tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73745559733737204102008-06-30T16:28:27.544-05:00Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-23887354358730010902008-06-29T20:44:00.003-05:002008-06-29T20:54:46.236-05:00

Its been two weeks since I threw away my last 3 accutane pills. And since I was in the desert and suffering from crazy eczema, and hiking in the desert drinking a gallon plus of water a day, I didn't feel bad skipping out on a day and half of accutane. Things are going well. My energy is good. My skin is good. Joints are getting better. Brain is still improving. Most importantly,

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-39885304329730813842008-06-16T08:30:00.001-05:002008-06-16T08:30:39.237-05:00

Ok so i am in utah. Its like 100 degrees everyday and super dry. I have some rash on my arms. I threw away my last 3. -Renee

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-6675024990310088692008-05-13T13:26:00.003-05:002008-05-13T13:35:23.650-05:00

I went for my blood test at the end of my 5th month today. I am going to take an additional month of accutane, 6 months total. I feel pretty down in the dumps about it. Although I know its what I should do since I've continued to get some cysts, but I'm not optimistic that this additional month will cure me so that I don't need a second treatment. I guess I just hope that it delays a second

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-51036369113590551872008-04-29T21:42:00.003-05:002008-04-29T21:46:51.242-05:00

Why am I still getting stuff???!!!! I got one pimple/blackhead thing on my temple today. One pimple on my scalp yesterday. And a small cyst is living in my cheek for the past few days. Why is this happening on the accutane? Was it the pizza from this weekend? Why am I so stuck on this dairy and acne relationship? On the plus side most of my bad side effects are gone. I don't feel 100%

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-45508157193419897032008-04-20T20:09:00.002-05:002008-04-20T20:13:11.748-05:00

I had two beers tonight, right in a row with dinner. Its wonderful. I've had so little to drink through out this ordeal. I want to sorta celebrate and have a lovely evening with my husband on our back porch. It was the first beautiful evening and we could eat outside. It was worth it and I loved it.

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-80609396145034678732008-04-11T15:15:00.004-05:002008-04-11T15:32:24.511-05:00

So I bought 4 different almond milks and 1 hazelnut milk today. (I can not eat too much soy because of its relationship to my migraines (soy become MSG when processed)) I will be performing taste tests and reporting on the different tastes of the 5 nut milks here. However, nut milks have only 1 gram of protein per cup, compared to the 8 grams of protein per cup of skim milk. This prompted me

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-53210836513646207422008-04-10T11:29:00.002-05:002008-04-10T11:48:21.703-05:00

The more I investigate this idea of milk causing acne, the more I believe that it may be contributing to my condition. I started drinking skim milk (which according to Dr. Weil's website is the most aggressive culprit) when I left home for college. At home my parents always had 1%. My acne really started to get bad about 2 or 3 years after I left home for college. I had some problematic acne

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-4998145881954430542008-04-09T20:35:00.004-05:002008-04-09T20:41:21.403-05:00

Yikes! I drink skim milk everyday, and after reading some posts on acne.org about the link between dairy and acne, I did my own search and came across this post on Dr. Weil's site which I respect. Does anyone know where to get calcium fortified almond milk? I am quiting my daily skim intake, completely. Maybe this is why I've suffered so long. Maybe this is why the accutane isn't working as

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-23876874933143920992008-04-08T12:42:00.003-05:002008-04-08T12:55:12.317-05:00

I had my 5th blood test today, and it was supposed to be my last. But since I've had few cysts on my back over the past 2 months, it probably won't be. Julia said I shouldn't be getting any more cysts at this point in my treatment. If I don't get anymore cysts this month it might be my last month, other wise it'll be another month- 6 months total. I told her I would be happy to go for another

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-68797604636246611102008-04-05T15:20:00.002-05:002008-04-05T15:23:07.929-05:00

I did yoga today! Hurray! Not like really hard workout or anything, but I actually moved my body around and stretched it out! I'm going to try it everyday! I can't wait until this over and I can really workout again and ride my bike everywhere! Just when I think everything is awful, something changes, it could be the rhodiola.

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-31620918553339602012008-04-04T15:26:00.003-05:002008-04-04T15:31:14.798-05:00

I am trying so hard not to be discouraged. I slept for 12 hours last night, woke up exhasted, and I feel like taking a nap right now. I have a mild dull headache and my eyes feel dry like I've been crying, even though I have not. I bought some Rhodiola Rosea extract today at Whole Foods, its not cheap, but its pretty good. I used to take it regularly for energy and to prevent depression, of

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-57309550809086559882008-04-01T17:29:00.004-05:002008-04-01T17:34:40.955-05:00

Today, I really thought I was loosing my mind. Coupled with the resent emotional turmoils, I thought "Oh my god! They were right, this stuff makes you crazy." I left my house and returned to it four times this morning, locking it each time before I realized what I forgot! But just a few hours ago in the middle of critique for one of my classes, the small dull headache blossomed into a

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-40063001528873420532008-03-31T13:44:00.003-05:002008-03-31T13:53:41.704-05:00

