enfyni, my dosage was all over the place in the beginning as i had a really severe reaction, from january to about march i was on 40mgs tane and 20mgs prednisone every day, and going to the derm every two weeks for injections-- i was getting some seriously brutal cysts on my jaw in particular. about march-ish (i really don't keep as good a track of this stuff as so many other people do, i just kinda plug away, day at a time) derm and i agreed that since i was seeing him so regularly anyway, we might as well double the dosage of the tane, and keep the predinsone. prednisone is no joke, btw, i put on about 10 lbs on that stuff, all bloaty and uncomfy. just about beginning of april i started seeing real progress with my skin and (FINALLY) went to an injection-free visit to my derm, and made an appt for 5 (!!) weeks later, instead of 2. now i'm on 80mgs tane/day and 10 mgs predisone every other day, coming off it altogether over a period of weeks.

i hafta say, i'm a skeptic by nature, and this stuff was giving me no reason to hope, other than some testimonials and the constant reassurance of my derm and his staff. but it is finally starting to really work. i can hardly believe it, honestly.

this hasn't come w/out it's price, i'm getting hammered by my "insurance" company on the labs, my husband is giving me a ration of sh** for it too, and it's been an extremely long 5 1/2 months, with no definate end date in sight. my cholesterol is up, as are my triglycerides, and if they're not better in my next lab work i may have to go on lipitor or something like that. but it really is amazing to not wake up with fresh pain and humiliation every day. there's nothing oozing, bulging or otherwise growing and being gross on my face anymore, and the lumps that i always had in my neck, indicating the big, fat infection lingering under my skin, are gone. Gone!!

i am so optimistic now. i'm going to vegas with some girlfriends over memorial weekend and i'm gonna be smokin! i don't have to hide anymore.

i so wish this for all of us, and believe it will happen. my derm was right, it just takes time.

also, i know this is long, but here goes- i am so happy that i could inspire a little bit of hope. that can be in such short supply as the struggle continues and continues. i know that i was inspired by so many others on this board and i'm so happy to be able to give a bit back. luckluckluckluckluckluckluckluckluck!!! best, ali