My story with this horrible disease...

RoadieJr78 · Newbie User Joined: Jun 30, 2008 Posts: 11

Hi everyone, I'm new to these forums...

Well, let me start off by saying that my hands and feet are sweating profusely as I type. I have suffered from severe palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis for basically my whole life (I'm 16). It pains me that many of us have never experienced a day in this world without soaked extremities/and or bodies. The only way my sweating is dormant, is if I'm in an extremely cold environment (which is seldom). I've tried everything that doctors recommend: Drysol, Formadon, Iontophoresis, it all fails. I was eating a burger for dinner today and noticed sweat pouring from my hands onto my arm. Its really just ridiculous, I hate it so much and I'm sure you all understand. I'm strongly considering the ETS surgery to permanently solve the problem.

This is the surgeon I've contacted and talked to: http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?id=458&action=detail&ref=24766

I just had a consultation with him, and he expressed that it was very important that I think very hard about my decision on this. The potential side effects, in my case, are a wonderful trade off for this horrible plague that continues to be a daily nuisance (except for the drooping eyelids, but that is an error on the physician's part).

I've grown weary of not being able to hold hands or shake peoples hands without questions to why my hands are wet. I'm tired of soaking my school papers, or anything else that is soluble to liquids for that manner. I'm tired of having the parts of my body that are so important to my interaction with the world be so....flawed. You guys know what I'm talking about... Sad

I'll inform you all on my final decision shortly.

phuonganh · Newbie User Joined: Jun 26, 2008 Posts: 14

I also have HH in my hands and feet. I know that this condition is so horrible but I think that you should not go through with ETS as the side effects can be so much worse than what you are experiencing now. Imagine you're hands are dry but you're whole body is dripping, would you feel confortable with that?

A few months ago I was also considering ETS. But after doing some research, I was totally scared out of my wits. I think you should read through some of the treads here, some people on this forum has had ETS. The first post by Pinker has very useful links. By the way, how long did you do the iontophoresis treatments? It seems that for this treatment to work, you need to be very patient and experiment with alot of different things. Maybe you should try it again?

When I have to write something and my hands sweat too much, I put a piece of napkin under my hand to prevent soaking my papers. I usually carry napkins to prevent my hands from being too wet and this has been somewhat helpful. I also wipe my hands (secrectly of course) before I shake hands. Just some things to get through everyday.

I hope you will be able to make a decision that you'll not regret later. Best of luck!

scruffpot · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject:

instead of ets ask the doc/consultant about pulse radio frequency sympathectomy
read my post
http://www.socialphobiaworld.com/postt17650.html

it still can carry some side effects of Cs which ets does but it is not as obtrusive.

Pinker · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject:

Yes it is so horrible. When I was 16 I didn't even know what hyperhidrosis was and my hands used to drip all day in school. I don't know how the hell I got through it. I guess I limited myself in many ways so my sweating wouldn't be an issue. But as a trade off I missed out on many many things. Yes ETS is dangerous, but you have to weigh it up. Maybe some are just very unlucky. Enqiure about the pulse radio frequency sympathectomy, it's probably an improvement over the traditional method of burning through the whole nerve.

RoadieJr78 · Newbie User Joined: Jun 30, 2008 Posts: 11

sadday · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

I would definitely recommend trying Avert or Secure Wipes before going with the surgery. Avert is a pill and Secure Wipes are ofcourse a wipe (like a wet cloth). They both contain the drug glycopyrrolate. You can order them from an online pharmacy out of Canada. The link is pharmacy.ca. Or if you are in the USA it is known as Robinul and your doctor may be able to prescribe the pills to you. Glycopyrrolate seems to help a lot of people get their sweating under control. It has helped me a lot!!!

scruffpot · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject:

margiehope · Newbie User Joined: Mar 23, 2008 Posts: 80

Roadie:

I'm a happy user of Avert--for well over a year. The Secure wipes weren't ideal for me, since my problem was craniofacial HH (can't really wipe your head too well!).

I'd get some information from pharmacy.ca--just because they're really good at providing same. Don't know about the wipes, but you should be able to find Robinul in the States.

Anyway, some sort of extreme measure might turn out to be your answer, but I'd at least think of trying these first.

Good luck!

RoadieJr78 · Newbie User Joined: Jun 30, 2008 Posts: 11

July 14th 2008,

That is the first day I've never sweat, all thanks to Robinul. Very Happy

I woke up today, but I felt the sweating lightly start to come on. This is because I woke up pretty late, and the cycle of the last pill wore off during sleep. One at day, one at night, and if I follow that, the sweating stops completely.

rambo87 · Newbie User Joined: Jul 21, 2008 Posts: 18