SoulStar said:
Thanks for your reply Hyper-Hydro, appreciate it.
I rang up the UK customer service line for idrostar and they told me to try either Badoit or Vittel mineral water. They also mentioned the much touted bicarbonate of soda but they said that when doing both hands together, i should apply 2 teaspoons to one tray and then after the usual 10-15 minutes, i should swap hands in the trays but keep the polarity at 1.
They didn't recommend doing the treatment for 10 days straight...but that doesn't mean i have ruled that out as an option.
The last two sessions i had i managed to stay on 13mA for both hands.
In answer to your questions, the electrodes are made of stainless steel. I'm not too sure about the construction of the power source as it runs on 4 AA batteries...which i regularly changed during the treatment. Luckily for me, the exact manual i have is already available online here:
http://www.ajgruppen.no/brukerveiledning_eng_idrostar.pdf
Everywhere i read about ionto states that it's successful for 85% of people which is even more depressing.
Which ionto machine do you use and how well has it worked for you?
Thanks Soulstar
I have the Idromed 4 GS. It´s been a great relief for me, and I achieved complete dryness. The design of the ionto device itself is slightly different from yours, but very similar in function just as are all ionto devices. Basically the differencies are as follows: Idromed 4 is powered by an AC unit. It comes with a switch which allows you to take simultaneous treatment of hands and feet, without having an assistant, by placing both feet in one tray, one hand in the other, and putting in the other with it, after turning up the amperage to the value you can tolerate. After the treatment, I can take out one hand without getting shocked, and flip the device off with the switch, wait a few secs and then remove the other hand. This procedure I found quite time efficient, since my main problem is plantar and secondary palmar. It´s very puzzling that the Idrostar and Idromed4 manuals differ so clearly about the duration and frequency.
This is an exerpt from my manual:
If possible, the treatment should be performed once a day in the beginning. Treatment should last 10-15 minutes depending on the doctor´s orders (I haven´t found any doctors who even had a clue about this part of iontophoresis though :lol: ) Normally, after 10 treatments, a normal hydrosis level is reached and the skin moisture is normalized. After this, treatment is normally carried out once a week.
Actually, the dealer told me, that treatment might have to extend further than the 10 days before euhidrosis steps in. Neither Idromed 4 nor Idrostar manual mentions baking soda with as much as 1 word. The only device manual I found mentioning that baking soda could be necessary, is the Fischer MD1A, which costs app. the same as an Idromed 4, but which I rejected on the grounds that the therapy baths coming with the Fischer are hopelessly underdimensioned (would never work for my feet size 11), and simultaneous feet & hands treatment is not possible because the Fischer doesn´t come with a switch, plus the Idromed 4 is a portable design like the Idrostar. My feet went completely dry eventually just after the 10 nth treatment, just as the manual said, but I extended my treatments to 30 minutes, and kept the plus pole at the feet (on the recommendation by the dealer), instead of switching polarity.
Reading the Idrostar manual I can understand why people complain about burns/irritation on the sides of hands and feet. I pour in much more water, so the feet are covered all the way up to my ankles. Maybe you can improve efficiency in the Idrostar by enlarging therapy baths. What are the exact measurements of the Idrostar trays?
My Idromed 4 GS device came with stainless steel electrodes, immediately after I got mine, the factory decided to change the kit electrodes to much larger aluminium electrodes. I asked them why, and they answered that the "ionic density" of the new electrodes was much greater, thereby increasing efficiency, plus there are no nickel residues in aluminium. (some people can have allergic reactions to nickel) whereas all stainless steel is made with nickel. The dealer sent me a free set of aluminium electrodes. I wouldn´t let myself be depressed about statistics. Its amazing that Idrostar feel confident enough to promise normal hydrosis already after 4 treatments. You´re not the first Idrostar user feeling disappointed about that, I can tell you. Personally, I don´t really think they have the part about the frequency and total of treatments right, so don´t despair. Now you´ve found that your water can be improved, start again. E.g. follow the Idromed 4 manual instead
(current is current) Please don´t force up the amperage to a painful level. It´s not at all necessary. You may experience that as your treatments progress, you can turn up the amperage a little bit, but I don´t think that´s very important, as long as your water has the required quality. I´m very puzzled about the fact that Idrostar don´t tell which is the plus pole or minus pole, since the effective electrode is the plus pole, but I guess since you have to switch poles anyway with Idrostar, the end result is the same I guess = dry hands
The Idromed 4 PS is a version which automatically switches polarity, wheras I must switch polarity on my GS, but since my sweat problem is much worse at my feet, the difference in polarity efficience is actually a bonus for me. So the Idrostar customer service is now recommending Badoit?
Looks like they may be reading my posts! :lol: (that water is too expensive though) Vittel has 402 mg/l Bicarbonate, only slightly more than my tap water, nowhere as much as Badoit at 1.300,- but if you want that density you can mix itt up with your own tap water and enough baking soda. All you need is a digital kitchen scale.
You´re welcome to ask any other questions. Good luck, and keep us posted.
