VerySweatyBetty.com

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My story,

I have had palmer hyperhydrosis since I can remember (I’m 25) and it has caused me no end of bullying through school with people not wanting to hold my hand etc.   I have tried all the creams available and, although they work well to an extent, they make my hands so dry and sore that I can’t use them for any length of time.

Since having my son I have also developed it in my armpits (and also a bit in my feet though not quite as bad) and now my problems have really started.

I work in a high school as a learning support assistant, and even though I wash everyday and use various deodorants etc. throughout the day, I have kids refusing to sit with with me because ‘I smell’ and now have my boss on to me trying to get occupational health involved as she has had ‘complaints from other staff’ about my condition.

I have explained many times that I am doing all I can to control my condition and that the last time I spoke to a doctor about it I seemed to know more than they did!  (So basically don’t think HE will tell me anything I don’t already know!)

Also I myself do not always notice any odor so I need the other staff support to tell me, but to no avail.   They are even telling me that if I don’t “SORT OUT THE PROBLEM” then I may not be able to CONTINUE WITH MY JOB!

I am also suffering with work related stress at the moment which is only exacerbating my condition, and now with them ‘on my back’ about it it is only getting even worse in both respects! (The only strategy they have suggested to ‘help’ is that I change my clothes at regular intervals during the day. With the amount I sweat this would be about every 2 hours or so to avoid any trace of sweat patches or smell so I would need 3 changes of clothes everyday at work! Plus I could just imagine the kids asking “Why have you changed your top Miss?”   So it is just not practical in my view!

I also have a problem with my amateur dramatics society when,  at the last minute I was given a very thick,  hot cloak to wear onstage.   I informed them of my condition and that I would be likely to faint with the heat and loss of water if I had to wear it,  (I once came VERY close to fainting onstage in the past and only just made it backstage before I literally collapsed in a chair!)   I was told to “GROW UP AND GET ON WITH IT“!                                                                             “EVERYONE SWEATS”,  and finds the cloaks hot but they just get on with it!”   Evey night of that show I used to just about make it through the scene and then have to rush to sit on a chair and drink loads of sports drink before I was fit for anything. even then if one of the older members wanted the chair I was expected to give it up as I was ‘Just being silly!’

I really think more should be done to, PROMOTE AWARENESS,  for this condition to the general public and medical staff,  as people seem to have no idea about how debilitating this condition is or how hard it is to ‘just deal with it’. They seem to think we can just stop the sweating but we can’t!

How we can all relate to this, what would you advise our kind member?  We all suffer the same.  Please join us in our battle to raise awareness on this awful affliction we all share.  Feel free to leave comment, join us in our forum www.verysweatybetty/forum

The more we help the STRONGER WE BECOME.

Tell us your story, join the forum to make this possible, help for the better cause.

Hello all,
It has been a while since my last confession, err I mean post!…Just joshing I have brought up a very important subject and I think once you know what your MAIN TRIGGERS are you may be able to avoid or have your Hyperhidrosis under better control.

We have been chatting about it on our wonderful forum and Private Facebook page,  we all seem to complain about the same things!!!!

If you have just been diagnosed with Hyperhidrosis then this is the place to be and find out what can help you and what not to do, plus our friendly members and us the volunteers behind it all, with out us there would not be a VSB, I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of mine (Anne), Beverly and Kris’s hearts.  For making it a special place to come and find the support you need while living with this awful affliction.

OK, TRIGGERS…
They are out there and we do digest most of them daily with out even giving it another thought or sit on it or try to avoid it.

I would love the input on this and if I miss any out please add to my Trigger list.
What turns me on the most is,

Humidity,

Sunshine,

Caffeine,

Anxiety,

Stress,

Tobacco,

Alcohol,

Spicy foods,

Cooked foods,

Sitting still,

Movement,

Lotions, hand creams or bubble bath,

hot showers or baths,

Smells,

Time of the month for our Lady members,

Menopause, pre monopause,

Our # 1 hate of all is , Plastic chairs or anything plastic or vinyl…this is one of our huge pet hates!  Ban the plastic chair !!!

While suffering from TRIGGERS it is best to recognize them and try to avoid them or adjust them, for example, I love coffee, instead of drinking it hot I have compromised and now drink it cold with ice.  Does not trigger me as fast and I have really come to enjoy it.  Cut down on that spicy curry that makes you sweat from head to toe, spicy is not a HH’s friend and will make you break a sweat and turn bright red from chest to face.

Hand creams or body lotions, potions and all can be awful for us also, especially the woman as we tend to get sucked into it more than men, plus if you live in a dry winter climate the need of these is vital.  I do find that if I do lotion up after a shower in a matter of ten minutes it is sliding off me and face cream always is a challenge for me!!  I tend to get so much sweat under my eyes and top lip that I can’t apply any concealer or powder.  (Can’t wear foundation as that just slides off too!)
One of our worst is every day life, in a social society we live in, we can’t always avoid this or hide away with a fan blasting on us…we have to use our savie and do the best we can, there are ways of concealing your sweating so others can not detect it.  (Lots of hints and tips on our forum.)

