Hyperhidrosis in the news

The world can be cruel to the very sweaty -- an interview with Dr. Dee Anna Glaser in the St. Louis News. The interviewer did a good job of asking about what it feels like to have hyperhidrosis -- the more people who can understand this, the better. However, the story was so short that there was very little practical information on treatment options for people with HH.

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!

A second look at the Wet Hands Club

Back in October, I criticized a new Malaysian website, the Wet Hands Club, for pushing ETS surgery and not talking enough about nonsurgical options. Someone commented on my post, saying that was unfair. I looked at the Wet Hands website tonight, and I agree--I was a little too harsh in my post last October and the site has really expanded since then. Now I would recommend it as well-worth your while...valuable information that is well-presented. Plus the site does a great job connecting people with HH.

Can I shake your hand, Wet Hands Club?

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!

Why didn't I post for nearly 3 months?

The typical reasons...holiday travel, busy at my job, etc.

But there's more. I wish my hyperhidrosis would just go away on its own. And if I'm writing and thinking about it all the time, then maybe it won't go away? And more people had been starting to respond to my blog and asking me for advice, and since I'm not a doctor or a therapist, I don't want to give advice.

What I'm realizing is that people just want to be heard. They don't want advice. Like when friends advise me to wear sandals that expose most of my feet so the sweat dries off. They mean well, but it doesn't work because the sandals fall off my feet. The only advice I want regarding my hyperhidrosis is (1) medical advice from a doctor who GETS IT and (2) practical tips from those who have hyperhidrosis. Most importantly, I want to hear other people's stories, and help share those stories with others. That's how we're going to heal.

Oddly, my hyperhidrosis got worse during my blogging hiatus.

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.

Wikipedia woes

I had posted a link to my blog on Wikipedia, assuming it would be acceptable because I'm writing this blog as a public service, not to make money or promote myself.

My link kept getting removed, and I wasn't sure why.

It turned out that a Wiki editor had removed the link because he considered it to be spam.

So I wrote to the editor, whose user name is Mwanner:

Hello Mwanner: I'm writing to find out why you removed my Sweaty Palm Diaries blog from the list of external links for the hyperhidrosis page. I'm writing the site as a public service to people with hyperhidrosis, looking at treatment options, studies, and related psychological issues from a patient's point of view. I am not profiting, nor do I wish to profit, from the website in any way. The users who find my site through Wikipedia do not consider my link to be spam, and if you read their comments, they thank me for helping them by writing about this socially embarrasing condition.

I would be most grateful if you would reinstate my link -- http://sweatypalmdiaries.blogspot.com/.

Best wishes,
Tiara


Here is his response:
Two reasons, both covered in Wikipedia's External links policy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:EL -- thou shalt not add links to your own site, and blog links generally are a no-no. Why not work on the text of the article? We need that much more than we need more external links.

Cheers!
Marc

OK, he makes some good points. I can't change to Wiki policy, and I see how it makes sense, but it would be nice if they allowed links to blogs like mine that are created to help others.

Does anyone have other suggestions on how to raise awareness of my blog? I don't want to do all this work if no one sees it.

Blame it on the brain

According to a Mayo clinic study, hyperhidrosis originates in the brain: "...one part of the brain controls the sweating response to body temperature, while another area controls the sympathetic, or emotional sweating response. For reasons unclear to hyperhidrosis researchers, the emotional component is in overdrive. The result is typically a healthy individual who perspires excessively, even in mildly stressful situations, such as a handshake or job interview."

Happy Holidays, All You Sweaty-Palmed Lovelies!

May you enjoy good food and festive fun with good friends and loving family who love you for who you are. Let's get out there and represent. If there's a few of us at every party, then the dry-palmed people will feel left out. (-:

I used to drink a lot so I wouldn't feel really nervous at parties. After a few interesting "learning experiences," I can say with 100 percent certainty that I'd rather be sweaty and sober than drunk and dry.

What's everyone doing for the holidays? How do you feel about going to holiday parties...nervous? excited? a mix of both?

Here are some tips from the International Hyperhidrosis Society for staying sweat-free over the holidays.
Love,
Tiara

Iontophoresis

Several readers have asked me if I've tried iontophoresis. Yes I did, many years ago as a teenager. I worked long hours at minimum wage to buy the Drionic equipment and use it in my bedroom, hoping that my siblings would not see me and tease me. It hurt like hell! And it didn't work. But that was a long time ago, so I'm sure the technology has improved.

The doctors at a medical conference I attended recommended the Fischer galvanic unit over Drionic. I tried it briefly at the conference, and it didn't hurt so bad.

Anyone else out there try iontophoresis? Seems like one of the best options out there for the palmar hyperhidrosis.