Distraught hand-sweater
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:03 pm
First, I would like to thank the administrator for creating this website, it has been truly useful.
I don't know how different my story is compared to others'. My hands, and to some extent my feet have sweated my whole life. I hated giving high-fives as a kid and dislike shaking hands to this day. I leave paper's wet when writing and HATE receiving change when I buy something with cash because the cashier's hand might touch my wet ones. While my hands have never actually dripped sweat, they are typically damp all day and at a moment's notice can pulsate hand-drenching sweat. I have never really been able to identify what triggers the sweating to occur, but semi-warm humid climates seem to be more agreeable than cold dry ones. One moment I could be (almost) completely dry, and the next moment my hands are wet. Stress certainly exacerbates the sweating, but during bad periods, my hands sweat because I'm stressed and I'm really stressed because my hands sweat.
I try not to let my sweat become disabling, and have lived a fairly normal life all things considered. Perhaps worse than the sweating though is the blistering. I can go through rough patches where during my waking hours my hands are wet (and usually cold) all day long. After about 2-3 weeks blisters begin to form. Eventually they dry up and peel, leaving very tender skin underneath. At its worst, my entire hands have been entirely covered in blistering and peeling skin (sorry for the bad imagery). I haven't read of too many others that have been afflicted with this, so if anyone has any information please let me know.
I saw a doctor at about 10 years old and he recommended Drysol and eventually Drionic. The Drysol irritated my peeling skin and the Drionic was painful and ineffective. Fast forward about 12 years and I learned about ETS via the internet. On a side note I have spoken over the phone with Dr. Nielson in San Antonio and once with Dr. Garza in Dallas (won't be going to Dr. Garza) about getting ETS done. I have dreamed of getting it since the day I learned about it, but it wasn't until I was 27 that I pursued further treatment. I was referred to a Dermatologist who was adamantly against surgery, but instead prescribed Iontophoresis. I tried as often as I could for 3 weeks, but I probably only made it in about 6 or so times. Discouraged, I was eventually approved by my insurance to get Botox, but due to my job as an Air Force pilot, I would be unable to fly for 1-2 years until it was proven that my hands would not be paralyzed (I guess). Very discouraged at this point, I thought about just forking over the cash and getting ETS off the record, but have reconsidered. Now, thanks to the encouraging posts I will probably spend about 1/10 of the cost of ETS and trying either the Hidrex or the Idromed 5 and really stick to the treatment plan. I don't like that I will need to do it for the rest of my life, but maybe a new treatment will come along that won't involve cutting nerves.
Well, thanks for letting me post my story, it is quite therapeutic to tell it. If anyone has any thoughts, I would love to hear them. Thanks!
- Hopeful
I don't know how different my story is compared to others'. My hands, and to some extent my feet have sweated my whole life. I hated giving high-fives as a kid and dislike shaking hands to this day. I leave paper's wet when writing and HATE receiving change when I buy something with cash because the cashier's hand might touch my wet ones. While my hands have never actually dripped sweat, they are typically damp all day and at a moment's notice can pulsate hand-drenching sweat. I have never really been able to identify what triggers the sweating to occur, but semi-warm humid climates seem to be more agreeable than cold dry ones. One moment I could be (almost) completely dry, and the next moment my hands are wet. Stress certainly exacerbates the sweating, but during bad periods, my hands sweat because I'm stressed and I'm really stressed because my hands sweat.
I try not to let my sweat become disabling, and have lived a fairly normal life all things considered. Perhaps worse than the sweating though is the blistering. I can go through rough patches where during my waking hours my hands are wet (and usually cold) all day long. After about 2-3 weeks blisters begin to form. Eventually they dry up and peel, leaving very tender skin underneath. At its worst, my entire hands have been entirely covered in blistering and peeling skin (sorry for the bad imagery). I haven't read of too many others that have been afflicted with this, so if anyone has any information please let me know.
I saw a doctor at about 10 years old and he recommended Drysol and eventually Drionic. The Drysol irritated my peeling skin and the Drionic was painful and ineffective. Fast forward about 12 years and I learned about ETS via the internet. On a side note I have spoken over the phone with Dr. Nielson in San Antonio and once with Dr. Garza in Dallas (won't be going to Dr. Garza) about getting ETS done. I have dreamed of getting it since the day I learned about it, but it wasn't until I was 27 that I pursued further treatment. I was referred to a Dermatologist who was adamantly against surgery, but instead prescribed Iontophoresis. I tried as often as I could for 3 weeks, but I probably only made it in about 6 or so times. Discouraged, I was eventually approved by my insurance to get Botox, but due to my job as an Air Force pilot, I would be unable to fly for 1-2 years until it was proven that my hands would not be paralyzed (I guess). Very discouraged at this point, I thought about just forking over the cash and getting ETS off the record, but have reconsidered. Now, thanks to the encouraging posts I will probably spend about 1/10 of the cost of ETS and trying either the Hidrex or the Idromed 5 and really stick to the treatment plan. I don't like that I will need to do it for the rest of my life, but maybe a new treatment will come along that won't involve cutting nerves.
Well, thanks for letting me post my story, it is quite therapeutic to tell it. If anyone has any thoughts, I would love to hear them. Thanks!
- Hopeful