Anxiety, stress as it comes hand in hand with Hyperhidrosis….rather like what came first, the chicken or the egg theory?  What came first for us?  The sweating or the stress that made us sweat?  Rather a catch 22, or did they both arrive together?  Give that some pondering.

With Christmas around the corner we all know that Christmas staff parties will begin and so on, we have to attend at least one.  I don’t know about you but I cringe and want to say, “No way, I am not going”  But I have to at least one.  The panic begins….full blown sweat on on what can I wear, will they see my soggy mess?  Can I please just go with a paper bag on my head?  In reality, No we can’t.  We have to think outside the box and think of how our HH will behave. 

What I am trying to tell you is know what triggers you, write it down, could be something I have missed.  Once you know your main ones than avoid them if your in the social eye and this will help your self esteem and confidence.

Ohh, Halloween is around the corner and finally I get to wear a mask or a paper bag on my head so no one sees the sweat, is that a trick or a treat?
Come on in and discover so much more at our forum, we are now installing a chat room to talk privately about your sweaty bits and bobs, hope to see you there.

Anne, Beverly and Kris xxx

Here in the UK, the weather has cooled down to a hyperhidrosis-friendly degree. It’s warm and sunny, on the whole, and the days are still long enough to do Summer-type things. Today it’s nice and fresh too – it’s been quite humid recently. In short, this is my favourite weather. Too bad it doesn’t come about that often!

Forum link

I’m looking forward to getting a bit of a life going on now. All Summer I’ve been plugging away on VSB – and loving every minute of it – and when the colder weather, the rain and humidity return I’m going to be getting my ‘down under’ head on as Australia and Asia are now gearing up for their hottest period.

In the meantime, I’m going to be catching up on all the fun things I’ve been missing out on! All being well, we’re meeting my sister and her husband for a picnic soon. There are so many things to do where I live (in the middle of a Royal Forest) that I can take my pick. I can’t walk too far because of the polymyalgia/fibromyalgia/etc but that doesn’t matter. I’ll take my book and choose a good spot, Tilly D Dawg will love having a good sniff around for an hour. I’m hoping to get to the beach, too. Not to swim or sunbathe but just because I love it there.

What are you looking forward to doing that you’ve been putting off because of the heat and humidity? Family days out? Some window shopping? Meeting friends you haven’t seen in a while? I’m looking forward to wearing clothes that I really want to wear, too – I haven’t worn jeans since the beginning of April.

I have so many things saved up for the cooler weather, today I’m like my once 4-year-old nephew in a sweet (candy) shop!

What are you going to do?

My plans for today? Erm, housework

Whatever you’re doing, have a good one!

Forum link for Part 1
Forum link for Part 2

Blog link for part 2

Ok, so you think I’d be happy that Winter is on it’s way, wouldn’t you! I’ve spent all Summer ticking off the days on the calendar. I even blogged about wishing Summer would hurry up and end!

But no. I’m hot happy. In one way it’s great – I can take the childish plaits out of my hair (well, a bit more often than I can at the moment) and I can enjoy the cooler weather without having to wear something that looks like it’s made for Winter – ie covering every square inch and in varying shades of either black or white. Maybe my face won’t be quite so red? Two months ago we went to meet with my sister-in-law and her adorable children for the day. I didn’t realise it until we were in the ladies’ just before we left – I caught sight of my face and almost died on the spot. I looked like I’d been the victim of a drive-by spray-painting. In heart-attack red, obviously.

This has got me thinking about Winter. THE Winter I couldn’t wait for a couple of months back. I’ve changed my mind, now, thank you very much. I want to keep Spring. Summer exacerbates my internal boiling up and overheating – and resultant sweating. Autumn – now my second favourite season. If it was less humid than it can be, then I’d be happy to keep it a joint favourite. Winter, though – that’s another blog all on it’s own.

Tomorrow I’ll explain more, but right now, I need to get a shower and an early night.

Hello all,
I have been feeling so frustrated since last week thinking I was going to receive my Facial, Cranial Botox as a Hyperhidrosis treatment.

We drove 50 miles round trip and waited almost 45 minutes to be seen by my lovely Dermatologist, when she took me back  I placed my bag on the window sill next to the procedure bed thinking this is where I would have my treatment done.  I could see her looking and she told me to sit in the chair near her.  (I thought she prob wants to go over the side effects and make sure all meds were the same?!)

I sat and waited and she smiled weakly and said, “The are not allowing you to have the Botox treatment as they see if as a cosmetic procedure rather than a medical treatment!”

