Appx. 1 Year Later Update!

Ok after lots of requests to let people know about my skin appx 1 year later………..

My skin has not had any new breakouts, I did have one stubborn way under the skin cyst like on my cheek that left a scar, due to picking and such, the scar is still there, the cyst is mostly gone…i did say mostly, i still feel it under the skin but it has not come to the top of filled up to a break out at all, it is just there (the small bump under the skin and scar) My hair returned to normal about 3 months off the medication, while on the medication my hair was drier, but in a good way, humidity never bothered it and it was never ever oily, it never looked dry but I could go 3 days without washing it and I am back to washing it every day, for a women with curly hair that straightens it, the medication was a god send to not having to wash it every day. That was a real great perk for taking the medication for me. As far as weight loss, My appetite while taking the medication was down, after about 2 months my appetite returned to normal, i lost between 7 and 10 pounds while on medication and gratefully only put about 5 – 6 pounds back on after my appetite came back (so I guess is it what we put in our mouths that make us gain weight) as simple as that sounds to realize, I really thought I never ate that much until being on the medication. Again another per of the medication for me. I found the medication to be wonderful, All the hype I read everywhere, blogs, question and answer sites etc….said very bad things, I did not have any of those worries, I don’t know if I was just a lucky one, but I truly checked in with my doctor, any questions or symptoms (dry lips, appetite, etc…I asked the questions and got answers, rather than trying to figure things out, I even called the doctor and emailed with any question I had, they were very tolerant of my few questions and was very glad that I asked them) I too was glad to have a professionals opinion, so again throughout my blog I have said and continue to say….check with you doctor for questions, problems, inquiries, weird feelings if you have them ( I did not, but read about others having them) I did exactly as I was told by the doctor wear sunscreen was a big one to this day I am still wearing sunscreen, neutrogena puts out an spf 90 its nearly greaseless, ,my dry lips returned to normal about 4 days after stopping the medication, my dry hands returned to normal about 4 days after stopping the medication. For me and I only speak for myself, I loved the medication, If others read this and had problems, I truly am sorry for them, again I happen to be a grateful customer. Good luck with you Skin and I hope that you have the great results that I did…..I really do not answer any emails any longer, I feel I have pretty much said my story, There is no more to say, I am not a doctor and have not ever even played one on T.V. ( alittle humor, very little i guess LOL) so please,please, please check with your doctor, stay in touch with them through the process, do what that say, ask them questions as they arise and my best advice is BE PATIENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot promise my results…..Happy Skin to You!

3 Months off Accutane!!

Hello out there in accutane,acne,sotret and the rest of the generic isotetrinoan (spell check please!) NO BREAKOUTS!!!!!!!! After coming off the medication I am pimple free, although around that time of the month I have noticed and increase in oil on my face, not terribly bad just more moist than the rest of the month, I have received lots of questions about my experience via this site and though i should do a major run on paragraph about the after effects as well.  I lost weight while taking sotret, about 5 pounds (guess I was just as hungry while taking it, not a huge loss of appetite but still some loss of appetite was there) I have regained the 5 pounds (my appetite is back to normal) my weight is 138 now.  My lips went back to normal about 2 days was all it took to notice a major difference dont even own a chapstick now, also my hair needs to be washed every other day, on the medication it didn’t get oily at all so I could wash it every 3 even 4 (i Miss that terribly was fun having more time on my hands not having to blow dry every other day)

I still have some brown scarring marks left behind from the breakout i use to get, They are slowly going away since no new arrivals and I am really happy with that.

Well good wishes to all who are on the medication, there is light at the end of the tunnel, patience it all works out, you will be so much happier with your skin keep on keepin on, will write again in about 3 months or so for now happy skin to all!

My Last entry!! Yippie Hooray!

I have been off accutane/sotret/clavaris (generic brands that were substituted by the pharmacy) for about 2 weeks, my skin is healing the brown marks are slowly becoming lighter in color but noticeable just after 2 weeks my lips are back to normal my hands are not dry my skin is about 90% better but the derm says it will get better now that i am in optimal healing after stopping the medication.  I could not be happier, i don’t know if i could do 6 months of pills twice a day ever again and the dreaded dry lips but it was worth it for me I could not be happier, i say 90% and not 100% because of the marks left behind by old acne and scarring but as far as cysts pimple and the like all are and yes i said all are gone!!!! yeah!!! Hippie!! Hooooraaayyy! Good luck to all of you in the beg,mid,or end! for me i would recommend with derm supervision.  Good skin to all who have read and continue to read my weblog and keep the faith!!

Starting Month Number 6

It has been a long road of skin ups and downs (mostly ups though!) I have been very lucky I understand and the derm feels I have tolerated the medication very well….No real upsets skin, mood etc…I will be finished soon and am incredibly pleased with the outcome…my face is not perfect but oh my goodness 95% better than when I first began.  I guess what happens when you end the medication is that your skin goes back to its optimal healing any brown or pink (red) marks from previous (6 month ago) breakouts begin to deminish and when your skin is not breaking out anymore and your not creating new marks the old ones (with tons of sunblock) and no picking go away over the next 6 months so to that I am looking forward!  I will keep updating over the next year or so checking in and posting from time to time.  I really wish patience and good skin to everyone who reads my blog…Off I go to get ready for work takes about 3 minutes to do my face and (skin) look good used to take about 14-20 minutes and it never looked good just a covered over mess.  Lots of people have commented on how great I look that I don’t look as tired anymore (brownish marks and sallow skin will do that I guess) also a little side not while taking the medication I find I am not nearly as hungry as I used to be 3 meals a day is fine so what if I don’t snack (I lost 7 pounds in almost 6 months) yippie yahoo and horrary to Sotret!! What a great side effect!!!

