Very Sweaty Betty

MiraDry Article, Sweat And Tears!

0

January 4th, 2012VSB AnneSite News

Wanted to thank one of our dearest members Amherst for pointing this out to us here at VSB.

I thought that I would attach this article about the Miradry system that appeared about a month ago in the New York Times. A number of persons have asked about this, and here is one report.

First Person
Sweat and Tears
By SCOTT KENEALLY
Published: December 7, 2011

FOR the better part of 10 years, I have dressed almost exclusively in black shirts. Not out of choice, but out of necessity. I have incessantly sweaty armpits, you see, and that’s the only way to conceal them.

Since the onset of the condition in my early 20s, I’ve tried everything to tackle it. From supercharged antiperspirants to jury-rigging Depends into my pits with an Ace bandage. Like I said, everything.

Botox was the only strategy that worked. And for a year, until it wore off, I enjoyed fashion freedom, wearing colored shirts with impunity. But since I cannot afford an annual Botox treatment (upward of $1,000), I’ve hoped for a longer-lasting solution.

That day might have arrived. The Food and Drug Administration has cleared a new treatment, miraDry, for sweaty pits, or axillary hyperhidrosis, as the condition is known in medical parlance. According to literature provided by Miramar Labs, the California company behind the technology, “The miraDry System non-invasively delivers precisely controlled electromagnetic energy to the region where the sweat glands reside, and destroys the sweat glands.”

And since these glands do not regenerate after treatment, the company promises “dramatic and lasting reduction of underarm sweat.” Dr. Stacy R. Smith, the dermatologist who ran the clinical trials for Miramar, said that “around 80 percent of people report that sweat is either no longer an issue, or at least tolerable, a year after their second procedure.”

While miraDry will not be widely available for a few months, some dermatology centers across the country offer the treatment. Each place sets its own price, though it generally runs around $2,000 for each of the two recommended treatments. Since $4,000 is beyond my budget for any cosmetic procedure, I was thrilled to find out that the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Northern California, in Sacramento, was offering a promotional half-price rate. I borrowed the money from my father-in-law, suggesting that it was an investment in his daughter’s happiness, and drove two hours east from my home in Healdsburg.

It wasn’t until I reviewed the consent forms and learned that the side effects could include “burning” and “infection” that doubt slunk in.

During my consultation with Becky Sprague, my miraDry-certified nurse practitioner, she warned me that one of the clinic’s six patients to date had complications. She said that the heat had injured the patient’s brachial plexus, a network of nerves, and that a month later the patient had “two fingers that are numb and tingly still.”

Mrs. Sprague, or Becky as she preferred to be called, assured me that this was extremely rare, though when I crunched the numbers it seemed as though I had a 17 percent chance of being unable to type a bad word about the experience. (Dr. Smith said that when you factor in the results of all patients treated in clinical trials and practice studies, that number falls below 1 percent.)

“What about cancer?” I asked. “My friends all seem to think that I’m going to get armpit cancer.”

Becky’s response was a little frank for my taste: “I honestly don’t know,” she said. “I don’t think it’s been around long enough to really make that determination.”

Gulp. Still, I proceeded. The next step was to shave my pits. Becky offered me a disposable razor, and I thought: Seriously? Have you seen my armpits? There’s enough hair to stuff a comforter. Luckily, I had a beard trimmer in my car.

With my underarms smooth to the touch and creepy to the eyes, Becky marked up the hair-bearing “sweat zone” with the help of a sizing template.

“You have the biggest armpits I’ve ever seen,” she marveled. Far from being a compliment, it was a warning. Whereas the average patient might receive 30 shots of the numbing agent Lidocaine under each arm, I needed 61. If this sounds unpleasant, that’s because it was. The first shot felt like a bee sting. Then came the next 121.

Once numb, it was time to begin. Becky readied the miraDry machine, which looked like an old-fashioned desktop computer on wheels, with a monitor and two cords running to a showerhead-shaped handpiece.

With the help of a map on the monitor, Becky aligned the handpiece with the marks on my skin, pulled the trigger, and … I felt nothing. I did hear what sounded like Enya emanating from the base station. I wasn’t sure if it was designed to help patients relax or to indicate when the machine was activated, but I was relieved that the procedure was painless.

