down, slowly but surely. Like I said, there's really nothing to squeeze anymore. Red spots come and go, but they never get swollen anymore, they just kinda go away without much ado. My most bothersome symptom right now is how uncomfortable my eyes are... 100% positive it's because I've forgotten to take my vitamin E for the last few days. Bad llama! A little PMS-related moodiness, thanks to Yasmin, and mild anxiety to go with it. But nothing I can't handle, and nothing I can blame on Accutane. RECOMMENDATIONS: Take your vitamin e! | || [10:02 AM]

Friday, April 02, 2004

day twenty-two, week four MINI-UPDATE: good news/bad news The good news is that my initial breakout is over, I hope. Still watching for more flare-ups. I have had no *new* acne for the past 2 days, yay! (I usually average 4 or 5 new big ones every morning.) All of the cysts are gone and I no longer look like a blistering burn patient. Here's the bad news: a melee of new side effects, some of which are worrying me. One (kinda gross) is intestinal/rectal bleeding. Definitely bringing that one up during my visit next week. Two is bleeding sinuses... no acutal nosebleeds, but when I blow my nose it's all bloody. Another one is joint and muscle aches, mostly my back and knees-- both prior problem areas, but I haven't had body pain this bad since surgery 6 years ago. Also, major indigestion due to the anti-biotics (250 mgs of erythromycin 3 times a day) my derm switched me to. Yuck. Finally, accutane seems to make my asthma a little worse. I wasn't expecting this one, it's not listed in the FDA symptoms. But it makes sense... if all of my other body tissues are more delicate and sensitive, why not my bracheal tubes? Anyway, working out lately is downright miserable. Dehydration, body pain, asthma... if you're experiencing anything similar, I recommend low-impact aerobic machines like those eliptical runner things (I lasted a lot longer on that thing than on the treadmill) and VERY frequent water breaks. Take it in small sips for maximum absorbtion. | || [9:36 AM]

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About Accutane

In Laman's terms... Accutane limits the body's production a natural oil called Sebum that builds up in your pores and causes acne. Generally you spend 5 months on it, and most people see results within 2 months. It has a 75% success rate after the first round, 85% after 2 rounds - that means that the acne never, ever comes back for most people. During the course of the therapy, the most common side effects are dry flaky skin, chapped lips, dehydration, irritation while wearing contacts, and backaches. Basically it makes your body tissue really sensitive to EVERYTHING. Some people also experience moodiness and, in rare cases, severe depression. It also causes some nasty birth defects, so they make absolutely sure you can't get pregnant while you're on it.

Products I Swear By

Mary Kay medium coverage foundation blistex original lip balm neosporin cream (not ointment) St. Ives 24-Hour body lotion Cetaphil moisturizer & face wash Generic vitamin e supplements Visine original eye drops

Products I Swear *At*

Blistex Complete Moisture lip balm - Jackie recommends it, but I disagree! It's really thin (heavy petroleum-based ointments are the best) and makes your breath smell funky. Victoria's Secret lotion - Love the smell, but it stings like a mofo. Same goes for Bath&Body or any other heavily scented lotion, accutane makes your skin VERY sensitive to that kind of stuff. Proactiv products - great for semi-problematic skin, but totally useless for severe acne. They *do* give your money back, so it *is* worth a try. But if you're serious about dealing with your acne, try something else. erythromycin - if you get this, make sure they prescribe the capsules, not the tablets. This stuff is powerful, it can really upset your stomach. Yasmin birth control - makes acne *worse*, turns you into a hormonal one-woman soap opera. Chapstick brand lip balm - nothin but glorified ear wax. Buy the medicated stuff, folks.

More Accutane Stuff

Fun With Accutane - Jackie's journal Accutane Information Page - the real deal, run by the FDA. The Skin Site - very comprehensive and easy to understand. Accutane Action Group - anti-accutane awareness group.