Hyperhidrosis Support Group
Primary hyperhidrosis is the condition characterized by abnormally increased perspiration, in excess of that required for regulation of body temperature. Some patients afflicted with the condition experience a distinct reduction in the quality of life. Sufferers feel at a loss of control because perspiration takes place independent of temperature and emotional state.
My first operation (ETS) was for cranial sweating (hair soaking wet, and ran down my face) ...... Cured. Perfect!
Ten years later, problem reoccured. New surgeon did one side ETS at a time. After the first side, I was happy.
However instead of doing OPEN ETS on the other other side - (when he discovered that he could not see clearly what he was doing with the endoscope for scar tissue) he bashed on anyway, and that was a disaster.
I have lost feeling under my arm completely, and my nerves are so badly damaged, that my torso, arms and back are covered in a rash like measles. I am in chronic, constant pain (akin to permenant shingles) . I am on such high dozes of class A pain medication - I can no longer work.
Even clothes touching my skin is agony and itchy. Most of the time, I have to remain topless. To top that off, my CS is making me sick. When I have to dress fully for going out etc, a dress will last me less than an hour before it is saturated.
I also have to wear tenna underwear, because if I don't, sweat pours down my bum, legs and pools onto the floor. I feel like a baby in a diaper :( I can't have a boyfriend, as I am mortified. The sweating causes me to be so dry in the throat that food gets stuck, unless I drink gallons of liquid. Aslo my pain medication for the nerve damage adds to my dry throat. I have to take water with me everywhere, even if only out for five minutes. I have to lie under a 'cage' at night (naked) so no bedcovers touch my skin from the waist up.
My surgeon said that there is nothing that can be done for me now, as permenant damage is already done :( I am in the UK ...... BUT .... I signed a consent form, so I am screwed. I never saw the 2nd surgeon again - the first surgeon had since died.
I am interested to know IF there is /anything/ at all that would help me to live a semi-normal life? Special Roll-Ons for CS etc do nothing for me. Botulinum tablets (or something like that) - were ineffective. Special chilli cream from my doctor made my skin burn so bad, and turned it bright red. Went straight in the trash.
I would NEVER EVER recommend ETS (or should I say a repeat ETS operation)
Kitty.
I too deeply regret ETS surgery. The side-effects, as you show, can be horrendous. It makes me so angry to still see this barbaric procedure marketed as a 'cure' when in reality it is anything but.
I have tried a huge amount of things over the last fifteen years, mostly to no avail.
At the moment I use Odaban anti-perspirant for the area of the body where my CS is worst (lower back). I drink sage tea and take an apple cider vinegar supplement (both are recommended for hyperhidrosis as natural things to take).
I also do tai chi as much as possible. I have a daily body brush and contrast shower (both supposedly good for the body, e.g. circulation). Finally I try to have plenty of healthy fats in my diet such as Omega 3.
I also go jogging, have a monthly sauna / steam room / plunge pool session, and have greatly cut down on drinking alcohol.
I love self-help books and meditative CD's too.
Anyway, best wishes, and I hope you manage to find some help for your symptoms.