Becky systematically traversed my underarm, zapping 39 different sites. Each site treatment lasted 40 seconds. The first 15 were devoted to the electromagnetic assault on my axilla, then a hydro-ceramic “cooling plate” chilled my skin for the next 25.

While Becky treated my left armpit, a registered nurse, Linda Tinsman, numbed my right one. After Becky finished, Linda took control of the device. And here’s where it became A Tale of Two Pits.

As Linda reached the midway point on my right arm, I started to feel a burning sensation. At first it was like a quick lick of flames, but as she progressed, it felt as if she were holding a blowtorch to my skin. And since I’ve never been one to confront so much as a splinter with a modicum of dignity, I was writhing in agony.

“Are you sure you numbed it?” I asked.

Linda nodded, and then Becky unexpectedly stuck a needle into my armpit.

“Did you feel that?” she asked.

“Yes!”

Linda renumbed the area. At this point I started to question her qualifications: “So how many patients have you treated?”

“You’re the first.”

I thought she was kidding. But no.

“Seriously? You’ve never pulled that trigger before today?”

Nope.

I don’t know if it was because I was Linda’s first patient, or if there was something physiologically different about that armpit, but despite added Lidocaine, it began to feel as if she were welding something in there. When my whining hit a crescendo, Becky suggested they stop. But I did not want to leave any sweat glands behind, so I summoned my machismo and muscled through.

Afterward, I was instructed to ice my underarms for a few days, which was a no-brainer, really. The following morning my pits were throbbing, with bruises and lumps so large it looked as if walnuts had been fused into my axilla. But while my pits may have been traumatized, the one thing they weren’t was wet. It worked! It worked so well, in fact, that after a hike my whole shirt except for my armpits was wet.

Two weeks later, the bruises had faded, the lumps had (mostly) receded, and my armpit hairs were slowly growing back. And despite a persistent dull pain, I was thrilled with the results and gallivanting around town in a revealing red tee.

But just as I was relishing my fashion freedom, it happened. I waved to a friend and felt it. A sweat stain on the move. I turned to my wife. She was gawking at my shirt, her face one part shock, one part “Oh, you poor thing.”

I was crushed.

I know the company recommends two treatments, but Becky said some patients are so happy after one that they do not bother with the second. Obviously I hoped to be among that group, because I’m not so sure I can suffer through another session.

So here I am: still sweaty, only with less money, and the added bonus of tender, stubbly armpits. Brilliant.

Great New’s From Allergan, The Makers Of Botox And IHHS

0

January 3rd, 2012VSB AnneSite News

This made me happy to read this, there is hope for us that can not afford Botox as a treatment for Hyperhidrois. This can give us hope and options.

Wonderful news from Allergan the makers of Botox and IHHS (International Hyperhidrosis Society)

https://www.botoxreimbursement.us/

Copied from www.sweathelp.org

Can’t Afford Botox for Hyperhidrosis? We May Have A Solution.

Hyperhidrosis treatments have undergone major improvements in the 21st century. The 2004 FDA approval of Botox injections for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis has helped to transform the lives of many thousands of sufferers. By “turning off” the process that leads to sweating excessively, Botox treatments allow sufferers to lead more normal lives, free, at least temporarily, from the overwhelming symptoms of hyperhidrosis. (Results of Botox injections last on average six to nine months, while maintenance injections are necessary for continuous control).

But, as anyone who has pursued this line of therapy knows, Botox treatments can be costly. Moreover, in this age of economic anxiety, when more and more people are either uninsured or are carrying minimal health insurance, coming up with the money for Botox treatments can seem like the impossible dream. Seeking coverage for treatment from insurance companies can likewise seem a daunting obstacle. But there are some promising avenues that sufferers can explore when considering Botox treatments. Allergan, the maker of Botox, has a BOTOX PATIENT ASSISTANCE® Program in place to help hyperhidrosis patients who are under- or uninsured get treatment. In fact, three programs offer a variety of options for patients who need financial help to pay for Botox treatments: Allergan’s Botox Reimbursement Solutions, the Botox Patient Assistance Program, and the Botox Partnership for Access Program.

