Sweating Increases

I noticed about two days ago that my right underarm has begun increasingly to sweat- right in the middle of my underarm. oh no!!!

Not too Bad

The sweating doesn't seem to be too bad, still more persistent when working out but I can definitely live with that. I noticed that my right underarm sweats more than the left. It has officially been one year since I had botox injections so what I am experiencing now should be solely the result of the surgery. While I am still occassionally subjected to sweating it is nothing compared to before botox. Again it's still the waiting game.

Exercising

I am sweating while exercising as previously posted by my underarm sweating isn't too bad- probably what is considered 'normal'. My back, chest, etc are sweating a lot so I would expect to see more in my underarms so I'm still holding out hope that this is the final results.

Things are Good

So far things have been good, sweating has been minimal other than the sweltering summer day that I already wrote about. I have been working out like a fiend and although I believe I'm sweating it isn't that bad- definitely an improvement.

It's something that I will need to monitor longer to see what's really going on.

Sweating...again

Yesterday was a balmy 26 degrees or so and when I went to the car, imagine that amplified! I did notice a very mild sweating on my underarm area. Again, if this is the final result- I'll take it happily. It was pretty extreme circumstances when I was getting in my car to drive home yesterday.

Logging Sweating

I'm supposed to be keeping track of my underarm sweating for my doctors appointment in September. For the most part I'm not sweating, I am using an anti-perspirant which helps a bit.

I am sweating when I'm workout out more so from my face, chest, back, etc. There is some sweat at my underarms but it's nothing compared to what it used to be. If what I've experienced in the last couple of weeks are the results of surgery I would be pleased.

Side Effect of Surgery???

I've had some problems since my surgery almost two months ago and I don't know whether it's related or completely coincidental- but it would be a very weird coincidence.

Immediately following my surgery or about 5 days following when I was driving I experienced a lot of pain in my right arm, about where my tricep would be. It's hard to explain the pain it's unlike anything else I have experienced it's almost like a cross between either weakness or pain, not quite sure. It's almost like the muscle gets so weak it wants to just give out. It was extremely painful to make the complete drive home or to work. This has improved since my original drive to and from work. I still have problems about 85% of the time when I'm driving and it's really bizarre and uncomfortable it feels like I don't have the strength to hold up my arm while driving but there is no where comfortable to put it or ease the pain- the seat feels annoying and uncomfortable touching my arm. the arm rest doesn't help significantly.

In the past 2 weeks another pain has developed- pain in my pointer and middle finger. They no longer have the strength that they used to, or perhaps they do but the pain limits their use for the time being. I find it painful to open a jar of peanut butter pick things up, move laundry from the washer to the dryer and sometimes not doing much at all. The pain in my fingers is also weird. It actually feels like if I could just shake my hand enough I could shake out the pain-- yeah, it doesn't work though.

I did try to do some research online but there are a myriad of possible causes- one cause that I did see was: Nerve compression---umm, well I'd think that clamping a nerve would certainly be considered nerve compression.

I'll have to wait until my follow up in September and see how things are going.

So Far...So Good

Well, I haven't been sweating through any of my clothing for awhile now- Great!

My dissolving stitches- well they have not dissolved at all. It's been about 2 months following surgery and I guess most people's bodies will dissolve the stitches in 2 weeks. My incision sites are very irritated looking and purple- probably because my body is not dissolving the stitches underneath the skin there. The incision sites looked better 10 days after surgery than they do now. They aren't infected though so it isn't anything to worry about, it's more of an annoyance. I would have liked them to be fairly healed over so that no one would notice come swimwear season but there isn't anything I can do about that now.

I did some research on the web and I guess if your body can't dissolve them they'll eventually be pushed out of your body so I'm in for the long haul I guess. Possibly a year or so?

Hmmm...It's Got Me Thinking

Play in a golf tournament and I have to say I was a little nervous after I picked up a short sleeved golf shirt.  I didn't sweat through it at all--  it's got me wondering and a little hopeful that maybe my surgery will be successful in the end.

Dissolving Stitches

I have been wondering what is going on with these stitches- I've had pieces of white thread sticking out of my sides for a month and a half now. I just checked this morning and realized the fully internal ones have gone down (there were small bumps under the skin) and most of what was external is now gone. YAY!! Almost there, waiting for the wounds to be fully healed to see what the final result will be- so far it looks like it will be minimal.

Surgery Follow-Up

Well, I had my follow up consultation this morning and I am healing up nicely and the stitches should disolve one day and disappear.

I explained to the doctor that I have begun sweating and was forced to go back to anti-perspirants as I was using an all natural deoderant.

My doctor has asked me to keep a log and return in September for another follow up visit. There is a chance that this will improve so fingers crossed.

Sweaty

I'm definitely anxious for the follow up visit next Thursday to explore my options as my botox has started wearing off. Hopefully I can make it through the day without sweating through the shirt I'm wearing. Fingers crossed. I had to switch back from the all natural fragrance-free, paraben-free deoderant I was wearing and back to chemical full aluminum anti-perspirant. :o(

It's Been A While

It's been a while since I wrote on this blog. My follow up appointment for my unsuccessful surgery was cancelled and rescheduled for a week today. So, I won't have an update on what the plan will be moving forward until there. I know that liposuction is potentially an option but I don't know the details or whether or not that surgery is covered. I will keep you posted.

