Hyperhidrosis and how it affects your life

NickMD2B

Hi everyone,

I am new to this board and would just like to say hello. You might find my situation particularly interesting (I do at least) in that I'm a 2nd year medical student (pursuing an MD) that suffers from rather severe primary palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis. Honestly, I have yet to find a good way to manage my condition. I've spent hundreds of dollars on antiperspirants, iontophoresis machines, oral medications and still haven't found anything that meets my expectations. I will, of course, need to use my hands every day in my profession and that's why this subject is so important to me. I guess that my message right now is to not let your hyperhidrosis affect your dreams and aspirations. This is something that I've told myself from the beginning. I've heard too many people say that hyperhidrosis has ruined their life, and while I know first hand that it is an extremely uncomfortable disease, please don't become that person.

My future interests are actually in areas very pertinent to hyperhidrosis (Neurology/Psychiatry/Family Medicine), so please feel free to give me tips on how I might someday help people like yourself.

~Nick

cjj2003 · Newbie User Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 35

Nick,

What kind of Iontophoresis machine did you use? I think that could make a difference. It made a difference for me anyway. I have gotten prescription cream from the Dr. that didn't help me but helps a lot of people. I also bought hydrosal and had my primary write a prescription for aluminum chloride to add to it that really helped,if you are interested let me know and I will let you know the skinny.

cjj2003

NickMD2B · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:22 am Post subject:

cjj2003,

The iontophoresis I tried was the poorly designed Drionics, as it was recommended by my dermatologist. After noticing only marginal benefits after over a month of use, I switched back to using aluminum chloride. I don't like the aluminum chloride, however, as it doesn't treat my whole hand evenly.

Right now I'm actually re-trying the Drionics in a modified form. I've already done the battery elimination and now I've converted it so that you can submerge your entire hand beneath the water - similar to the more expensive machines like the MD-1a and Idrostar. I'm going to give my new design a shot first before I try anything else, but thanks for the suggestions! My problem seems to be that I can't find a treatment that works evenly across my entire hand - palm, fingers, sides of hand, fingertips, etc.

klamm76 · Intermediate User Joined: Nov 21, 2006 Posts: 129

I tried drionic over 10 years ago,it was a joke for me compared too idrostar that im using now.

Same problem as you.Didnt work good enough,and didnt work over all areaes.

Had to order the batteries from US by mail back then too:/.

Didnt let HH stop me either .I was a selling mechanical products and was out and shaking different hands every day.!

But still hard too deal whit,but I managed.

pt10 · Newbie User Joined: Oct 22, 2007 Posts: 2

Hi,

I am also a 2nd year medical student who has suffered from palmar/plantar HH for as long as I can remember. I will be starting iontophoresis this week at my dermatologist's, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. In terms of how HH affects my life, I don't think that "extremely uncomfortable" nearly describes it. I feel as if my hands are crippled at times. It has affected every aspect of my life to some extent, and I think that it is especially important for physicians to acknowledge that and help patients find the treatment(s) they need.

r1234 · Newbie User Joined: May 18, 2007 Posts: 24

FINALLY. some medical students on our side. for awhile i thought we should all pool our money together and send someone to medical school on a scholarship.

no pressure, but if you could find a cure for us, that would be great.

bill-uk · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:38 pm Post subject:

I don't suffer from your condition at all, for me it is facial and cranial, but I am very pleased to see this very positive slant on the condition, how it affects you and what you are doing about it. I wish you the best of luck in the future in dealing with your condition and helping others to do the same.

Bill