To Everyone Who Comments!!!! Sotret Medication

Please be patient, it is really hard and the only thing the doctors cannot give you a pill for……For me I speak only, but my skin has never looked so good….I practice patience everyday with the medication and the process.

The second thing is something that has helped me through the process…….We adapt to the medication the medication does not adapt to us…Which for me means, my symptoms change weekly or monthly and I treat them with the doctors advise as they change…dry lips, lip balm (aquafore) dry skin, (aveeno lotion), Thirsty (water) It sounds really simple but when I started this process I did not have weird symptoms happening differently every month so it was a bit overwhelming, Just keep the doctor informed of any changes, write them down and bring the note with you for the next appointment, Be patient for me patience and the medication has worked miracles for my skin.

Good wished and Happy Skin to you all!

COMMENTS……

Hi everyone, just a side note and a thank you for all your comments…I do get back to them via your email. If you have any other questions or comments about my experience..please leave a comment..Thanks and Happy Skin to You!

5 months on accutane (Sotret)!!!

Well, its month number , I have not started my sotret yet for this month, so far I have not taken the pills for 3 days….At some point during the prescription nightmare and preg tests,Liver test and the holidays, me and the derm had a communication breakdown and I cannot fill my prescription until Monday, that will be about 7 days off the medication.  The derm feels this is not a problem and things like these happen (mostly holiday and doctors office closing,confusion).

I am still very optimistic about the medication..Have felt alittle tired and the pain of two pills a day one in the am and i in the pm are starting to become a pain in the neck…Brings me back to the very start and saying to myself” I would do just about anything to have a normal face and skin” so I guess my complaining now is due to my face clearing 90% and now I am happy so why keep going with this for two more months….why , I asked the derm and she said the full course and patience are the keys to success….Right patience, you can’t take a pill for that.

I truly am happy with the results at this point, side effect going into month 5 are as follows…..not to bad dry lips anymore….alittle more tired than usual…..weight is staying the same (at the start, lost 7 lbs.) appetite suppression for me and that’s about it, some dryness of hair, but thankfully no loss and skin rash I developed on my hands which the derm gave me a script for lotion for had gone away completely.

 Thats all for now folks, happy skin to you! 

Side Effects

Well, I have started the 4th month on Sotret (Generic, Accutane) and am very happy so far with the progress.  Some of the side effects that I have been experiencing right along are chapped lips, a little bit of a head ache in the very beggining.  Not bad at all for side effects…..

Well it is 4 months later (into the the second week of 4th month) and I have noticed that I am more tired than usual, somewhat severe aches and pains in the legs,arm,back.  Not enough to stop the medication, but enough to take advil.  Although I have had little aches and pains throughout I was not really sure if they were from activities or medication they were hardly noticeable, one time or another taking advil maybe 1 or two times a month seemed to clear up all of the muscle aches….4 months later, well the aches and pains are as I said alittle more severe.  Advil takes them away, but I am taking advil atleast 2 times a week now.  No other side effects to report at this time, still loving how my skin feels, much smoother and not a breakout since starting the medication.   I believe I am one of the lucky ones, my acne did not get worse before it got better like I had read in so many accutane blogs.  Mine just started clearing after the first week.

Side Note:  I have recieved many e-mail about starting sotret,accutane, etc… and all of them I am thankful for, I know that most of the people sending emails are just starting, but we are all in this circle together.  I hope for all of us that this medication is a cure, worth the aches and pains and peace of mind that comes from people not starring at our skin but looking at us.  Keep in mind that your doctor will monitor you as time goes on and some days will be better looking than others (we are our own worst enemies)  Stay on the same track as your doctor and all will be ok. Will keep you posted as time goes on….. Happy skin to you all!

4th month!!Yippie,Yahoooo!!

Went to the derm yesterday morning, all is really going well.  I still have 2 more months to go, but she said that my skin is really starting to smooth out and even some of my pores seem to be getting small, I believe this is do to the inflammation under the skin that brings the pores a little higher than the smooth skin around them.

I have some different side effects now to report…..

Dry hands turned into on the tops only eczema (a very light itchy condition) on on the tops of the hands, which the derm gave me a prescription for cream.  The Derm also assures me that this will go away as soon as I stop taking Isotretinoin.  She felt it was a very mild condition and went from dry hands to this.  Really I almost did not mention it to her, that is how little it bothered me, I thought it was just a change in the weather.

The next side effect is…..My bones,joints,arms,hips and legs are starting to become somewhat painful in the am when I wake up.  Almost like I just started lifting weighs or running..  Again the derm let me know that this too would go away as soon as stopping the medication.  Take advil or tylenol was her recommendation.  I took advil when I returned home about 1 hour later I had no pains…

Other than those two new side effect, I will be starting my 4th month in about 3 days, will keep you posted on this skin adventure.  I am really satisfied with the results to date, my makeup never,ever covered up much of the problem and as of recently I spend about 2 minutes covering up maybe two areas that are discolored from acne.  I am so excited to continue and using sun screen everyday has helped to keep those brownish discolorations at bay. 

Happy Holidays & Happy Skin to you all!

Almost 90 days!!

Not any changes in my skin other than previously written, it seems between 60 and almost 90 days nothing for me changed to much.  Same dry lips.  Will update again with any changes, as for now…..nothing new.

Happy Skin to you!