by PurpuraPapilio » Sat Nov 01, 2014 3:01 am
Dear Isotretinoin,
I've just read all the side effects, common and rare, that you could possibly give me. You're a medicine, you're not supposed to have the risk of giving me diabetes! Or a skin rash condition so bad that it's life-threatening and possibly deadly if I don't seek immediate treatment! Or the inflammation of my liver, kidneys and pancreas!
I beg you, for all that is good in this world, please don't give me the really really bad side effects. The mood swings; the dry skin, lips, throat and eyes; the joint aches; the potential for my colour vision to alter; sudden blindness at night. I can deal with that.
I need to take 40mg of you a day, every day, for the next 6 months... I've only taken 2 doses and already my skin and eyes are dry and itchy, and my lips are starting to crack. All this for a chance of clear skin without acne ever again. I really hope this is worth it.
If this doesn't work, then I must've tried every acne treatment and acne-clearing face scrub on the planet.
Please work.
A nervous red panda.
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Dear boyfriend,
You have been on this acne treatment before, so you of all people know what it's like. Be patient with me; there will be days I don't want to go out to face the public because my body is in a mess, or that I feel miserable because I'm itching all over, all day and every day.
I love you. Your devotion is what will keep me going through this. I hope you will continue to love me even if my body's skin is peeling, red and sore. I hope you will want to hold me, spend time with me and kiss me when everything itches and hurts. I hope you'll still think I'm beautiful even when I've been banned from putting make-up on indefinitely.
Love,
your red panda x
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Dear everyone,
I can't list all the side effects I could possibly have whilst I'm on this stuff, it'll take me too long to explain what it is, and why I'm taking the medicine.
Mum, I've shown you the leaflet that came in the box, and I made you read all the things that could happen to me. So maybe next time, you can withhold that ignorant remark of me being a hypochondriac when I can' stop rubbing my skin in attempts to relieve the itch.
Dad, I know you're working alot so my skin changes may come as a big surprise since you won't see them develop day-to-day. Don't worry about them.
For future employers, look out. Once this is all done and dusted, get ready for a new confident me.
From,
A resolved and hopeful red panda.