Botox Reimbursement Solutions puts patients in touch with a counselor who can guide them through the insurance process, including answering questions about coverage, reimbursement policies, insurance verifications, prior authorizations, or claim appeals. They can be reached toll-free in the U.S. at (800) 44-BOTOX, Option 4 or via fax at (877) 530-6680.

Healthcare professionals who treat hyperhidrosis patients can find comprehensive support resources on the Botox Reimbursement Solutions Website. Valuable information about on-site staff education, training, and in-depth support—including policy reviews and analysis of Botox reimbursement that can improve billing and coding and other office processes, which decrease the chances of having claims denied.

For patients who do not have insurance or who are under-insured, Allergan’s Botox Patient Assistance Program can help. Through this Program, Allergan will donate Botox vials for the treatment of financially eligible patients. Patients can download the Botox Patient Assistance Program Application online. Call toll-free in the U.S at (800) 44-BOTOX, Option 6 for help or more information.

The Botox Partnership for Access Program was created to help insured patients who struggle to meet their out-of-pocket Botox treatment costs. Patients who qualify will receive a debit card to be used for either future medical or personal expenses. The debit card can also be reused for future credits if the treating physician determines a need for retreatment within 120 days of the first treatment. Find out if you are eligible via the Botox Partnership for Access Website and learn more about each of these incredibly helpful programs. Please note that you must be at least 18 years of age to participate.

As the year closes, it seems timely to highlight acts of generosity, kindness, support…Allergan’s BOTOX PATIENT ASSISTANCE® Program has warmed our hearts all year. By giving people with hyperhidrosis the opportunity to pursue this costly but very effective treatment, they are providing a life-changing service to sufferers.

Christine Fleckenstein, Support Specialist with the IHHS, has a lot of interaction with the people in our hyperhidrosis community. She says the beauty of the Program is that it opens up a whole new world of opportunities for sufferers.

“Patients need to know about the Patient Assistance Program because it increases their treatment options. I get many emails from patients saying that they do not have medical insurance and would love to get Botox, but simply cannot afford it. This Program, along with others that Allergan generously offers, make Botox treatment within reach for most patients. There are eligibility requirements and somewhat of a process involved, but it’s worth a shot to get that prize at the end – effective treatment and dry days without the worry of how sweating will affect their every move. With regard to physicians, perhaps if they too knew about the Botox Reimbursement Solutions Website and the resources they offer – like a Botox Reimbursement Business Manager to provide training, support, and help with reimbursement to decrease denied claims – they would more readily treat hyperhidrosis patients. It’s unfortunate, but some physicians remove their profiles from our Physician Finder database because they find it financially difficult to treat hyperhidrosis. These are real solutions.”

Tags: antiperspirant, anxiety, dermatologist, embarrassing, excessive sweat, hyperhidrosis

Guest blog – Sweaty Palms & Self Esteem – by Jason Ellis

0

December 7th, 2011VSB BeverlySite News

Are Sweaty Palms Affecting Your Self Esteem? Here are 6 Ways to Boost Your Confidence

Palm sweating is a horrible problem. Even if it isn’t a serious medical condition, it can still totally disrupt your day-to-day living. You can’t go out on dates because you’re too afraid that he or she will want to hold hands. You can’t go to parties, clubs, or church because you don’t want to shake hands with anybody. It’s an insecurity that seems to never completely go away. It just sort of lingers in the back of your mind all the time.

In other words, sweaty palms can really affect your self esteem. It can cause social phobia.

What you need to do is STOP BEING AFRAID! Being afraid will only make the problem worse!

You CAN keep your hands dry. You CAN improve your self esteem!

Take the first step towards a more confident you with these 6 tips.

1. Diet, Diet, Diet. Drink tons of water. Doing so will keep your internal body temperature down. When your body is cool, you won’t sweat as much. You won’t be on as edge as much. Stay away from coffee and alcohol. Don’t eat a lot of unhealthy foods, as they will lead to more sweat.

People who eat healthy diets can usually elimate one cause of excessive sweating – obesity . They also tend to have more self confidence which can generally minimize nervous sweating.