Yikes! My mind is cycling, obsessing, worrying. I want to force action on what I worry about, but that will only result in conflicts. I want to cling to what I think is happiness and progress, but that is unhealthy and will lead to disappointment and more suffering. Never before have I so understood the trap of samsara. The relief is that there is no relief. There is no security. The only

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-44332360482607014462008-03-30T14:42:00.003-05:002008-03-30T14:52:20.352-05:00

Its really easy to use the accutane as an excuse. Sure I think its making me feel bad, no doubt. But instead of using that as an excuse for acting bad, I should use it as an excuse behaving very well, very presently. My mind feels very dull, somewhat cloudy and uninterested. I will expend effort to over come this inertia. There has been a really fine line between taking a nap because I know

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-91895610113362361452008-03-25T17:26:00.003-05:002008-03-25T17:28:47.995-05:00

Ever since the last of my old skin fell off and was left with this feeling of all new skin, the rest of me has been feeling better too. Maybe my body has kinda adjusted to this. Or maybe the continued and consistent side effects has made me less sensitive. Still I can't wait for it to be over

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-30447024659548258252008-03-22T23:13:00.005-05:002008-03-22T23:21:08.137-05:00

Today is an encouraging day. Today is the day my skin feels new. When I started treatment, Julia said not to do anything to my skin I wouldn't do to a newborn. She basically said that Accutane was going to give me new skin, and today it feels like that. The skin on my face and the back of my hands feel especially new. Its amazing. Its amazing that I noticed it just like that, in one day.

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-64181317560174489192008-03-18T11:14:00.002-05:002008-03-18T11:19:38.378-05:00

I have been struggling on and off with constipation during this treatment, and doing my best to drink lots of water. But it has now caused an injury. I will be adding a daily stool softener and fiber supplement, and just hoping my body can keep it together for another 2 months.

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-85754765815962907722008-03-17T09:28:00.003-05:002008-03-17T09:35:34.108-05:00

This weekend I had some emotional break downs. I succumbed to feeling ok and getting lazy with action. For a while I was feeling optimistic with only 2 months to go, past the 1/2 way mark! But this weekend I was like, "How can I do this for another 2 months?" I'm tired of being tired. I'm tired of condoms. I'm tired of my skin hurting, and not wanting to shower. And why am I having pimples

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-37985623228704889302008-03-13T20:02:00.003-05:002008-03-13T20:06:23.504-05:00

In the past two weeks I've been getting some pimples, one cyst, and it seems like the blackheads are budding. Whats going on?! Are they figuring out how to survive in this harsh accutane tundra, or is this the last of the stuff hiding deep below? I have been feeling somewhat better in the past couple weeks too. Not like I am going to ride my bike to work, like I so desperately want, but not

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-60924033713360821632008-03-06T16:46:00.002-06:002008-03-06T16:49:27.399-06:00

I had my 4th blood test today, without a hitch. I feel more tired then ever. Am I actually sick, or is this just a side effect? I have congestion in my ears and nose, but not too much, and of course my body feels achy, but it has for over a month. My doctor said I could reduce my dose, 2 one day, 1 the next day, etc., but that will add more time to my treatment. Hopefully this is actually a

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-33201060415758663912008-02-25T15:11:00.002-06:002008-02-25T15:15:23.462-06:00

Blah blah achy day. I had to sand and paint the new walls in my studio the past two days, and I think that is why I feel yucky. But that project is done... It seems like the achy is directly related to physical effort, which sucks. I like to work out, and soon the ice will melt and I can start riding my bike again, but that may all have to wait until May. Once I am done with this I will

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-8709067395361372022008-02-20T22:18:00.003-06:002008-02-20T22:24:47.345-06:00

I've been feeling better. Who really knows why. I've been diligently taking my vitamins and pain reliever: multi vitaminomega 3 fatty acidvitamin Eglucosamine2 Aleves twice a dayand Tonglen- on the spot and on the cushion.

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-80595778636804994732008-02-19T10:02:00.002-06:002008-02-19T10:06:42.457-06:00

Below is a comment I just received and my response, which I wanted to republish for the benefit of others. Not all doctors are the same. Find one that you think serves you well, and do your own research and ask lots of questions. Hi Renee, I just started my fourth month of accutane last week. This is my second month of the 80mg. I completely understand everything you're going through. I went

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-73931573746876535512008-02-17T20:51:00.001-06:002008-02-17T20:52:59.646-06:00

I am still battling the fatigue, the aches, the feeling down. Everything is a chore, which is sad, because I've been doing such fun things.

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7374555973373720410.post-3160711312953395472008-02-14T14:11:00.008-06:002008-04-10T10:40:21.043-05:00

Stuff Aquaphor- for lips and nostrils, don't leave home without itThick fragrance free moisturizer- for body and faceSunblockAleve (naproxen sodium)- for body achesVitamin EOmega 3 Fatty Acids1/2 Muti Vitamin (careful of vitamin A) Rhodiola Rosea for energy and moodFiber supplementGlucosamine for joint pain Behavior Drink lots of waterDon't drink alcohol- not only because its bad for your liver

Renee Unahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00789908660062931813noreply@blogger.com