ETS need advice

[xsophiexsocketx]

Well iontophoresis is working to some effect but it is incredibly time consuming especially with lots of revision So I went to the GP today and hopefully, fingers crossed, I should hands or underarms or both. I'm being referred privately as we have BUPA. At the moment they are willing to pay for my first botox treatment but after that I don't know.
The GP said that if the botox works then she should be able to build a case for NHS funding to have it done on the NHS.

The thing is I don't know if I'm going to be able to have it on my hands and underarms. I think BUPA is only paying for one treatment so it might be a case of choosing between which part to have it done on.
I don't really know a lot at the moment, but I will keep you all informed.
I was also wondering if anyone can share their experiences if they've had botox treatment.

 

[teandtoast]

You should be able to get it done on the NHS anyway if have probs with Bupa. Or even without having to go through Bupa and just go on the Nhs although maybe quicker through bupa (but not by much prob as waiting time isnt long well wasnt for me usually a month waiting...and prob same everywhere really as not like tonnes of people wanting botox for HH all the time)
I get it done regularly every 6 months now at the hospital free on the Nhs.
It starts by the GP recommending you go see the dermatologist, the derma has chat with you and whatever and then goes from there to booking botox if they feel you need it and stuff.
It works for me for about 2months then fades away back to normal. It helps stop the sweating by about 75% Id say so pretty well.

 

[jamie1088]

I hope to get it done on the NHS for my facial blushing, but i also suffer from Palmar HH so mind and report back with any developments,

cheers

 

[xsophiexsocketx]

UPDATE

Well I went for the appointment a couple of week ago. Basically, I was told that they would not do botox for the hands as, to put it in his words, it is very painful, doesn't really work and isn't legal. He offered the ETS and said they only normally do it on the dominant hand. I don't know if they do the other one after or both as I pretty much tuned out as I was pretty gutted about the botox being a no.

So I've spent the past few weeks thinking about it. There's a teacher at my school who had the ETS done and we went and spoke to them. They said it was a success for them but they do suffer from the compensatory sweating. I haven't researched that much into it, besides the stuff I already know, for fear that I'd be scared out of doing it.

I had my SATs last week and my god, my hands literally dripped throughout every exam. I don't think it helped that it was very hot and my whole year group was packed into the hall. I hadn't done the iontophoresis so that the doctor could see how bad the palmar sweating was at the appointment and any treatments after that didn't have time to take effect before my exams.

I was going to go for the operation, but now I'm not really that sure. I've never been very decisive either. I was wondering if anyone who's had the ETS could share their experience.

 

[cadmonkey]

Hi xsophiexsocketx'

I had ETS in 1999 on both hands. My hands do not sweat hardly at all now, HOWEVER the CS is severe. I get it on the back, chest and groin and i can completely soak my shirt in less than 10 minutes if hot and stressed.

Make sure you have tried every other alternative, then try them again before you even think of ETS.

Now the summer is upon us, for the next 3 months i would do anything to turn the clock back and not have had the ETS. I know sweaty hands is embarrasing when you have to touch someone, but at least it is only them who know!! After ETS you could be walking down the street with a wet patch on your trousers (so you look like you have wet yourself) and a huge sweat patch on the front and back of your shirt......and EVERYONE see this!!

Just be aware of what you are getting in to. My experience is that everyone who has ETS has some form of CS....the question is will it affect your life more than the palmer HH??

 

[Jezza]

Yeah, same here, hot weather in the Netherlands...it usually gets hot in the summer but it's early May for cryin out loud!

Anyway, my opinion is DON'T DO ETS...I haven't done it myself, but I've read all the stories and from what I gather it's not worth it...

Basically you replace you're HH at one spot with HH at another spot...From my own experience; I just have had botox injections in my hands (it works at maybe 80%) and now 2 months later my feet and (unfortunately) groin are sweating like never before. Go play sports after 5 minutes I'm absolutely soaked, really sometimes it feels like I stepped into a creek with my shoes on.
Although right now I'm glad with the reduced hand sweating, if it would be permanent I wouldn't be happy I did it. Mostly also because I still believe something better will come along. Real research into HH has been mostly limited to the last 5-10 years, which a lifetime when you're my age or even younger like you, but realistically for medical research it isn't that long...Imagine having ETS done and something comes along to effectively cure/alleviate HH in the next 10 years...

Then there are all the other underdocumented side effects, like the reduction in heartbeat rate (most are unable tot go beyond 140bpm after ETS, when a normal rate if you're working out would be in the range of 170-200 if you're healthy) and some other stuff as well.

Every now and then I look at ETS info, thinking well, maybe it's the only way, then I read experiences of people who did it and I realize again I can't do it.

The next thing I'll try is glyco...and if that doesn't work I'll just go down the list of every med I can find that I think might work...

I hate taking meds, but at least their effects are reversible (mostly) when you quit taking them, ETS isn't...

 

[xsophiexsocketx]

Thanks for your replies guys
Yeah, I don't think I'll go for the ETS now. I think I'm scared about how serious the compensatory sweating would be. I mean, I can hide the hand and feet sweating to some degree but I don't think I could manage if I got it on my back or some other place.

I went to see the same doctor about a year or two years ago and then, he said that I shouldn't have the surgery as it was pretty drastic and recommended the iontophoresis. But when I went to see him a few weeks ago he was all for it. It's hard to explain but there was just something about him that I didn't trust.

The past few days I've been able to get my hands under control, although I think I could benefit from a few more iontophoresis treatments.
Pinker, I haven't tried the glycopyrrolate solution. Is it for iontophoresis? and do you know where it's available from?

 

[xsophiexsocketx]

Oh right. Yeah please if you don't mind.

 

[Alvinsduckie]

Youtube issues

some fuckin' pedophile made a false copyright complaint against ALL of my vids...ETS and all.

I have counter-filed to youtube to reinstate my vids..will have to wait and see or talk to an attorney to get injunction or something (unless someone here knows an atty that can help me)

here is direct link to photobucket...

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b366/rcmoonpie/?action=view&current=FOX-ETSDec2007.flv

garza vid

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b366/rcmoonpie/?action=view&current=sympathectomynews-full.flv

hopefully my vids will be back soon.