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.
so a dr has never said I had hyperhydrosis, and honestly I stopped bringing it up. About 20 years ago (I’m 41 now). I brought up to the dr that I sweat a lot. I was a manager at papaginos at the time and the answer was it’s becaise it’s hot in there. Then when I switched to construction then it was because you do hard work.
Years ago I was looking into a procedure where they snip a nerve or something to make an area stop. This was along time ago and insurance didn’t cover it so it was going to be an out of pocket expense.
Had bad does it get? My face pours sweat. Doesn’t matter the temp outside. In the middle of winter I will be dripping while I work. In the summer I’m changing my shirt a couple times a day and my shorts look like I wet myself. I can’t go to get a hair cut anymore because as soon as they put the cape/ smock thing my body starts sweating profusely. It happened once and I never went back to the place again. I’ve tried not eating before I go. Get their early so I can sit in the environment and get used to the temperate.
Nothing helps and currently for work I do in home sales. So today I’m meeting with a home owner talking about solutions and I’m pouring sweat. She says your sweating and it nice and cool in here. We were in the basement. So embarrassing. So we go upstairs and every 2 seconds I’m wiping my face because sweat is just running down my face like a faucet. She must think I’m on some kind of drugs or whatever. Their goes that sale.
Before when it was construction it wasn’t bad because I didn’t really have contact with homeowners and it was a tough job and people expected you to sweat . Just my crew would mentioned it but it was no big deal. This is going to end up costing me my job. Either because of my feeling towards it or because people just aren’t going to feel comfortable with me. I really don’t know what to do. I’m at a losS fro what I’ve read their is still no real answer or solution. I tried a hat before which helps but once it absorbs as much as it can your hat starts to drip. Any advise would be helpful. Feel like throwing in the towel.... after I wiped my face of course
Thanks for sharing your concerns. I can totally relate to what you've experienced. Around age 16/17 I developed what a now know is 'primary focal hyperhidrosis' on my face and head. I'm now 42.
I struggled with excessive face sweating through high school and university and the start of my work life as a physiotherapist here in Melbourne, Australia. Eventually gave it up as it became intolerable sitting in a room meeting with & trying to treat patients (a bit like your sales meeting). I then worked at an outdoor plant nursery where I had much less people contact and would naturally sweat with the hard work involved.
Over the years I have been prescribed anticholinergic meds (Cogentin, Oxybutinin, Probanthine (the only one that really worked well,, but is now unavailable!) and now I'm on Amitriptyline and also using a strong facial antiperspirant called 'HyperDri'. These don't work 100% (I'm sweating as I write this!) but they have provided some relief.
I feel pretty hopeless with this too, struggling through a home-based job but dreading appointments with people as I don't know what my sweating will be like and how they will respond. All I can say is hang in there and keep trying different treatments, hopefully something will give relief, but in the meantime, know that you're not alone. It's just about the only thing that gets me through each day.