She apologized and I know in my heart if she could have made it happen she would.

I was gob smacked and told her I thought I was having it done? I said the her nurse had called telling me so?!  She said she was sorry for this and that it was a miss communication.  She thought it best to have her deliver the news in person rather than over the phone.  I told her thank you and asked why!  All I wanted to do was burst into tears and scream.

She said they saw it as a cosmetic thing rather than a medical treatment and I challenged her and said big organizations claim that most insurance companies are now seeing Botox as the big treatment for this and why wont mine?  She said they don’t understand, they don’t get it!  Even though it stated all the other tried treatments failed.

I then proceeded on and said, “do they think I want a wrinkle free scalp and hair line?” I’m not asking to have this done any where else!  I could see if I was having it done around my eyes and other areas.  She replied they just dont get it.  I them told her how this affects me on a daily basics.  She gets it, she really does but her hands were tied.

How are they EVER GOING TO GET HOW IT EFFECTS US ON A DAILY BASICS???  Can anyone answer this?  Until they walk in our sweaty bodies, they never will or if they have a close family or friend who suffers to really see the draining impact of life and hyperhidrosis.  They will never know how we turn down social events and fear ones we have to attend because they don’t understand or get it!

They will never know how we hide behind closed doors or wear dark clothing to disguise the sweating.  How we feel dirty and what it feels like to have to live in wet clothing.  To suffer yeast infections on our skin and chaff from the sweating.   How afraid we are of having to shake a hand or hold something.  How we have to change clothing often and ruin our clothing because of the smell and sweat stains that wont come out.  How we slip and slide in shoes or make them so wet and funky we have to replace them often.   How normal activities for everyone else turn into a sweaty night mare for us.  The fear of hot weather and humidity.

How would they feel, if they walked in our bodies for a week?

Do you think Hyperhidrosis would be more accepted and treated better?

I have a member in the forum the same way as I was a week ago!!   Crushed and in tears as she was told she could not have the oral medication they prescribe for this (even though it is not for Hyperhidoris) but used as one of the side effects is less sweating!  We take them because of this, regardless of their horrid side effects and dangers of being in prolonged daylight.  We take them because they give us some relief and peace of mind from the endless sweating.  Just like we do with hundreds of needles if WE  ARE GRANTED, Botox or Dysport as a treatment for this.  The only treatment currently to give us a few months break and less of the horrible side effects but it is like liquid gold, hard to get!   Do we blame the manufacturer or maybe Doctors or even the public for making it this way?  It is seen as a cosmetic procedure for vanity but what can give SUFFERERS OF HYPERHIDROSIS relief we are denied!

What can I tell her?!

I can give her the support and comfort she deserves as she is a beautiful human being who suffers and has become a dear friend.  She suffers daily not only physically but emotionally as they go hand in hand.  The emotional round about we are on daily would swing your head!  The thought and preparation of a day in a sufferers life if there is an social event would have you a basket case too!

How do I tell her that everything is going to be OK?  How do I tell myself?  With not having professionals understanding this skin disease, WHO IS?

I have a big event coming up in two weeks and had to pay for my own treatment, most are not cheap.

I have to give a big shout out to my wonderful Dermatologist in Austin, Dr Daniel Carrasco who does understand and did help at a discounted price.

We need more understanding on this and compassion from professionals.  More awareness need to be raised and if your with me let me know and we can fight against this together.  There needs to be more cheaper treatments available for us that don’t burn our skin, dry us out or can even cause heat stroke.

I hope you understand and I pray to God that one day we will all get the treatment we deserve while living with this social killer, self confidence drainer and self esteem robber sore,  they call HYPERHIDROSIS.

Hello all,

I have been chatting to a lot of you on our Facebook page and have had a lot of , “Members Only Questions!”   I was thinking of creating a section just for this?

Would you ask?  Could be something that you have been wanting to find more info on and a great opportunity to get the input of other members and their advise and knowledge.  Could be an embarrassing question regarding our sweating and hyperhidrosis, or maybe you just need advise on what to do or how to hide it.

Thoughts please and ASK AWAY in our friendly safe forum or join us on our Facebook page, Sweaty Betty.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/betty.sweaty

Every day is different for every one of us.  Now the leaves on the trees are beginning to turn brown here in the UK, the weather is also on the change.  Whilst the majority mourns the long hot days, the average Hyperhidrosis sufferer is infinitely relived that Summer is over – in the European corner of the world, that is.  Whilst Europe is becoming cooler by the day, the opposite side of the world is gearing up for Spring and Summer.

What is your coping strategy? Have you decided to try anything different this year? It’s always a good idea to be prepared – do a little research into what is new in the world of Hyperhidrosis (or just log in to VSB and see what we’ve found for you!) and have a plan in mind. If you are ready for the heat in advance then it will take a lot of stress out of many situations.

