My experience

[Andy44]

Hi there,
Just thought i'd vent a little.

Well Im 25 and have had HH since 20 which was right into my 3rd year in college when things were just picking up for me socially and otherwise. I used to play the guitar and drums when I joined college and within 1st year got into the college band. We guys were picking up and getting famous. All along my HH getting worse(Like i remember , during the jams, exchanging guitars with another guy and they would spend 2 mins scrubbing it down with a towel.. i just thought i was little more prone to sweat than others). Had my share of crushes and girls being interested in me.. but as I got into 3rd year it got really bad.. i retracted into a shell and quit the band. Stopped playing guitar as it was HELL to play in front of people . I would start to sweat from my hands and eventually get so embarassed that my face would turn cherry red and ill be dripping sweat from my face. So a couple of those experiences and Ive got a phobia you can say to playing guitar(except maybe sitting alone in my room in the wee hours of the night).

I have landed a dream job after completion of my college, as an airline pilot, something most would kill for. Had a real challenge getting thru my training(I fly with gloves and am a butt of many jokes in the company) but that hasn't detered me from acheiving my goals in life. I have terrible bouts of depression because I never am able to express myself socially(be it with collegues or women) expect maybe with a few close friends, mostly male. Only a handful know of my condition, but I still walk on.

I read on these forums people talking about discussing your problem with you near and dear ones, but I for some strange reason can never get myself to do that. I feel like Im showing myself as a weakling. I dont want anyones sympathy, in fact thats the worst thing I could ask for(you know people going awwww when you have a bad sweaty day.. ughhh). So im in a catch 22 most of the times.

ETS is the only thing left(I have only tried external applicants, and will never touch drugs with a 10 foot pole). My parents have a good point against ETS.. they say anything thats coming and messing with a bunch of nerves in your body is not worth the risk. I agree, id rather be sweaty and depressed than paralysed and dependent(at least its only my problem
for now). Going for a good workout works wonders for my confidence and reduces my sweating to some extent. Other things I have noticed about my sweating is it reduces as you stay up late(basically connected to your circadian low I guess, in other words when the body processes begin to slow). Of course, the common observation of it coming down with alcohol consumtion(probably to do with drop in anxiety levels). I am still experimenting with types of food and their effect as this I believe is a big contributor. Will update you all as and when I do get some concrete data. Also coming out of a major panic attack to do with HH, makes you sweat free for a good amount of time there after lol.

HH has ****ed up my life in every possible way. Lot of people contemplate if its all in the mind, but when i read these posts its like you see the same identical symptoms and situations over and over again! I just cant believe that im nuts in the head and thats why this happens. The other way around might be true to a certain extent.

Hoping for an end to this tunnel some day. Keep up the faith my fellow sufferers.
All I can say is continue to do all the things you want to .. life's real short! (either ways it couldn't get worse than it already is)

Cheers.

 

[billyb89]

Hi,

I skim read your post, and saw you were considering ETS. I know people dislike me for saying this, as so many are against it, bit would just like to give my honest input. I made a post on here about 4/5 years ago writing my problems and how ETS was the only way out for me. I'm generally fearless and was not scared about the operation what so ever. I done a fair bit of research and would of rather risked CS then sweating in my hands. I had the surgery performed in my right hand, woke up, and my right was completely dry, where as my left was still damp. I was booked in to get the left side done 2 months later. But i went against it, i will admit, it is a painful procedure when you wake up, BUT it was the best decision of my life. I have one dry hand, and the other one is half as damp as it used to be (I don't know why). I am generally more confident, and not embarassed to talk about my hyperhidrosis again.

If you would like to talk to me about it my email/msn is [email protected] or skype me on 'beatboxbb'.

Billy.

 

[Soy Sauce]

Andy, you say you've only tried external applicants. I didn't see you mention Iontophoresis anywhere. Have you tried that yet? If not, I strongly implore you to give it a try. It has absolutely reversed my quality of life, from social misfit and depressed, to happy and outgoing.

Iontophoresis has a very good success rate, and I'm willing to bet that many of those who are unsuccessful with there experiences with ionto, did not follow their treatment routine stricly enough or did not give it enough of a chance (for some people, it takes longer than others before seeing results).

Give it a chance, before resorting to ETS. It takes some discipline, but after a while, it's not a bother.

BTW, you're the first person I've ever heard of developing HH at an older age. I thought most people developed it during childhood or adolescence.

 

[Broch]

Problem with ETS is that it's a serious surgery that is costly and has a high risk of side effects. I'd recommend the iontophoresis as well. Once you get it going, it only requires maybe 1-2 half hour treatments a week and has worked perfectly for me. I've tried a variety of other methods, but ionto is the only one that's provided consistent results.

 

[margiehope]

BTW, you're the first person I've ever heard of developing HH at an older age. I thought most people developed it during childhood or adolescence.[/QUOTE]

I developed HH quite late--in my 50's, I think. Have several guesses but no answers as to why.

Like everything about this disease, there seem to be no fixed rules.

 

[Bemzy]

I would consider surgery only as a last resort...for me it's not just worth it considering the cost and the risk.

As you I found it really hard to talk to my close ones about this problem...it was just uncomfortable to talk about it to anyone.

On the other hand, a clean diet and regular exercise has done wonders for me. The sweat has been reduced a lot and my confidence has "skyrocketed" with the improved physique.