frustrated with this problem.

[SweatyHands21]

Hello All,


My name is Will and I am 21 years old. Like most everyone here this hyperhidrosis problem has been with me for quite sometime but now is just getting worse and worse. I feel like a social freak for some reason. My story is throughout high school I never really had this problem it was minor, my hands did sweat but not to this extent. Also I was in the Marine Corps from November 06- January 06 as I was discharged because I messed up my leg really badly. Well I was pretty chubby my whole life until I joined the Marines and had lost so much weight when I came home I was about 160 pounds.
Skinnier than hell looking good, feeling good, I felt like I was on top of the world but that all came to a halt after the past year or so. Being back and now that I am 21 (partying, college, eating out sometimes. I also still work out everyday too) I have gained some weight back, some muscle and some fat so now puts me at 177 pounds and the scale won't stop going up. The hyperhidrsois started really badly about 6 months after I got back from the Corps and won't stop I just am to the point where I sweat for no reason what so ever. I had a really bad interview the other day too, where the managers that interviewed me were just disgusted with me because I was sweating so badly. I am still on my journey to find a cure for all this. My doctor thinks that it is anxiety so I have been on benzodiapines, beta blockers, anti depressants - Paxil (don't take this drug is messed up) and so far the only thing that works to help me slow down sweating was the paxil (read about it, a really bad drug) and the benzodiapines, however they won't give a regular prescription for xanax since it is a goverment controlled substance and my doctor says it is "highly addictive substance".
Well I finally switched doctors to another woman who was telling me that I have a severe problem of palmar, facial hyperhidrosis. I have known this for a long time but the doctors just labeled me with anxiety for some unknown reason. So now my options are 1. Surgery, 2. Botox and those are the only 2 things we have discussed so far. She said the surgery is very risky and may cause me to sweat more in other areas of my body. I am tired of being at square 1 all the time. I also have been using shannonball youtube video with the batterys but doesn't seem to get me anywhere. I also have told my doctor I want to drop back to 160 pounds to see what would happen then however she said that this should be taken care of soon and I agree since I don't think I will get that job, however the resources are winding down being a college student and all (I have spent a lot of money on vitamins, aluminum choloride products, anything) and spending numerous hours researching for a cure. Also I have had 2 bad relationships with girls because they can't look past the problem that I have which is really sad and has been harder for me to date women with this problem. Enough of my story I have a few questions to ask about what to do.

1. Should I continue to talk with my doctor about having surgery or botox shots?

2. I see that you guys are talking about a couple drugs called avert/robinul, and was wondering should I talk to my doctor about that?

3. What other kinds of solutions/products would you recommend for my hands to stop sweating? (Currently using a product called hypercare which is prescribed)

4. Should I try to lose more weight before going on with all this other stuff?

5. Can alcohol and tobacco products make hyperhidrosis worse?

I appreciate any feed back and at least now I know I am not the only one who is affected by this.


- :evil:

 

[Phoenix_Elite]

Hey Will! First of all, you've got to be clear on one point: Hyperhidrosis cannot be cured. It can only be treated. However, some people are so bothered by excessive sweating on a specific part of their body (me being one of them), being able to control that area regardless of the treatment's repercussions is a great relief. As I'm sure you know, it's not just social embarassment, but simple tasks such as writing on a sheet of paper or grabbing anything can be difficult. Like you, I suffer from palmar hyperhidrosis. I also suffer from plantar and axillary hyperhidrosis, but I barely care about those. Thankfully, I don't have facial hyperhidrosis.

I study in a music school and playing the piano has become the most difficult task for me. I was grateful to have found this forum, where I found out I wasn't alone with my problem. Scientists have not discovered much about hyperhidrosis, but this is mainly due to the fact that it's not among their priorities. I'm 15 years old and, although I have found friends that don't really care about my disease, I know there are those who are not as lucky.

First things first. Hyperhidrosis is known to be connected to weight problems, but by what you have let me know you are not obese. There are several alternatives you have not tried. You said aluminum chloride didn't have much of an effect on you. Be sure you get solutions of approximately 20%. However, this type of remedies haven't been very effective in my case either. You should know that "the [aluminum chloride] solution is usually not effective for palmar (hand) and plantar (foot) hyperhidrosis - for which iontophoresis (see below) may yield better results in some circumstances." Take a look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperhidrosis.

There are two options you seem to have overlooked:

• 1. Iontophoresis- Iontophoresis is a method which involves placing the affected area in a device filled with water which conducts electricity. The most common brands of iontophoresis machines are Drionic, Idrostar and Fischer. Results vary by each individual. Iontophoresis was barely effective, although I used Drionic Hands/Feet, which is supposedly the worst brand. There are several downsides. The treatment is very time-consuming (thirty minute treatments for two weeks works wonderfully for some) and can be quite painful. You should look into them and try one. However, you've got to be very patient as the treatment has no effect during the first week for most people. Iontophoresis devices come for axillary, plantar or palmar hyperhidrosis.
  