My Surgery Update: ETS

Well I'm sad to report that the ETS surgery has not been successful for me. I have been sweating and it is disappointing. But I went in with the understanding that there was no guarantee and the efficacy is less for under arm sweating.

I have my follow up appointment with the surgeon tomorrow at 8am, so we will explore options. Ironically, I haven't yet healed from the surgery so it really it disheartening that it didn't work for me.

The doctor had previously discussed another option for which he could refer me- which is liposuction of the sweat glands in the under arm area, I imagine we will discuss that tomorrow morning.

I will continue my battle.

Surgery- The Up and Coming

Well, here's a little bit of a secret:
On April 25th I had an Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS). This is an innovative and controversial surgery that involves making four small incisions on your side below your armpits. Your lungs are deflated to allow the surgeon to insert a scope and tools, they go in a locate the appropriate nerve (for myself it was T3) and they clamp it. Actually severing the nerve is a huge no-no.

I found this option after spending a lot of time on the web researching alternative options to the bank breaking botox (over the long term that is). This surgery is considered to be more successful for feet and hand sweating as well as extreme facial blushing. Underarm sweating can be fixed with this but it's not nearly as successful as for the other types of hyperhydrosis.

The doctor that I found was fantastic and put me at ease. I was really impressed by the questions that he asked and the fact that he wanted to make sure I had explored many options before jumping directly to surgery. The surgeon that I had happens to be the head of Thoracic surgery at the hospital that I went to as well as a teaching surgeon at one of the Universities in the area.

There is a lot to cover with this so I will probably section it into a few blogs.

I can't say that I advocate this surgery at all only because each person has to do their own investigation into the procedure, the doctor, efficacy, and side effects.

Surgery (the old fashioned kind)

About 4 years ago I went to see a surgeon to explore that option...what was available at that time was a very old procedure that would result in the removal of all sweat gland and unfortunately take a lot of underarm skin with it resulting in a large unsightly scar.

Totally defeating the purpose that I had never owned a long sleeved shirt or a t-shirt for that matter, the surgery would limit me to only wearing sleeves and not allow me to wear sleeveless, or straps.

Easily enough I ruled this one out.

Finally Success...Botox Injections

Approximately 4 years ago, I can't believe it's been that long!
I must have been one of the first people to research and try botox injections- in fact to this day I don't know anyone else who does it.

I researched and found this as a way to temporarily control hyperhydrosis, so I went through my family doctor to get a referral and started having this procedure. As this is considered a medical condition one bottle of botox is covered under most drug benefit plans, the procedure is not and is usually $300.00. Over the past 4 years I have had this procedure preformed numerous times with 100% success although the rate of efficacy has fluctuated. The last two injections being the longest lasting- almost a full year each.

The last injections I received were done with two bottles of botox (benenfit plans only cover 1) so this is a fantastic treatment but it gets really expensive. In 10 years I will end up spending $10,000- $14,000 (of which I don't have)

So despite my pleasure with this success I'm still searching for another treatment.

Drysol

After finding that anti-perspirants with higher aluminum levels did nothing to help with my excessive sweating I made an appointment with my doctor. He suggested trying a prescription product called Drysol. This is a product that is applied at night, no re-application until the following night.

Sounded great, I tried the first application right before bedtime. As I lay in bed there was an annoying sensation on my underarms almost like a slight tingling. Overtime this sensation increased and became almost "itchy". The sensation progressed until I was laying there ready to scratch the skin on my underarms off for relieve. I layed in bed as long as I could tried to relax, sleep, etc. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore and literally ran to the bathroom and used everything possible to wash the Drysol off. I couldn't get relief fast enough.

Being stubborn I did try this product a few times, thinking maybe I hadn't tolerated enough or had wimped out I guess...all ending in the same way. Scrubbing the product off relentlessly.

This product probably does work-- if you can wear it without extreme discomfort.

Good Luck!

Anti-perspirants

The first solution that I tried was researching and looking into different brands of anti-perspirant. First of all, making sure I was using an anti-perspirant (wetness protection) and not just a deodorant (odour protection). I tried various types of anti-perspirant ranging from white solid, clear gels, spray, roll-on, etc.

I also looked for the highest concentrations of aluminum chloride, the most I was able to find over the counter was 25%. I tried this for a few weeks but the results were lack lustre, unfortunately for me this didn't solve my excessive sweating issues.

Anti-perspirant is the best place to start, it is the easiest solution if it works for you- is the least dispruptive, and costly.

About Me...

I am 29 and have been struggling with Hyperhidrosis for many years, I don't really remember it not being an issue.

I have tried many treatments some with no, little and good success. I intend to share my personal findings here. In no way am I an expert of any kind, this is just my personal journey.

I only experience excessive sweating of the under arms. It has always been something that has made me very uncomfortable and affected me in all social situations, or being in public in general. It did even bother me when I was by myself- the general discomfort of always having wet underarms. It didn't matter if it was freezing in the middle of winter or the hottest day in the summer or if I was standing in front of an air conditioner. I only owned tank tops or spaghetti strap type tops, I had never owned a t-shirt or anything with long sleeves. Even the tank tops would become soaked and it was embarassing and uncomfortable. I remember driving as being one of the worst things. I always had to drive with my arms up and elbows out, to air out my underarms. It just seemed like it took over quite a bit of my life- limited what I could wear, where I would go, how long I would go somewhere. It was always in the back of my mind.

This blog is for people with the same struggle and hopefully my journey can help you out.