Hyperhidrosis and how it affects your life

[NickMD2B]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this board and would just like to say hello. You might find my situation particularly interesting (I do at least) in that I'm a 2nd year medical student (pursuing an MD) that suffers from rather severe primary palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis. Honestly, I have yet to find a good way to manage my condition. I've spent hundreds of dollars on antiperspirants, iontophoresis machines, oral medications and still haven't found anything that meets my expectations. I will, of course, need to use my hands every day in my profession and that's why this subject is so important to me. I guess that my message right now is to not let your hyperhidrosis affect your dreams and aspirations. This is something that I've told myself from the beginning. I've heard too many people say that hyperhidrosis has ruined their life, and while I know first hand that it is an extremely uncomfortable disease, please don't become that person.

My future interests are actually in areas very pertinent to hyperhidrosis (Neurology/Psychiatry/Family Medicine), so please feel free to give me tips on how I might someday help people like yourself.

~Nick

 

[cjj2003]

Nick,

What kind of Iontophoresis machine did you use? I think that could make a difference. It made a difference for me anyway. I have gotten prescription cream from the Dr. that didn't help me but helps a lot of people. I also bought hydrosal and had my primary write a prescription for aluminum chloride to add to it that really helped,if you are interested let me know and I will let you know the skinny.

cjj2003

 

[NickMD2B]

cjj2003,

The iontophoresis I tried was the poorly designed Drionics, as it was recommended by my dermatologist. After noticing only marginal benefits after over a month of use, I switched back to using aluminum chloride. I don't like the aluminum chloride, however, as it doesn't treat my whole hand evenly.

Right now I'm actually re-trying the Drionics in a modified form. I've already done the battery elimination and now I've converted it so that you can submerge your entire hand beneath the water - similar to the more expensive machines like the MD-1a and Idrostar. I'm going to give my new design a shot first before I try anything else, but thanks for the suggestions! My problem seems to be that I can't find a treatment that works evenly across my entire hand - palm, fingers, sides of hand, fingertips, etc.

 

[klamm76]

I tried drionic over 10 years ago,it was a joke for me compared too idrostar that im using now.

Same problem as you.Didnt work good enough,and didnt work over all areaes.

Had to order the batteries from US by mail back then too:/.

Didnt let HH stop me either .I was a selling mechanical products and was out and shaking different hands every day.!

But still hard too deal whit,but I managed.

 

[pt10]

Hi,

I am also a 2nd year medical student who has suffered from palmar/plantar HH for as long as I can remember. I will be starting iontophoresis this week at my dermatologist's, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. In terms of how HH affects my life, I don't think that "extremely uncomfortable" nearly describes it. I feel as if my hands are crippled at times. It has affected every aspect of my life to some extent, and I think that it is especially important for physicians to acknowledge that and help patients find the treatment(s) they need.

 

[r1234]

FINALLY. some medical students on our side. for awhile i thought we should all pool our money together and send someone to medical school on a scholarship.

no pressure, but if you could find a cure for us, that would be great.

 

[bill-uk]

I don't suffer from your condition at all, for me it is facial and cranial, but I am very pleased to see this very positive slant on the condition, how it affects you and what you are doing about it. I wish you the best of luck in the future in dealing with your condition and helping others to do the same.

Bill

 

[Frank 14]

Hi all,

I recently discovered Lyrica (pregabalin) low dose to help with my facial HH. It works really well. It has been approved for Generalized Anxiety Disorder so I was really experimenting. Fortunately it is not addictive like benzos.

Worked for me!

Cheers Frank

 

[surfsider]

Hey to you med students. What have they taught you about ETS or endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. I also have HH of hands and feet and have been considering surgery, although i believe my case is moderate not quite severe. Have you considered this?

 

[kygirl19]

Have you found anything that helps you with gloves? Sometimes it's not a problem and then other times my hands are so damp I can hardly put them on... sterile gloves are a nightmare, ugh! I'm a third year nusring student trying not to let HH bring me down but sometimes it's hard. I'm hoping over x-mas break to rent a iontophoresis and see if that works, if not I may try botox or look more into the sympathotomy at the mayo clinic. Good luck to you

 

[HH]

Hi NickMD2B

I think you should seriously consider a better machine like the idrostar or idromed GS as the drionic doesn't cover the whole area. Also if you can try and use hard water as this will improve the results. Its takes several months to see a good result but I think if antiperspirants do have some effect then the right ionto setup with the right water would work or at least improve your condition. I know how frustrating and soul destroying hh can be so that's why I'm replying. PM me for any more info. Best of luck