Sweaty Girl, Not Interrupted

It's always good to stumble on a fellow sweaty girl with a sense of humor. Check out Sweaty Girl Diaries, a new blog written by an 18-year-old "sweaty but hawt" college student with hyperhidrosis. "You can be sweaty but still be hawt," she writes.

Amen.

Love,

Tiara

If You Fear, You Can't Hear: Hyperhidrosis and Social Interactions

Try to find one new thing about someone else each day.
(Photo by Nono Fara, some rights reserved.)

It's easy for people with hyperhidrosis to become hyper-aware of themselves during social interactions. This is part of having social anxiety. After all, if you are too busy thinking about the sweat on your hands, how can you focus on the person you are talking to? And if you're not focused on others, social interactions are not likely to turn out well.

I think that people with hyperhidrosis should try to focus more on other people during conversations. Try to find out one new thing about each conversational partner every day. You might be surprised by what you learn!

Love,
Tiara

Iontophoresis update

Hi everyone, I've had a few requests for updates on how my iontophoresis treatment is working. I have not done a treatment for the past month and a half. The regimen takes time and dedication, and I let more and more time slip by. Also, I was curious to see what would happen.

Can cats have hyperhidrosis? (-;

I'm VERY happy. My hands are still a little sweaty but not as bad as before. And my feet are a little sweaty in my socks, even if my feet are cold. But it is much better than before. The worst is in yoga class, where I need to lay towels down on the mat so I don't slip. There's nothing worse than a downward dog where my hands are slowly inching forward on the mat...maybe I should just let the slippage continue until I slip into a plank position. I guess I just look ultra-tough to the other students.

Nevertheless, I'm going to start up a new round of iontophoresis about once a week or two because I don't like having damp socks.

My main focus these days is on my work, my family, and a small personal improvement project--I'm trying to become better at listening to others and tuning in to their facial expressions. I think people with social anxiety are not able to do this so well because they are so focused on their own anxiety and wondering what everyone thinks of them. So I'm dedicating the next few months to tuning into other people. It's not as easy as it sounds...

How is everyone else doing? Thanks for your continued comments and support...I'm so grateful that my words are being read!

Love,
Tiara

Public Speaking Next Week!

Next week, I must make a presentation in front of approximately 25 people. Just thinking about it makes my hands sweat. I've got to ramp up the yoga again. Practice the presentation so I am ready and expecting to succeed. Hopefully I won't sweat enough to manufacture bottles of "Pocari Sweat." (-:

Photo courtesy of WordRidden, Creative Commons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordridden/205941900/

Beware, Hyperhidrosis Shysters!

Watch out for scam artists trying to take
advantage of people with hyperhidrosis!
Image courtesy of Ninja M.,
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_ninjamonkey/

There is nothing wrong with being shy. Shy people are among the smartest, most clever people I know. A 'shyster', however, is a different creature. A shyster is a disreputable person who is trying to sell something under false pretenses. There are shysters who try to post comments to this blog only to generate sales for their shady products, or to promote ETS surgery as a first resort. I know who you are. You can't fool me, and I am not going to post your comments. I'm not even going to identify who you are because then you'll just get more links. I am sick and tired of people trying to scam people with hyperhidrosis out of their money. I make enough money on my own, and I don't need to make money from this blog. The reason I am writing it is because it is part of my own healing process. My teenage years were hell because of my sweaty palms and feet, and by sharing my experience and connecting others with resources, I hope I am being helpful to teens who are in my same wet shoes.

A reader earlier commented negatively about the International Hyperhidrosis Society, alleging that the organization has been putting out false information. I have no personal connection with this organization, and no reason to profit from their success. I do think that they offer valuable resources and that teenagers should visit the Teen Sweat 101 website. Surgery is recommended only after all other treatments have failed. To be fair, I do think the International Hyperhidrosis Society needs to push doctors and medical insurance companies to make iontophoresis more widely available. (Many doctors offer only Botox treatment because it is more profitable.)

I really don't have much time to blog these days, and I'm sorry for the delay in responding to non-shysters who have reached out to me.

Drionic Success Story

A story from a West Coast reader...she had good luck with Drionic. I, on the other hand, found that it didn't work for me! So buyer beware!

***

So I'm 18 years old and I live in Seattle, Washington. I've been living with hyperhidrosis of the hands and feet for my entire life and it has been horrible. Two years ago, I started using Drysol and those other aluminum chloride things. They barely worked.

About six months ago, I went to a dermatologist with my mom and she gave me a brochure for Drionic. It has completely changed my life.

While I don't have HH in my armpits, there is a Drionic device for your armpits too.

I ordered my device online from drionic.com. It was about $140...more with tax and shipping, but it was well worth it!

I only use it for my hands, because they need it most and batteries are $7 a pair. This will change your life, I promise you. I first used it for a total of 7 hours (in half hour treatments) and i was dry for 5 weeks! I started doing it once weekly after another set of treatments to stay dry. So a pair of batteries usually lasts about two months or so.
I hope I have helped!!!

The hidden costs of hyperhidrosis anxiety

We can only expend 100 percent of our energy at any given time. Social anxiety, hyperhidrosis' evil twin sibling, can take a big percentage of one's energy. For me, this percentage ranges from 0 to 70 percent, averaging 30 percent. A low level persistent anxiety. Which means that I have only 70 percent to give. I want to give 100 percent. Life is too short!

