I'm DONE! Happy Leap Year!!

After 6 months I have finally taken my last dose of Accutane. I feel so emotional now, I have never seen my face this good is years. YEARS people. I've had acne since I was...13? It went away, for about a year then came back super cystic when I was 16 and has not let up. But now I am 100% clear. There is seriously nothing on my face right now. Well, freckles, but that doesn't count! ^_~
So I definitely give Accutane a 10/10 for effectiveness. Despite all the side effects, I would do it again in a heartbeat to have the skin I have now. I haven't work full foundation in about 2 months! I'm in awe at how well this stuff works, and I understand fully why it is used as a "last resort" to get rid of acne. I had my ups and down with it. I broke it down to a few major upsets I consistently had:
1.) Lower back aches. Got insanely painful after month 4. It hurts to stand up after sitting for at least 30 minutes, especially when I wake up in the morning.
2.) Hemorrhoids. Once I took major active measures to reduce pain it made it bearable, but it does not go away no matter how much pedialyte and gatorade you drink, ointments, stool softeners, and fish oil pills you take.  I'd say this was the #1 side effect for me. I hate it, and it won't go away for at least another month. Mine got so bad, the derm (I finally told her by month 5) asked if I wanted to go off Accutane because I said that they were bleeding and I had blood in my stool. But I hustled through it so I could do the full 6 months.
3.) Emotional. I felt a little more emotional that normal, even with birth control pills. It was not enough to cause alarm or make me suicidal, but I did notice it.
4.) Dry lips. Once I started carrying Aquaphor with my everywhere it was not a big issue. Something no matter how much Aquaphor my lips were still disgustingly chapped and there was nothing I could do about it except not kiss my boyfriend >.< It sucks major, but I knew it was something that there was nothing I could do about it except apply more Aquaphor and Nivea lip balms.
5.) Lethargy. I have been noticeably tired on a constant basis since being on Accutane. I tend to sleep at LEAST 12 hours on the weekends as if it was nothing. I started drinking aloe juice with wheat grass to combat it. I tried more coffee(I drink a cup every morning), but it was too dehydrating and made my hemorrhoids worse -__-;;

Those are my top 5 worst side effects. I still recommend it to anyone who has insurance and horrible acne.

                                                                     Before:

                                            
                                                                          After:                              

                                                              

LAST MONTH!!

Sorry that there have been no updates. I seriously have had nothing to update about. My skin has been fabulous all of January. I did get a tiny blemish on my chin around the end of December, but I think it was from all the delicious food I was eating in Florida on vacation. I also forgot to take my 2 doses of pills a few days and only took my morning one, but it was for the better since I was drinking alcohol and it helped to prevent less liver damage. I dabbed some abreva on it, and it went away in 24 hours. Hemrrohoids are still an issure, but have gotten better when I am dilligent about it. Here is my routine:

Evening:
Vitamins with omega-3s
Phillips Colon Health probiotic capsules
1 stool softener
Preparation H wipes before bed
Morning:
1 stool softener
Preparation H wipes

My skin is 100% clear. It has been dry, so I did buy a new lotion and face cream for day. I was also starting to get eczema patches on my arms, so I have been using Aveeno Eczema Therapy lotion sample I got from the dermatologist.
I picked up my last month on pills on Friday!!!! I kinda can't believe that I made it after all the problems I had in the beginning.

No real problems this month

Went and saw my dermatologist for my check up last week. Sorry was busy and forgot to update (>.<) Only thing going on is still the hemorrhoids and lips are constantly chapped. I slap on Aquaphor all day long, and they are still peeling and gross. I think it is because the weather is getting colder and I have the heater on a nighttime as well. I ran out of my Eucerin Night Cream, and am going to switching to Aveeno Smart Essentials Night Cream instead. I loved the Eucerin Night Cream, but I feel like it wasn't doing anything for my skin. It also took FOREVER to sink in fully. I also got the cleanser, because I like to use the same line because I feel like you get the full effect. I was on my period last week and did notice myself being much more moody than normal. Like I was getting depressed over stupid stuff, and angry over stupid stuff. Nothing horrible, and not suicidal, so I think it is okay.

Alli=Liver Damage?!

Hmmm, so after loosing weight I have been taking Alli weight loss pills whenever eat super fatty foods. But today I saw an advertisement for a lawsuit against Alli for liver damage 0__0 That may have also been why my liver was not doing too well last month. I immediately hid the pills and will not take them until after I finish my Accutane treatment. I do not know if that is the direct reason, or me working out, but I do not want to take any chances.

3 Months Progress Update

I have been photographing myself around the same time each month since July this year. Pics start in August because I started Accutane treatment in September. As you can see I have had a DRAMATIC clear up in only three months! All of these pictures are 0% make-up on.

November

October

September 14, 2011

 

August 10, 2011(pre-Accutane)

Gross updates

I've been getting hemorrhoids the past two weeks >.< like super painful too. I hate it. I'm posting this so other people will know about it and to know that it can be a side effect. Because Accutane dries everything up, it can sometimes dry out your rectum as well, causing pain. Hemorrhoids can be inside or outside the rectum and are little inflamed polyps that bleed. So if you are on Accutane and it hurts to poop and you have a small amount of blood, definitely tell your dermatologist, but don't be too worried. The warning of the box means if you have blood mixed with stool. How to remedy this is to drink electrolyte water. Your body needs the extra hydration, regular water is ok, but Pedialyte is the best. Seriously, it has saved me from peeling skin, headaches and other side effects causing by dehydration while on Accutane. I just need to make sure to drink it everyday ^^;; Get the plain kind and mix it with juice since it is a little salty by itself.

Pink Eye

I have pink eye AGAIN x__x Pretty sure it from the Accutane now. I keep having dry eyes, and I read that super dry eyes can cause pink eye. I bought some homeopathic pink eye drops since I ran out of the antibiotic drops that the doctor gave me last time.