Week Eight 03/17/03 - 03/23/03

03/23/03

My skin is pretty good, other than the peeling places. They don't seem to heal and I'm trying my best not to pick at them (read: I still pick, but less than I "normally" would, which would be at least once a day)

I'm having quite a bit of joint pain. After gardening, my back really hurts for a few days. My hip joints hurt, especially if I've been sitting a while. One day this week I woke up with a really stiff neck. I've been taking Advil just about every day. I've been trying to yoga every day (read: that means I actually do it about 3 times a week) It does seem to help. I have to say that even though my side effects have been relatively mild, I'm starting to look forward to reaching the end of treatment. BUT, I'm almost half way there.

I saw my doctor on Thursday. He seems pleased with my progress. I told him about the joint pain and he said "Do you think it's bad enough that you'd want to stop the Accutane?" And I said no. I was hoping there'd be some other option, like something I could take to help with the joint pain. He said my skin looks great and that I am tolerating the Accutane very well and that I don't have the "Accutane Look" anymore. I asked if that still meant that it's working and he said "yes, it just means you are tolerating the drug very well." Once again, I ask if the amount of water I'm drinking is diluting the drug and he laughs and says "no, it's definitely working". He also says "you have to be really careful not to pick at the dry skin because Accutane inhibits the healing and you'll have red spots" I feel like I'm healing very quickly, but I guess he's right, I still have a couple of red patches that I've had for a week or two.

I also have a lot of pills left over. Yesterday I figured out why, they are giving me 90 pills a month and I'm only taking 75. I'm going to see if I can postpone my next appointment, since nothing much seems to be happening and I don't need to go for more meds.

By the way, it's the end of the 8th week and my lips are still not chapped!