So how do you get from where I am to being able to give 100 percent of your energy to a cause greater than anxiety--using your talents and your love to make this world a better place or at least help someone feel listened to, loved, and appreciated? Medication? Therapy? Meditation? All of the above? I function pretty well as is, but it would be great to have that extra 30 percent at my disposal.

I Love My Sweaty Baby, No Matter What the Other Kids Say!

Our beautiful baby boy, four days old and just home from the hospital, slept peacefully in his bassinet. He woke up, ready to eat. I pick him up and, to my great chagrin, feel a wet spot on his back. The bassinet sheet is wet in the same place. Over the next week, the same wet spot appears several times a day. We know it's hot outside, but not that hot! And why would a baby have sweat glands only on his back? Have I passed on hyperhidrosis to my little one? Can't he have at least a few sweat-free years?

We visit the pediatrician a week later for a check-up. Nervously, I ask the pediatrician if our baby might have a sweating problem. We described the wet spot on his back. She laughed. I've heard that question many times, she said. And it happens only with baby boys. All you need to do is point his penis down when you change his diaper!

And thus ended our sweaty baby scare of 2008.

Yoga: Yes, it's for people with hyperhidrosis too!

I had an epiphany during a recent yoga class. No, I didn't attain nirvana or a state of total consciousness. And maybe epiphany is too strong a word...here's what happened: I saw an attractive young woman with a happy aura doing yoga in her socks. The teacher suggested that she remove her socks, and she said "No, I need to keep them on...my feet slip around too much." Her statement was matter-of-fact and absent of any shame or self-consciousness. The teacher said something along the lines of "yes, that happens a lot."

After the class, I spoke with the sweaty-footed yogini. We swapped tips on how to prevent skids on the mat. I use a little towel at the top of my mat, and I have one mat in particular that seems to absorb sweat while remaining sticky. There are also yoga towels that have a rubber backing that clings to the mat.

I had avoided yoga for so long because I didn't want to be embarassed by my sweaty feet, but if anything, yoga has improved my hyperhidrosis.

Love,
Tiara

Calling all iontophoresis practitioners!

I called four doctors who were listed on the International Hyperhidrosis Society's physician finder to see if any offered iontophoresis treatment. After all the research I've done, I am beginning to think that this is the most promising treatment for me. Each of the doctors I called had attended an educational event offered by the IHS, so I figured that they'd be able to help me.

Here's how the typical call went:
"Hello. I'm calling to see if Dr. X offers iontophoresis treatments for hyperhidrosis."
"Are you a patient?"
"I might be if s/he offers iontophoresis. Would you tell me if it is available?"

~Pause~

Doctor's office: "Uhh...what are you calling about? Do you want Botox shots?" In other words, the doctor would prefer to perform the more profitable procedure. To prevent the recurrance of sweat, Botox requires new injections every few months. Cha-ching!

On the other hand, iontophoresis requires a $600 investment in a unit and some initial training at the doctor's office. Once you are trained, you can continue treatments at home.

Does anyone know of doctors who perform iontophoresis treatments? If so, share their names with me and I'll compile a list for this blog.

One more thought: Why does it have to be so hard to find a decent treatment option?

Calling for iontophoresis experiences!

I'm thinking about getting set up for iontophoresis, and would love to hear from others who have used that treatment. Does your skin get dry and prickly? Does it work well? I got to try it once at a medical conference and it seems very doable and effective. Please share your experiences so we can learn more about this highly-recommended treatment option. In the long-term, it's much more affordable than Botox.

My goal: Wear sandals comfortably this summer!

Are you thinking of having ETS surgery?

I sometimes receive questions from people who ask me: Should I get ETS surgery?

I'm not the one to answer that because I'm not a doctor. But I can tell you what I've learned from my research and from talking to doctors: ETS is a last resort, and the failure rate is higher than what doctors who perform the surgery like to admit.

If you're thinking of getting the surgery, be sure that you've already exhausted all non-surgical options. Talk to a dermatologist who knows about hyperhidrosis but does not perform ETS surgery. Look on www.sweathelp.org for doctors. You want an unbiased opinion.

I would investigate the following with your doctor, or combinations of the following, in this order:

1) Drysol (a very strong prescription topical antiperspirant)

~and if that doesn't work or is not appropriate for you, ask about~

2) iontophoresis
~and if that doesn't work or is not appropriate for you, ask about~

3) Botox injections
~and if that doesn't work or is not appropriate for you, or if you can't afford it, ask about~

4) what other prescription options are there?

Then, as a last resort, if your sweat is unbearable and getting in the way of your life, then you might consider surgery. But be sure to talk to an unbiased dermatologist or primary care physician who has no financial interest in your getting surgery. Don't start by talking to the surgeon who is going to profit from your operation.

Remember, some people who have the ETS surgery wind up getting compensatory sweating all over their bodies, which they say is much worse. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society:

"In a study involving 121 patients at the Medical City Hospital of Dallas, Texas, compensatory sweating occurred in more than 80% of the patients undergoing ETS. Similarly, in a Danish study conducted at the Aarhus University Hospital, 90% of the patients undergoing ETS for underarm sweating, reported compensatory sweating, half of whom were forced to change their clothes during the day because of it. "

Please, please...be careful, everyone!

Thank goodness for Drysol!

I tried on wedding gowns yesterday, and I didn't have to worry about leaving sweat stains on the gowns.

Now I only need to figure out how to stop leaving sweat stains on the poles on the subway train.