  2. Anticholigernics (pills)- There are pills whose original purpose is not regulary reducing perspiration, but which are somewhat aged and included significant generalized perspiration reduction as a side effect. For example, I recently started taking Robinul, among the most common brands along with Avert, which was originally used to control conditions like peptic ulcers (excessive stomach acid), but which has been replaced by better pills with less side effects. Robinul is a glycopyrrolate, which reduces secretion of certain organs in the body. Now I'm not willing to jump for joy yet, but I've noticed a significant reduction in overall sweating. The main side effect is dry mouth (from mild to severe), and some users get blurry vision.

1. Should I continue to talk with my doctor about having surgery or botox shots?

Botox injections are rather costly unless covered by your insurance plan, but are normally very effective and without side effects. It's also allegedly not very painful if the area to be treated is properly anesthetized. The only reason this is not an option for me is because I would have to pay the whole price, which adds up to about $3000 dollars a year.

Surgery, or Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) is the last resort. I won't elaborate much on this matter, so just take a look at this: http://www.sweathelp.org/English/PFF_Treatment_Surgery.asp. The process has actually been banned in various countries.

2. I see that you guys are talking about a couple drugs called avert/robinul, and was wondering should I talk to my doctor about that?

Definitely. Take a look at the information above. Check with your doctor whether you can get them by prescription, or else get them at a rather higher price here: http://www.pharmacy.ca/cgi-bin/Phar...ntiperspirant&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!&GETSPECIALS=. You should also look into something called Secure wipes to use in conjunction with the pills.

3. What other kinds of solutions/products would you recommend for my hands to stop sweating? (Currently using a product called hypercare which is prescribed)

That's the same one I use, with barely any effects. Again, look at the info above.

4. Should I try to lose more weight before going on with all this other stuff?

Honestly, I doubt weight is connected to hyperhidrosis in most cases unless you are obese, so I would suggest you go ahead and try the other options listed above. That's entirely your choice, though.

5. Can alcohol and tobacco products make hyperhidrosis worse?

Some hyperhidrosis sufferers believe there's some connection with alcohol use and this condition. Perhaps some sort of chemical imbalance? I don't think so though, but your doctor is the one you should ask. As for tobacco, I haven't heard of there being any relation between it and hyperhidrosis.

Well, it took me a really long time to write all this stuff, so I hope it'll be helpful. Regardless, hang in there, and know that there are people going through the exact same thing. If you're ever in the need for a rant, this forum is the right place. Also, don't forget trying more than one method of treatment simultaneously. I'm currently trying hypercare (20% aluminum chloride) with pills (2 miligrams of Robinul every morning an hour before breakfast). I'll try to give some feedback on this forum next week regarding how it's going. It's still too early to judge. Good luck! :wink:

 

[claire861]

hi will,
i know exactly what you are going through because i had hyperhydrosis my entire life. i am seventeen and i had excessive sweating on my hands and feet. It also really bothered me because i was humilited holding hands or shaking hands, since mine would be soaking. It was also just uncomfortable in general since when i was writting my hands would soak my paper and i was always so paranoid that people would like it was disguisting. i know how aweful it is. my parents were always really sensitive knowing how much it upset me and were really willing to help. Starting in sixth grade (when i had to start going to dances an holding hands with boys) they got me that treatment where you put your hands in water and it sends an electirc current through them, however that did not work. I tried everything. After that i tried the perscription deoderant you put on your hands, taking pills (which worked to an extent, but dried out my mouth so much i had no saliva), botox (i went to an extremely good doctor who gaurenteed it would start to work in a week, however after a week when i notice no change i went back to him and he did a test on my hands which showed it had not worked. he was shocked saying that hadn't happened to him before) then i even tried hypnosis and acupuncture to try and get rid of my sweaty hands. my mother all was sending my to a physciatrist thinking maybe it was just too much anxiety. Needless to say, i tried everything, and then resulted to surgery as a last resort. I got the surgery 2 weeks ago and i couldn't be happier. I am about to go off to college so it takes so much stress off of meeting knew people knowing i can shake their hands with my dry hands! My hands have not sweated a drop since then (when i used to even think about my hands sweating, they would sweat) but my feet have a few times when i have been very hot. The only down side is the compulsatory sweating, which i was aware of when i went into the surgery. I have experience some on my back (only when i have been sitting in the sun, or very warm though, it isn't just a regualr occurance) I strongly encourage you to explore the other options like it did, but if nothing works for you either, to look into the surgery. I can refer you to a surgeon. My mother did a lot of work to find a surgeon wiht the most experience and best record and i highly recommend him. i wish i had gotten the surgery earlier, because i think it would have made it so much easier for me to enjoy high school, but i'm so glad to have it for college. i wish you the best of luck and if you need any help or support, feel free to talk to me.

 

[shh]

just a thought...our son had these symptoms for 6 years ...he isi 25....and made his life a hell. ...after researching on line he saw that he had many of the symptoms for social anxiety...he went to the doctor and was give a drug...clonadrin ,,,or something like that, and immediately he was a new person and the sweating is almost gone. I think you might not have been on the right drug, and I would suggest you try another before having the operation. I am glad that it worked for the other person, but you may find that it really is anxiety. Please try.