Day 10

I've made it through the first 10 pack of pills!!!!!!

I'm feeling good - my energy is up thanks to Herbalife and I've started making time to exercise! I've lost a little weight - thanks to Herbalife, not drinking alcohol and the massive amounts of water that runs through me. AND I'M STILL THIRSTY!

I was drinking Gatorade, but the sugar made me more thirsty so I've changed to Smartwater. One liter a day plus another liter or so of regular water or Herbalife tea.

My lips are super dry now - not painful, but I'm keeping chapstick stuff with me all the time. My face has started changing over the past couple of days. Only around my mouth and nose. It's not dry yet, but I can tell it will be if I don't moisturize. I actually cannot believe that I'm getting lotion anywhere near my face - trying to get over that fear!!

I've had a couple of bloody noses - nothing dripping out just kinda crusty(sorry if that was gross) - so I started using a saline spray. It doesn't seem to make a difference yet - this will definitely be one of the questions I ask at my one month mark.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Day 6 - Accutane

Day Six,

I'm starting to notice that my lips are drier. I started with the lip moisturizer on day one, so they aren't cracking or hurting. I had a tiny pimple along my hairline (weird place), but haven't had any other problems. My skin seems to look healthier - for whatever reason (water, Accutane, diet).

I'm using a couple of things from the esthetician at my derm's office...I really love the stuff. The cleanser I use morning and night - Glycolix (has 5% glycolic acid and 2% salicylic acid). I use Diacneal (by Avene) once a day - usually in the morning and Cetaphil once or twice a day.

So far so good!

Second Day

My second day and I've not shriveled up in a dry heap yet!

I'm taking on pill of 40mg each night. I'm not seeing anything yet, but I am really thirsty during the night - more so than usual. Can't tell if it's a new thing yet.

I also am on Herbalife - so I'm taking a multivitamin and a couple of other suppliments while drinking two shakes everyday. I'm trying to eat pretty good at night (other than wing night!!).

On the pill - Mircette has worked before without the side effects that Yaz had so I'm sticking with it. And I take Prestique - a cousin of Effexor.

Now you know everything about me!! I had planned to do before and after shots, but my face looks pretty good now - thanks to the derm and her steroid shots! But if anything weird occurs I'll post pictures.

Getting Ready

A month ago I went to a dermatologist in Ormond Beach. I actually saw the PA who is a late 20s? Early 30s woman. She was on Accutane last year and her face looks good.

I had to take a pregnancy test and have blood work done.
Wait 30 days and do it again.
Use 2 forms of Birth Control.
Be approved through the regulators
THEN, I could start on "The Tane".
This is for females only - we have to have two negative preg tests within 30 days before we can start.
I started drinking much more water during the day (trying to loose some weight too so I had added incentive). I'm up to about a gallon of water a day now.
According to the PA I am to drink at least 64oz of liquid with electrolytes (Smart Water, Gatorade, etc) each day, start eye and nose drops, and moisturize like crazy. Her advice was to be proactive and that if I got too dry it was hard to get back to normal.
I'm to avoid the sun and if I am out in it to wear sunscreen and a hat as I will blister.
I'm to avoid alcohol in excess (dang!) but a drink now and then is ok.
I'm to avoid too much greasy food.

Other than that, I'll be fine! YIKES! Wish me Luck!!

My History with "IT"

A little history:

Female, 35 years old
I live in Daytona Beach, FL and have most of my life.
I have had acne since since puberty. I can remember getting terrible "raspberries" on my nose in Junior High and still have scars. In high school and college I worked hard at keeping my face clean - Stridex, Clearasil, etc. Makeup was a great coverup!! Late college I started using MaryKay - it got better! Hurray! This lasted for a year and it came back.

Nothing seemed to help and as I got older, the breakouts got worse. They would start as one nasty lump. It hurt! Bad!! If I popped it, two or three more would come and the battle began. I felt physically sick almost flulike. I did the antibiotic thing, but that would only clear it up for a few months. Then "IT" was back!

In my late twenties I started trying to nail down what caused it. Stress - well, duh! Certains Foods? Soda? Dairy? Certain Makeups? I cut out things, changed eating habits. Nothing seemed to make a difference - in fact the better I took care of myself, the worse it got!!

Then Proactive came out!! I thought I'd found a miracle! I loved it! This lasted for about another year and the bumps and lumps started again. One morning I woke up to a lump bigger than a golf ball in the middle of my forehead (some of you reading will remember this!).

So now, I'm 35, married, and not planning to have kids. So it seemed like a nobrainer.....until I started reading online about the horror stories of people who took Accutane. I got scared "No way am I going to put my body through this!" I said. Until one day my face hurt so bad, I talked to my brother in law (a doc) who said "Why don't you take Accutane - I did!" WHAT!?!?!?!

I did more research and here I am - sitting at my desk staring at my new pack of Accutane with excitement and (a lot of) nervousness.

My Accutane Blog

As I debated with myself whether to take Accutane I read other blogs from many men and women of various ages. These blogs helped me to make my decision and move forward. I decided to keep my own blog to act as a "diary" for myself with the hopes that it might help others who are battling with acne and concerned about the effects that Accutane may have on them.

I'd love to hear feedback, other's experiences, and welcome any questions!!