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1. sparklypickle

   

   29th Oct, 09
   

   Hi. Do not panic. Sometimes blood tests are taken before and during treatment, this is normal, just to check that you do not have any untoward effects on cholesterol, triglycerides, platelets etc. Do not stop taking the pills because they really are a miracle cure for most people’s acne and it can change your life. I would think that a dermatologist was being negligent if they didn’t take blood at least once during treatment.

   I hope that calmed you down you are on track to clearing your skin, so don’t let people scaremongering put you off…

   take care

   Sparks xx

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2. natya

   

   29th Oct, 09
   

   You misunderstand me. The dermatologist has not asked me to take ANY blood test. In short I HAVE NOT been tested so as you suggested my dermatologist is obviously negligent.

   I booked a doctor’s appointment to tell her that I’m being treated without knowing anything about my health.

   I’m so scared now!

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3. Vivi

   

   29th Oct, 09
   

   Don’t panic, I understand completely it feels really scary, but the pills won’t harm you that much that quickly. If you’ve lived a reasonably healthy life so far and not overindulged on alcohol, fatty foods etc you should be fine.

   See your GP and ask him/her to refer you to your local hospital for blood tests as soon as possible. If s/he doesn’t know what to tick on the referral form ask them to call the derm dept in the hospital. They will then get the results within a week or so and then you can call them up to see what your levels are. That way you’ll have a benchmark for what your levels are in the beginning of the treatment. Then you can repeat that towards the end or however often you like. The GP can give you several referral forms in one go.

   However, on a separate note, I would ask to swap derm. When you see the GP explain your concerns and ask them to refer you to another hospital. What’s more alarming is that they’ve given you 4 months worth of pills. They are not supposed to give you more than a month at a time for two reasons, 1, make sure you’re not pregnant if you are female (which you are!) and 2 make sure you are coping ok on the pills so they can make adjustments up or down if necessary.

   In most cases people do cope ok so don’t feel too worried, you are probably fine. And re the pregnancy thing, as long as you know for yourself you’re not pregnant or at risk of falling pregnant then YOU have nothing to worry about. (And you know you would have to have a termination if it – god forbid – did happen)

   Try to relax, see your GP asap and ask for another derm. Might be worth calling the derm dept and ask for a different derm rather than asking for a different hospital?

   Good luck whatever you do.
   x

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4. sparklypickle

   

   29th Oct, 09
   

   Ok I misread I thought your next appointment was in 4 weeks not months! I totally agree with Vivi in that case, sorry for being dumb. personally I would do home preg tests every month if you are not asked to do so in the clinic. you can get them quite cheap from access diagnostics (they are the same type that a nurse or GP would use). I’d ask for another derm too.

   my main point of don’t panic still stands, if you need to ask advice we are here

   S xx

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5. natya

   

   29th Oct, 09
   

   Yeah, they only gave me one month worth and that was only after I’d confirmed I wasn’t pregnant. That was at the pharmacy, they will give me the next month’s once I ave finished my current month. But the derm asked me to come back in 4 months time, no dose changes mentioned.

   I have the implant and no boyfriend to speak of so I’m 100% sure I won’t get pregnant/ am not currently pregnant.

   Also I live on the isle of Wight so there is only one hospital and one derm. :S But I’ll try and see if I can be referred to somewhere in Southampton or Portsmouth. If not then she might be able to monitor my condition.

   Thanks for your help girls. I was almost going to stop taking the pills. I don’t drink much but when I do I REALLY go for it! AKA the classic BINGE. I don’t throw up ever from alcohol or suffer hangovers but still I’d rather go into treatment knowing I’m healthy enough.

   I might go back to the hospital directly and ask what’s going on, and why he is so far from protocol in every way

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6. sparklypickle

   

   29th Oct, 09
   

   I know what you mean about binge drinking, I used to be terrible. I take it you were told to go easy on the alcohol while taking these meds to give your liver a chance? probably not by the sound of it. As long as either your GP or derm is checking up on you you will be fine, if the derm is rubbish then at least they have done the single most helpful thing they can do, which is to prescribe you roaccutane in the first place ( this can be a struggle from what Ive heard). I was also told I had to use two forms of contraception, one barrier, one other, or no dice. and there was a very strict preg test in from of a nurse before I was allowed each month of meds. It may not be worth making a huge deal out of the way your derm has chosen to treat you,because every practice has their own ways of doing things, but having said that I’d be pretty pissed if that was what I was told…..

   IF you just have one blood test now, and one in a months time and everything is ok then you have nothing to worry about and your GP may be able to confer with the derm if you need dosage adjustment

   S x

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7. gunnergirlyuffie

   

   29th Oct, 09
   

   Hey Natya. I just noticed that you said you live on the Isle of Wight and may need referring. Well, I’m in Southampton and had to get my stuff switched down here when I started Uni again. It was pretty easy to do, I just explained (you could lie) that it would be easier to have all my appointments down there as well as picking up a prescription.
   What was good about that (from your perspective) is that you almost have to go through the process of “starting again” i.e. weight measurements, pregnancy test and a blood test. But despite being on the implanon every month I’m asked to do a pregnancy test.
   I wouldn’t worry too much, my derm hasn’t exactly been the most helpful person in the world either, I’m on 30mg but he didn’t mention if he would up/if he would lower/if I had to come back etc I pretty much found out what I needed to know on here.
   For example, vivi and sparks were the ones who told me you couldn’t really drink on it!! The derm didn’t say anything to me!!!
   Good luck xxx

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8. natya

   

   1st Nov, 09
   

   They mentioned liver enzymes so after I read the information leaflet I took a vow of abstinence from alcohol to make sure I wasn’t doing extra harm (as I’ve not had tests I’m going to assume the worst then if I’m healthier this is a bonus). I didn’t drink alcohol til I was 20 because I was Straight Edge when I was younger. My first boyfriend was sXe too and so I decided to join him (obviously people who understand sXe will notice we missed out the vow of sexual abstinence there but hey..) So abstaining from alcohol for me is a doddle. When we broke up I decided to try some at a xmas party with work and my lovely colleague Hilary introduced me to Morgan’s Spiced. I’ve never looked back

   Might be a bit tricky over xmas but my friends were so used to me not drinking I don’t think it bothers them when I stop and I don’t really have that many drinks that I like (accept Morgan’s Spiced Rum!!!) . I’m a pretty crazy girlie so last night we all went out for halloween and had a great time! I woke up raring to go…ACCEPT for my Roaccutane aches!

   Thanks for all your help girls. I think it’s fear of the unknown for sure that made me so scared. My friend Dave on the Island said he wasn’t asked for blood tests but wasn’t concerned. I’m going to be cautious and check myself.
   I have yearly blood tests because of my line of work yet my last one was in April so quite a while ago.

   Going to write a diary entry now… xoxo

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