2. Exercise daily! Again, exercising will give you higher self esteem. Feel sexier in as little as a month and start feeling more confident about your appearance. Plus, the more you exercise, the healthier your metabolism will become. Depending on the degree of your excessive palm sweating this can make a difference in the amount of sweat you produce.

3. Just relax! Sometimes this sounds easier than it actually is. We all have busy lives. If you’re a naturally nervous person, then it’s no wonder that you sweat all the time. Nervous people tend to have self esteem issues as well and this can create a chain reaction that causes anxiety induced sweating.

There are so many things you can do to relax yourself and to stay calm. If there’s something or someone at work or school who’s causing you some stress, either avoid them as much as you can or learn to not let them bother you so much.

Keep repeating to yourself over and over “I am fine. Everything is okay. It’s unimportant to me what anybody else says or thinks about me. All that matters is that I know that I’m a great person.”

Learn some deep breathing techniques. You’ll be surprised at how dry your hands will be if you’re able to stay relaxed.

4. Drink tomato juice and/or acai berry juice every day. Yup. Both tomato juice and acai berry juice can actually prevent hand sweating. Not only can you drink them, but you can soak your hands in them as well. Sure, it might seem kinda gross, but it’s very helpful.

Tomatoes and acai berries have antioxidant properties. They will destroy the germs and bacteria on your hands better than a lot of soaps. Drink at least one cup of your preferred juice a day, or soak your hands in it every morning for about 30 minutes if you prefer.

5. Did you know that charcoal can prevent sweating? Not many people know this, but activated charcoal is one of the best remedies for well… anything! It’s a detoxifier and it works very well for those with excessive sweating problems.

Take an activated charcoal supplement on an empty stomach twice a day. Not only will it prevent sweating, it will also clear your skin up and leave it clean and supple.

6. Try an alternative treatment such as aromatherapy, acupuncture, or herbs! I know, some people don’t believe that these alternative treatments really work. But if you give them a try, you might be surprised.

For aromatherapy, try essential oils such as lavender, lemon, peppermint, and cypress oil.

Herbal remedies include witch hazel, ground ivy, aloe vera, basil, and valerian. Not all of these can be taken orally. Just topically apply them to your hands. Let them dry for a few minutes and then rinse them off. The basil and valerian can also help reduce stress.

An acupuncturist can treat both sweaty palms and stress. If you live near an acupuncturist, schedule a meeting to see if there is anything they can do to help you.

Here’s a bonus tip: THINK POSITIVE! You can improve your self esteem if you learn how to think positive. Just visualize yourself with dry, clean hands. Positive thinking, when combined with the above tips, will enable you to keep your hands dry AND feel better about yourself!

Author Bio:

Jason Ellis has been helping readers around the world prevent sweating long-term through many different systematic regimens. As a moderate hyperhidrosis sufferer himself, he has learned how to prevent sweating through years of experimentation, trial and error.

Tags: guest blog, help, hyperhidrosis, jason ellis, palmar hyperhidrosis, self esteem, sweat help, sweaty hands, wet hands

Hyperhidrosis and Compensatory Sweating

0

November 29th, 2011VSB BeverlySite News

Forum link

How Compensatory Sweating works:

The current train of thought is that our own inbuilt thermometer is faulty. This is called the Hypothalamus and it’s tucked away in the brain. This is what causes us to overheat. When the body’s temperature rises by 4 degrees C, we become disorientated and confused. By the time we reach 7 degrees C, we’d be dead. Because the body is such an amazing feat of natural engineering, we have an inbuilt sprinkler system to prevent us from overheating and to keep us alive. This is where the sweating comes from. When you block off any area of sweating, that’s all you’re doing. You’re not cooling yourself down. As you’re still hot, you’ll still be sweating until you cool down, it’s just that the sweat will appear in other areas and it’ll take longer to cool down as your sweating is limited. Blocking sweat is not the best way of dealing with it, although we all need to block in the odd area or two – ie underarms etc. It’s always a far better idea to soak up and disguise sweat than to block it.

CS as a result of ETS and Generalised Hyperhidrosis:

The main places ETS people suffer is down their back, torso, groin and legs. I would suggest products like laulas undershirts and polo shirts, www.sweat-help.com and Wrapps www.coolwrapps.com. Both of these products will deal with soaking up sweat by clever use of fabrics. I use both products and they certainly make life easier for me. Wrapps are also increasingly used by sportsmen and women, musicians etc as well as HH sufferers.

