hope for me yet

Week 6

Not much improvement this week. If anything, things are starting to get a bit worse? I’m not the best judge of this, since I’m my own worst critic. I still have makeup to help save the day, though. The rash on my hand hasn’t gone away, but it is being kept at bay thanks to some medicated lotion. Also, I doubt that I will floss my teeth as much as my dentist would like in the coming months because it just leads to cracked and bleeding lips. Boo hiss.

Still have the dryness and the occasional itchyness, as well as the ankle stiffness and just a teeny tiny bit more back pain, but I think I have my clinical to thank for that one—I’m constantly leaning over clients in bed/a reclined chair and ranging them from an awkward angle or sitting on a stool with my back unsupported to do a treatment with them… Those things I can’t really help, so I’m just going to have to get used to it.

I’ve noticed that for some reason, wet hair hanging freely around my face really causes aggravation and itchyness. Dry hair, not so much. It’s kinda strange, but after showers now, my hair goes right up into a ponytail.

That’s about it. See ya next week.

Week 5

My dermatologist appointment was pretty uneventful. For this second month, I’m still going to be on 60mg/day, which is just fine with me. I was told that between months 2 and 3, people tend to see the most dramatic improvements. Time will only tell if that’ll hold true for me, too. I’m just glad I made it through this first month.

As for side effects… same old, same old. I’ve also started to experience some stiffness in my ankle joint, which can make walking kinda painful. This has only happened so far after periods of inactivity (like sleeping), but it seems like once I get moving again, the stiffness goes away. And I’m starting to develop a rash on the back of my hands, but we’ll see if some medicated lotion can do anything for me.

More bad quality pictures coming atcha. There’s a bunch of icky stuff happening on both cheeks at the moment, but my forehead and chin have cleared up quite a bit since the start of treatment.

It’s weird for me to look at these pictures and see all the yuckiness that’s going on because it’s not what I typically see when I look in a mirror at any given point during the day. Case in point:

Oh, the wonders of makeup. I truly wasn’t able to hide stuff this well before starting accutane, so I’m not complaining!

nhtvng asked: hi there! i just wanted to drop by to thank you for the support :) and also to wish you all the best ♥. looks like you're improving quite significantly, so congrats! just by curiosity, what's the worst side effect have you experienced so far? and also, did you get an initial breakout like the majority of others did? if so how far into the treatment did you get it? i'm having a minor breakout on my forehead right now and i'm not sure if it's due to the accutane. i wouldn't complain if it is, 'cause i'd rather deal with the whole initial breakout sooner than later. but anyway, have a good night/day!

Thank you for your support, too! :)

I would have to say the most irritating thing so far is just the dry skin/lips and itchyness. Especially the itchyness. There’s some days where I can’t even wear my hair down, because even just a few strands of hair on my face are enough to drive me freakin’ crazy. In the last few days I’ve also been experiencing more aches and pains, especially in my ankle joint. I really can’t complain too much though, because I know these are just minor irritations that can’t be avoided. Just gotta deal with it.

I’m not sure if I had an initial breakout or not. If I did, it happened during week 2.  But I’ve always made myself be pretty immune to how bad my face looks because that’s just how I dealt with it, so I can’t give you an objective answer about the IB. For all I know, the worst is yet to come (but I sure hope not! *knock on wood*).

Week 4

1 month! People keep telling me my skin looks so much better. Au natural, not so much, but with some liquid foundation to even everything out, I look halfway decent. One new thing I noticed this week is that my nose is no longer Shiny Central. It is sooo weird to look in the mirror and realize that I don’t need to blot it and powder it. I’m a fan.

My arms are starting to get more dry spots, but it’s not something a little lotion can’t help. Haven’t had any other symptoms besides, of course, the dryness and constant need for chapstick. I’ve been using CeraVe moisturizing cream for my face and Vaseline for my lips. They’ve been working really well for me.

As for my summer classes, I got through them and passed (woot woot!), but I start my clinical rotations next week… So I’m pretty sure fatigue is going to be a part of my life for the next 3 months, pills or no pills. Maybe I’ll take up some more caffeine or something. I’ll just have to see how it goes.

These pictures are of awful quality, but oh well.

I think my skin is looking slightly irritated there, especially in the last pic. I was out and about this morning and the heat wasn’t very kind. My face was feeling kind of itchy but its lessened now that I’m back home. However, I got my blood test done and I see my dermatologist tomorrow. Hopefully he is as pleased with my progress as I am. :)

acneandme:

Seriously. There are times where I want to be like “OMG really???!!! I totally had no idea whatsoever!”.

minimalthought:

I feel like when someone points out my acne, they expect me to react like:

(Source: seeklight)

Week 3

Really not much to report this week. A new symptom that popped up was some dryness of the arms. I’m also more easily fatigued, but I’m not sure if it’s because the stress of school is mounting (I have two big exams I must pass, otherwise I’m screwed) or if it’s the meds. Just gotta wait and see, I guess.

I don’t think there has been much improvement since last week, though I am home for the weekend and my mom commented that she thinks my skin is looking so much better. So, that’s something.

Alright… Back to the books.

Milestone

This morning, I looked in the mirror and felt pretty for the first time in I don’t know how long. My skin is not flawless by any means, but it’s looking better than it has in months. Of course, I probably just jinxed myself and I’ll wake up tomorrow looking like a train wreck, but I still thought this was worth commemorating.

Week 2

I’m two pills shy of 2 weeks. Halfway through the first month! I started to notice and feel more dryness happening this week. My face also feels itchy from time to time. As for breakouts, I did have a few ugly spots happening here and there, but I must have been really immune to how bad they looked. One of the requirements of my summer class was to help out with a kid’s day camp for one afternoon. I was drawing pictures with a sweet little girl (we were drawing portraits of Lady Gaga) when she, out of the blue, point-blank asked me what was up with my face. There’s nothing like the honesty of little kids, right? haha. That was back on Thursday, but thankfully things are looking a little more improved by now.

I look a little greasy since I went to a baseball game this afternoon and lathered on the sunscreen. I definitely didn’t want to deal with the consequences of sunburn on top of everything else.

So far the only major side effect seems to be dry skin/lips and the occasional itchyness. The aches and pains have all but subsided. I was a little worried about starting this medicine at the same time that I started my classes, but I’m doing well and there hasn’t been any major fatigue. I only have two more weeks of class anyways, so it’s full steam ahead as far as I’m concerned.

The first week

Tomorrow will mark the end of the official first week of pill-popping. I haven’t noticed too much in the way of side effects. That back pain I had after my first pill went away just as quickly as it arrived. Every now and then, I do have some aches and pains, but only when I put my body into weird positions (such as when I’m sleeping). My skin hasn’t dried out as much as I expected it to (it hasn’t dried out at all really, it’s just as oily as its always been), but that could change as I get further into treatment, I guess. My lips aren’t chapped, though I do have this constant feeling of dryness; nothing a little chapstick can’t fix. I also have an itchy scalp from time to time (head&shoulders shampoo for the win!).

I will say I am having the best sleep I can remember having in awhile. I am notorious for not sleeping through the night, waking up quite frequently, but this has lessened since I started. It may also be a product of starting summer classes, actually going to bed earlyish, and getting a decent amount of sleep. Either way, I’m not complaining.

My face has actually cleared up a bit, which worries me, because I’d rather suffer through the initial breakout sooner rather than later. Grr.

The good side is still truckin’ along.

Until next time.

Day 1

Just took my first pill. I’ll be taking 30mg twice a day. Already feeling some back pain, but it seems manageable.

My good side. haha.

Yuck.