Hello, everyone. I am new to the forums and wanted to introduce myself. I am 43 yrs old and have struggled with everything that comes with hyperhidrosis since I was ~13 yrs old).
It has been awhile since I had a full blown sweat episode but one happened a couple of weeks ago when I was getting my haircut. They were about to close and had already turned off the A/C so there was no moving airflow. This place is usually freezing which is why I go there. Well, the sweats started soon after she started to cut my hair. I know some of you have certain parts of your body that sweat but I guess I am a rare case where my entire body sweats. Within about 2 minutes of the haircut I had soaked through the apron and my clothes. I apologized for sweating and she was nice about it. I couldn't take the humiliation anymore so I told her that I look better and want to leave. Luckily, she was able to cut the top of hair and buzzed some of the sides. She wasn't able to clean me up around my hair line. She said that I am welcomed to come back the next morning so that she can clean me up. I told her ok but did not return.
The episode triggered my memories of when I was younger. From my teens to 30's I had similar episodes but they were DAILY. Looking back, I do not know how I made it through those times. Severe depression followed those episodes and I masked it with alcohol. I noticed that alcohol allowed me to have regular conversations with people without sweating like a pig. However, this trick only worked on weekends in social settings. Not feasible for work setting during the week.
Things that I have tried. I tried different beta blockers. They worked zero percent of the time. Botox was out of the question because it would have to include my entire face, head, neck, hands, underarms to keep from others to notice immediately. They would notice the rest of my body within a few minutes depending of the situation. The deodorant would not address my head, face, neck and hands so I didn't try it. The surgery to cut something in the wrist might only address one part of my body that people notice so not worth it since my entire body sweats. Seriously. I look like I jumped in pool with my clothes on.
I still get sweat episodes in inappropriate times but they are not as often as when I was younger. In my daily life, the sweat is usually do to the hot Texas weather. The hyperhidrosis does kick in at work in certain situations but not to the point of a stuck pig. Just enough to wipe my forehead, nose and lip when the person looks away. I can now keep my brain on topic of the conversation without wanting to jump out of the window every time.
I have accepted the fact that I cannot get certain jobs because of my condition kicks in during the interview. It doesn't keep me from interviewing. Luckily, my sweat slows down once my brain is focused on the interview questions and answers instead of focusing on the anxiety.
For those that are much younger than me and are really struggling. Hang in there. If I made it this far with all of the self loathing then you can also make it.
It has been awhile since I had a full blown sweat episode but one happened a couple of weeks ago when I was getting my haircut. They were about to close and had already turned off the A/C so there was no moving airflow. This place is usually freezing which is why I go there. Well, the sweats started soon after she started to cut my hair. I know some of you have certain parts of your body that sweat but I guess I am a rare case where my entire body sweats. Within about 2 minutes of the haircut I had soaked through the apron and my clothes. I apologized for sweating and she was nice about it. I couldn't take the humiliation anymore so I told her that I look better and want to leave. Luckily, she was able to cut the top of hair and buzzed some of the sides. She wasn't able to clean me up around my hair line. She said that I am welcomed to come back the next morning so that she can clean me up. I told her ok but did not return.
The episode triggered my memories of when I was younger. From my teens to 30's I had similar episodes but they were DAILY. Looking back, I do not know how I made it through those times. Severe depression followed those episodes and I masked it with alcohol. I noticed that alcohol allowed me to have regular conversations with people without sweating like a pig. However, this trick only worked on weekends in social settings. Not feasible for work setting during the week.
Things that I have tried. I tried different beta blockers. They worked zero percent of the time. Botox was out of the question because it would have to include my entire face, head, neck, hands, underarms to keep from others to notice immediately. They would notice the rest of my body within a few minutes depending of the situation. The deodorant would not address my head, face, neck and hands so I didn't try it. The surgery to cut something in the wrist might only address one part of my body that people notice so not worth it since my entire body sweats. Seriously. I look like I jumped in pool with my clothes on.
I still get sweat episodes in inappropriate times but they are not as often as when I was younger. In my daily life, the sweat is usually do to the hot Texas weather. The hyperhidrosis does kick in at work in certain situations but not to the point of a stuck pig. Just enough to wipe my forehead, nose and lip when the person looks away. I can now keep my brain on topic of the conversation without wanting to jump out of the window every time.
I have accepted the fact that I cannot get certain jobs because of my condition kicks in during the interview. It doesn't keep me from interviewing. Luckily, my sweat slows down once my brain is focused on the interview questions and answers instead of focusing on the anxiety.
For those that are much younger than me and are really struggling. Hang in there. If I made it this far with all of the self loathing then you can also make it.