Please feel free to visit the site and dive into the forum conversations – or even just keep an eye out for competitions (we get to give away lots of free products) and hints and tips on disguising and dealing with your sweating.

Tags: absorbent, clothes, clothing, disease, dripping, embarrassing, ets, excessive sweat, excessive sweating, forum, groin, hyperhidrosis, medical, surgery, sweat, sweating, sweaty, treatment, very sweaty betty, vsb, wrapps

A day in the life of… Lisa & her HH

0

November 22nd, 2011VSB BeverlySite News

Thank you for your blog Lisa! It sounds very familiar to me, with friends like that, who needs enemies? **big hugs**

Me and my annoying friend hyperhidrosis i cant get rid of.

I wake up suddenly with my hair stuck to my face and my pj’s clinging to my body, I throw the duvet off and jump out of my sweaty bed. Glancing at the temperature I see 12 degrees today in my house…..yet it still feels like 30 degrees as i’m burning up. Grab a cold drink, sit down and calm myself down.

Time to get ready for the day….highs of 15 degrees today. White t-shirt, jeans and thin black cardi. I fling the bathroom window wide open, feeling the cold air on my face whilst brushing my teeth. Start applying my make up, I’m tempted to turn my mini fan on but I battle through this morning. Scrape my hair back and clip the loose hair back. I wish I could straighten my hair but this friend of mine doesn’t let me straighten it and if he does within 10 minutes of walking out the door he has made it a curly wet mess.

Grab my bag, and pull my coat on…..attempting to look normal and avoid catching a cold. I’m running late for my doctors appointment, a 10 minute brisk walk and i’m there. Now I could be wrong but I’m sure I have walked into a sauna…..I quickly strip down to my t-shirt and push open a window. Only to get moaned at by an old lady complaining its cold with the window open. I want to scream at her, she’s sitting there in her coat rosy cheeked, I’m sitting there in a t-shirt sweat pouring everywhere. I stumble into the doctors room and get through my appointment in a soggy mess. I can’t bare to put my coat on so walk come without it on.

Strip down for 10 minutes before I need to leave for my follow up dermatologists appointment. Surprise surprise Im sure the doctor made them turn the heating off and open all the windows so its cold in the waiting room. I get called in, instructed to strip and told Im not sweating. Plucking up the courage to tell her to shove her hand in my undies when a male nurse flies in and I back out. My pills didn’t work. Her response? It’s only sweating you are just going to have to live with it. Oh how much I wished something like freaky Friday would have happened right then!!

I head into town finding it unbearable. I find it ironic that the shops turn their heating on to encourage custom. Any hot shops don’t get my custom I walk straight out.

Get the phone call about my car. It’s not worth fixing…..the sweat pours just thinking of the stressful few days to follow. Arrive at the garage to pay the man just in a t-shirt, he comments about how I must be freezing. I brush it off and get out of there as quick as I can.

Finally home, I chuck on some joggers and a vest. Time to start on dinner. Fling the kitchen windows wide open, prepare my kitchen towel to dab my face and crack on. Eventually get though cooking.

Bath time, my favourite part of the day. I let the cold water run into the bath 5 minutes before i get out. Sit down in my towel drying off and get into my pyjamas.

Bed time with half my body outside of the duvet and half my body under the duvet I finally get to sleep. Another day over in what seems like a hell hole.

My name is Lisa and I’m a generalized sweater, my friend hyperhidrosis insists on introducing himself first every day.

Tags: clothes, cool, dermatologist, dripping, embarrassing, excessive sweat, excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis, skin, sweating

Turkey, Ham And Gravy Oh My! Are You In A Panic Over The Festive Season?

0

November 21st, 2011VSB AnneSite News

Hello all,

I thought I would approach this subject as most of us seem to be complaining about what to wear, what if I sweat. We all have the, “What If’s?”
I know I am, and as time is getting closer to Thanksgiving, Christmas office parties, dinners, dances, Ball’s, schools plays, shopping we all tend to suffer from pre-festivity panic.

