Week Two 02/03/03 - 02/09/03
02/03/03
The headaches continue, but Advil fixes them. My face is starting to get a sunburned, peeling look and it's getting fragile. If I pick at a dry spot, it bleeds easily. My eyes are a little itchy. Still drinking lots of water. So far, the symptoms are not too bad. And only 19 more weeks to go.
02/04/03
I called the doctor's office this morning to ask if it's ok to drink so much water. They said it's fine. I definitely feel much better when I'm drinking a lot. My face is a lot dryer today and peeling in some places. People will think I've been ski-ing. Lips are still great (thanks to Aquaphor!)
02/05/03
This is actually getting kind of boring. Nothing much is happening, just the same old thing, so I think I won't update as often.
(Notice how that seems to be the case with almost all the journals? Everyone updates a lot the first few days, then once a week, then every few weeks... What's up with that? We spend such a huge portion of our lives obsessing about our skin for years, and now, suddenly, we're on medication, it has some slightly annoying side effects, the skin gets a little worse some days, a little better others, but even that gets boring talking about it every day. Maybe I need a new hobby?)
02/07/03
More pimples, but they seem to come to the surface quickly and then dry out and peel off about a day later. The bad news is that the aftermath leaves a big red spot where the skin is very raw. But that too heals quickly. I know to expect the red spots to last a while. (I also know they fade away after the Accutane treatment, so I can deal with it) I guess eventually it's all one big red spot, then i'll just look like I have a bad sunburn that peeled off.
My lips are still fabulous. I love Aquaphor.
02/08/03
I don't know what's wrong with me today, but I feel like I've been boiled. My skin is hot, everywhere. Like I'm sunburned. Weird. Maybe I'm not drinking enough water, I've been busy.
02/10/03
Well, after the hot skin episode I decided to only take one pill in the evenings (80 mg per day) to see if it helps. I feel fine in the morning, but by afternoon my face is red and my skin feels hot. Maybe it has to do with activity. Anyway, i've decided to try taking two pills again tonight and see if it makes a difference. It's really not that uncomfortable, just weird. If it gets me through the treatment faster, I think it's worth putting up with. And this is officially then end of week 2.§Ï