Accutane: Day 13
I went back to the dermatologist yesterday. After you've been on isotretinoin for about two weeks, they bring you back in for a check-up; i.e., a mental & physical health check. I had to fill out a questionnaire regarding the side effects I'm currently experiencing (out of the 15 they had listed, I only had five, and those were the minor ones... so maybe that's encouraging?). Then the doctor made me verbally confirm that I wasn't contemplating ending my life or anyone else's. Although I had to laugh when she asked, "Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself? Of harming others?" As Jimmy suggested, I should have replied, "Any more than usual?"
I didn't think I would have to get blood drawn again so soon, but yep, a nurse wheeled in that cart full of needles and tubes and I considered running out the door. Luckily, I had a more experienced tech, who, after noticing the abnormally tight fist and thin-linned expression I was making, began a random conversation to distract me. Done quickly and no bruising this time. Whew. And I get to do it all again in another two weeks.
My skin has started to get dry, dry, dry, flaking off in little bits throughout the day around my nostrils and mouth. When I run my fingertips over my face in the shower, it feels rough and uneven, like the surface of an orange. After I wash my face, it's incredibly shiny. Not from being oily, but from being so tight. Weird. I've also noticed that it looks really red right after a wash, but the redness goes away after I moisturize and chill for a bit.
My hair also feels a little rougher than normal, and my scalp is a little itchy. My derm suggested getting a moisturizing shampoo, which I will probably do this weekend because everything I've ever bought is for oily hair. It's time to get my roots redone and I'm a little hesitant because I'm wondering if it would be too much for the hair to handle. But then another part of me wants to get it done now before I get too far into the process.
The red scars on my chin aren't as noticeable as before, but I can't decide if they're already fading or if the fact that the skin is peeling and ashy works to hide it. A few people at work commented that the medicine seemed to be working because my face looked clearer, and were confused when I explained that it would be getting worse before it really got better. I'm starting to notice more cysts coming up along my jawline; you can't see them, but I can definitely feel them. Fun times. My derm said that I could probably expect some of that nice purging to really start going down in about a month, which would put me right at my 10-year high school reunion. Fantastic.
So. Two weeks down, and what, 19 to go?
I didn't think I would have to get blood drawn again so soon, but yep, a nurse wheeled in that cart full of needles and tubes and I considered running out the door. Luckily, I had a more experienced tech, who, after noticing the abnormally tight fist and thin-linned expression I was making, began a random conversation to distract me. Done quickly and no bruising this time. Whew. And I get to do it all again in another two weeks.
My skin has started to get dry, dry, dry, flaking off in little bits throughout the day around my nostrils and mouth. When I run my fingertips over my face in the shower, it feels rough and uneven, like the surface of an orange. After I wash my face, it's incredibly shiny. Not from being oily, but from being so tight. Weird. I've also noticed that it looks really red right after a wash, but the redness goes away after I moisturize and chill for a bit.
My hair also feels a little rougher than normal, and my scalp is a little itchy. My derm suggested getting a moisturizing shampoo, which I will probably do this weekend because everything I've ever bought is for oily hair. It's time to get my roots redone and I'm a little hesitant because I'm wondering if it would be too much for the hair to handle. But then another part of me wants to get it done now before I get too far into the process.
The red scars on my chin aren't as noticeable as before, but I can't decide if they're already fading or if the fact that the skin is peeling and ashy works to hide it. A few people at work commented that the medicine seemed to be working because my face looked clearer, and were confused when I explained that it would be getting worse before it really got better. I'm starting to notice more cysts coming up along my jawline; you can't see them, but I can definitely feel them. Fun times. My derm said that I could probably expect some of that nice purging to really start going down in about a month, which would put me right at my 10-year high school reunion. Fantastic.
So. Two weeks down, and what, 19 to go?