We tend to panic and make ourselves worse than what we began. If we just looked at this simply we could erase a lot of our, “What If’s”
If you are like me and my life has been so busy this year has flown and were here again! I am currently getting ready to move and I have a big ball approaching. I have tried to get out of it but looks like I am going to have to attend. I have been listening to the other wife’s and their excitement on dresses and hair do’s and such and I wish or I pray I could also get as excited as them and wear the lovely clothing. But in reality I can’t!

I have thought about going back on my oral medication for a few weeks but I am still battling a sinus infection and will probably not help matters right now.

Can you join me in making a list on what we should do and what we should not do? Here are some of my sugestions.
If daytime office lunch, dress in layers and battle your way like a rugby player, American Football player, to get that seat next to the window, and as the lunch begins and you feel your sweating arrive, take off your layers, ask to open up the window and if your a woman blame it on a hot flash…yes we do have an advantage on that one, sorry Gentlemen.

If an office party, again dress in layers and make believe your an onion and peal them off, also if windows available use them or take in a power hand fan or use a folder to cool you down lol..I’m beginning to smile here now as have been there done all the above and will carry on.

Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner..one of the worst as so much preping and cooking can make for a hot hell hole before it even begins, If you can make sure someone else cooks or go out..laughing hard now!

OK, if you are cooking then do what I always do, buy a already cooked turkey and prepare most of your sides and deserts the day and evening before, takes off so much stress and you can sweat all over everything and they will never know, with 5 fans blowing on you from every angle, kidding about the dripping in food sweat…tee-hee!

Dressing for the occasion can be the hardest of them all and the daunting task we all fear….What am I going to wear that wont show my sweating, wishing you could just crawl into a dark hole and remain there. I would advise a very light material or dinner jacket, nothing that is going to cling to the body or create more heat.

I swear by dark clothing, hides a multitude of sins, including sweating..ha! I love black and silver as they look so good together, a bit of bling and you can’t go wrong. What I have found helps also is wear some glimmer lotion as if the sweat does arrive you can’t really see it, or as my girls like to call it, Fairy dust

For our hand sweaters, I encourage a cold or half frozen water bottle always remain in your hands and you can use the frozen water melting as your excuse. Also have a face cloth hidden in a pocket or purse. For head sweaters also, go to the bathroom and mop down!

For the ones whom like to have a few drinks, like me, I always have two beers before as this will trigger my sweating and once my body has had the initial shock of alcohol it will not be bad as first arriving and having a drink!!! I tend to go bright red in the chest, neck and face…I wear a shawl and large jewelry to try to hide this.

So my dear friends, members, fellow sweaters, brother and sisters, I encourage you to add your little secrets on what you do to keep the sweat at bay.

Will you be on the naughty or nice list this year? Hee hee…you can use your imagination and help others achieve less sweat this SEASON.
Hugs,

Anne x

Tags: absorbent, anxiety, clothes, clothing, cool, dripping, embarrassing, excessive sweat, hands, help, hyperhidrosis, stress, very sweaty betty

Awareness, VSB Needs Your Input And Ideas

0

November 16th, 2011VSB AnneSite News

AWARENESS on our disease.

When you see a Doctor or specialist most do not know the impact this has on us on the daily basics. They fob us off with yet another aluminum chloride treatment which burns your skin, sometimes leaving it so sore and takes weeks to heal.

Some of us have to educate the Doctor about Hyperhidrosis as they look at you blankly!!! I honestly don’t think much has changed in the last 5-10 years! I am in a constant argument with my Doctors for Botox as this is the only treatment that does give me relief. I dry out to much on oral medications and feel worse being on them.

Do you think we will ever get the awareness on this??? We see the clinical strength out on the market and I have read them all, only one says you may have Hyperhidrosis!!!! One out of lots!!! Adverts never tell you about it or commercials, the woman whom show there pits dry and arms up have never suffered from a days sweat or constantly worrying about it.

Who is ready to write a day in a life of a sufferer? I am and I will post them on the front page of our website for all to see. It is about time. Does not have to be long, just how it really is.

If you are interested then PM me, or drop Beverly a line betty@verysweatybetty.com please put in topic line, GUEST BLOG A DAY IN A LIFE OF A SUFFERER. Or what you would like to be changed for the better of us, any ideas or suggestions will not be ignored.

We are the ones who can only help make the change, tell your Doctors and Medical staff how it really is, ask them to try the awful treatments they give us….

LOTS OF LITTLE VOICES CAN MAKE ONE BIG ONE XXXXX

Tags: disease, excessive sweat, excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis, medical, products, stress, sweat

The Dark Ages, “Vicki’s Story”, Living With Hyperhidrois

0

November 13th, 2011VSB AnneSite News

I want to personally thank a new member for allowing us to post her story. She knows how important this is for us all in raising awareness on this awful skin disease, that brings us all misery every day of our lives.

This is a very moving story of inspiration, bravery and courage.
We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts….

Anne and Beverly xxx

If you want to join in our cause on, “Raising Awareness” Join the cause, we have a section in the forum for this HAC, Hyperhidrosis Awareness Campaign, good things are happening.

I always say lots of little voices can make one big one. If you want to join our cause then please send your story to our very own Beverly at betty@verysweatybetty.com She will be glad to post it on our front page and if requested all will be confidential. Thanks for helping us here at Very Sweaty Betty, your friendly sweaty support group.

Vicki’s story,

My Story to date,

I’m Vicki and I’m not ashamed to say that I am an Hyperhidrosis sufferer. It it embarrassing but I’m not ashamed.

I have had Hyperhidrosis since I could walk. It started with my hands, feet and underarms and I noticed more at the tender age of 5-6 in Infant School. I used to have to write whilst I had a clump of tissue in my hand to wipe up the dripping sweat from the page. I also had to stuff rolled up tissue under my arms to stop my uniform from getting drenched.

Summer time obviously the worst season for me, but it affected me all year through. Doctors used to tell me to hold my hands under cold water for a minute to cool them down, which did not work. I was then tried on something similar to Driclor where it was rolled on my affected areas and had to sleep with socks and plastic gloves on. This worked for a short while but then the sweat faught its way through!

When I approached 13 I was advised to go and see a Dematologist Consultant in Manchester Infirmary. They told me about the endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy surgery, also known as ETS. They told me that they would make a small incision in each arm pit and cut some glands to help cut down the sweating. They said that there was a possibility of the operation making my eyes droopy.

As I was modelling at the time, my Mum thought it would be best for me to make this huge decision when I turned 18. So I just learned to live with it.

Always ensuring I had tissue in my bag, I could never wear a top or dress without sleeves as there would be nowhere for me to put the tissue under my armpits. I hated having to shake hands with anyone, especially for job interviews as I would always have to explain myself (i still do).

Eventually, in 2003 when I was 21, I bit the bullet and decided to go for the ETS operation/surgery as I couldn’t live the way I was, being an Entertainer and in the public eye 24/7.

I had a consulation first where they told me about collapsing my lungs during the op (something they never mentioned before) and the “slight” possibility of a “small” amount of sweating on my stomach as it would need somewhere else to go. I thought that I could cope with my stomach, if it stopped under my arms and hands (feet I could cope with).

After the surgery, the first week was brilliant. I went back to Mallorca where I was working, then disaster struck!

One night I literally couldn’t gasp for my breath. I was rushed into hospital and after 3 days of ECG and MRI scans/tests, they found fluid on my lungs, something that had accrued in Manchester Hospital.

I was then in hospital for a further 7 days. Once sorted, I flew back home in the October and realised that my sweating was ridiculous. I didn’t think anything whilst in Mallorca due to the heat anyway. I found that my “slight” amount of sweating had increased to my forehead, back, stomach, armpits, hands, feet, legs. Basically EVERYWHERE!.

There was nothing that Manchester Infirmary could do about it either. I did have Botox in my armpits for a short while in 2005, but my local hospital withdrew the funding unfortunately. Botox was brilliant and lasted for 6-8 months.

Since joining HSG and Very Sweaty Betty, I have found out about some bladder control pills called Oxybutynin. I consulted my GP who was more than happy to try me on them. I do notice a bit of a difference but with how severe my sweating is, I think that I will need to be increased to a bigger doseage.

I now have my very own Iontorphoresis Machine because my local PCT won’t fund any sessions in hospital because in their words, “I am, low priority”!!!

I will start using this, this week, so fingers crossed for my future. It is horrible living like this and not being able to wear cloths without sleeves; especially in the summer or dancing in a pub with tissue stuck to my forehead or shoes without tights/pop socks on, but i’m not ashamed to tell my story and increase awareness of this awful condition. Finally I do urge anyone who’s thinking of having ETS – PLEASE, DON’T DO IT!

Tags: antiperspirant, anxiety, botox, clothes, clothing, dermatologist, disease, embarrassing, ets, excessive sweat, facial, feet, groin, hands, hyperhidrosis, skin, summer, surgery, sweating, very sweaty betty, vsb

Britain – where did we go wrong?

0

November 12th, 2011VSB BeverlySite News

Something a little bit different from me today. This is something that really riles me. The amounts given are in pounds. I can’t imagine this type of structure is only applicable to the UK. I’d bet my last £1 that the US, Australia etc etc have their own versions of these benefits.

We’re “broke” and can’t help our own Seniors, Veterans, Orphans, Homeless etc.

Are you aware of the following?

The British Government provides the following financial assistance:

BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER Weekly allowance £104
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN Weekly allowance £250
BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER Weekly Spouse allowance £25
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN Weekly Spouse allowance £225
BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER Additional weekly hardship allowance £0.00
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN Additional weekly hardship allowance £100
BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER TOTAL YEARLY BENEFIT < £6,000
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN TOTAL YEARLY BENEFIT £29,900

Please copy this to all your contacts so that we can lobby for a decent old age pension.

Please bear in mind that the average pensioner has paid taxes and contributed to the growth of this country for the last 40 to 60 years.

Tags: allowances, benefits, britain, broke, broken britain, illegal, immigrants, orphans, pensioner, pensioners, pensions, refugees

For The Record…

0

November 9th, 2011VSB AnneSite News

By our very own Denise, Following her, Help Wanted….
For the Record,

If any of you have read my last post, and thought I might be implying that Hyperhidrosis does not compare to scleroderma and we have no right to complain, that was not what I was trying to say, not at all.

My point is that Michele Mayer was a highly educated woman, her husband is in fact a physician, Moreover Michele was highly respected in the medical community, could speak the lingo, knew what she had and it still took 6 years to get a proper diagnosis. In that 6 years she was aware of what medications, procedures and protocols were available to treat the early stages of her disease.

Yet, because of her inability to get a proper diagnosis, all of these avenues were closed to her. We will never know if she could still be alive today, had she been diagnosed in a timely matter. Moreover, Michele had done her research and frequently went head to head with the doctors, who repeatedly tried to prescribe outdated medications, that had been shown to be wholly ineffective, while fighting her requests for another. Albeit, the truth is there is very little to help people suffering with Scleroderma. As her skin turned into a shell like structure, her vital and unseen organs were doing the same. This disease is a killer, very little is known how to treat it, and it is a death sentence. It may be 3 years it may be 5 years, but with the passing of each year, reduced mobility is a given as ones internal organs turn to stone.

Yet, Michele worked on her own memorial, did what she could with her children, and wrote about her life, her doctors, her friends, family, as the disease slowly turned every breath into a struggle. She had to fight the medical community every step of the way, as the disease continued to turn her internal organs into stone.

How do we proceed? Does any of us hold a Doctorate in Public Health? How do we proceed to get the attention of the medical community? How do we proceed? I continue to write letters, and be ignored. I sent a letter to a doctor here in town, he is mentioned in one of Suzanne Somers books as a surgeon who turned away from surgeries for excessive sweating to a more natural remedy. NOTHING, no response.

What should we do to be heard?

Help us fight to be heard, fight with us to be treated for our medical disease/disorder. We deserve this. Write you story on living with Hyperhidrosis, we are still in the, Dark Ages and will continue to be if we don’t stand our ground and help raise awareness. You can send your story to Anne, Beverly, Denise, kimberly in our friendly forum, we can keep it all confidential but our little voices, can make one BIG ONE. So please help.

Denise

If you have problems with groin sweating, please visit Denise’s website www.coolwrapps.com