The lead up to Summer leaves us with a horrible feeling, you feel down and dread the heat and humidity. I usually start considering my coping strategies (or should that read ‘become obsessed’ with my coping strategies?!) well in advance. I plan it all out in my head with military precision to make sure I have the provisions in so I don’t need to make any ‘unnecessary’ trips to the shops…

Click here to read more (includes products and links)…

I have been so down in the dumps the last few weeks since returning back from my trip home in England.  I have not been there in almost 10 years and growing up in a small South East Village as a child I could not wait to leave.

However now being in my late 30′s I see England in a whole different way.  While home I enjoyed the cooler weather and cooler evenings, the humidity got to me a few days but nothing like living here in South Texas USA.  How I long for cooler pastures which one day will be, but for now I have to make the most of what I have and the daily battle with HPYERHIDROSIS.

Most days  I wake up wet!   My head, neck, chest and back will be sweaty, I have a ceiling fan constantly blowing and two stationary fans in the bedroom blowing on me!  I know the experts say you don’t sweat at night but I know I do and there is a condition called SLEEP HYPERHIDROSIS.   I may be already going through the beginning of MENOPAUSE which can make sweating worse night or day?   I find that when it’s that awful time again my sweating gets worse.  I think hormones are to blame for the added heat and sweat each month.

Beverly swears by the CHILLOW ( pillow), you can find these in our VSB SHOP.  I am thinking of investing in one as she claims they keep your head cool and she is sweat free.

I then help the girls get ready for school and drink an iced coffee!   I can no longer drink HOT drinks, these speed me up and I just pour of sweat!!   I am just miserable regardless if I’m in air conditioned or outside.

After seeing my girls off to school I start cleaning up, may be a quick sweep, dust, clean bathrooms the normal daily chores and after about 20 min into this I will start dripping from the back of my head, (hairline) then the sweat moves down my chest, armpits, groin, and feet will be soaked.  I also suffer with facial and chest blushing, looks like I have been out in the sun all day!

The things we face daily, it can cripple our EMOTIONS, SELF CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM,  regardless if your a Male or Female.
After the fight of my morning sweat I then take a cooler shower.  This sets my body into spastic mode and I sweat for about another 30-45+ minutes.  I have to cool myself down even before I think of makeup and hair.  I also take a fan into the bathroom with me just to keep me cooler while applying makeup.   Do you find that shampoos, body washes, creams, lotions make you sweat more too?

Being a WOMAN can be a night mare living with HH, as I said it takes me 45+ minutes to cool down before applying any facial creams or makeup.  When I am applying cream, this will also set me off and my face will start sweating!  Makes applying makeup impossible!

I found a solution to this, my good friend at Klima sent me his new product, www.klimadeodorant.com  The product is called Facade and you apply it once a day for the first week,  (follow instructions there after) and let it dry and after about 2 weeks I started to notice a reduction in my under eye sweating, nose and lip!  Making applying daily makeup easier.

Another thing I noticed was how this product was making my skin feel so smooth and silky.  I also noticed it was helping me with my mild acne and open pores.  Then after a few weeks I  noticed I had less visible wrinkles

This product is wonderful and recommend it to anyone who has facial sweating.  It is aluminum free and very gentle on your face, not like the abrasive prescription products that burn and irritate  your skin.  I have not applied this product to my forehead yet as I had Facial and cranial Botox last June, once it wears off I will be using it.

Also I am excited for my Daughter who has been using  Klima Facade on her face, remember it is Aluminum Free so no chemicals being used on someone so young, (13)   She noticed after 1 week it was reducing her sweat and after 3 weeks her facial sweating had been reduced by 70%  Another advantage to this great product was it cleared up her acne.  She was so happy one day and lifted her bangs up and said, “Look, my Zits are going!”  I was so happy and said it was probably the Facade that dried them up.

So now I have my makeup on and styling my hair.  I then proceed into my wardrobe and stare at my CLOTHING, what to wear?   I have to think of what the HUMIDITY and HEAT are  going to be?

On a normal day it is HOT here regardless.!  Most of my wardrobe consists of black and patterned clothing.  It hides a multitude of sins, SWEATING being one of them.  I longed to wear colours instead of patterns or dark or black as my AUXILIARY (armpit sweating) was just so bad.  I would leave small plate size rings around my armpits, showing through my CLOTHING and EMBARRASSING me, I also left SALT  lines on my darker clothing and shoes.

I have been trying klima products for this too and have seen remarkable results!  I have been using Hyper Dri another Aluminum Free product in the evening and Bone Dri in the day to keep me sweat free and smelling clean.  I used these a few weeks before I went to the UK and while I was in the UK and I did not have an embarrassing problem with sweat marks or salt marks.

I also used their sure foot spray  as I tend to ruin shoes, flip flops and slippers on a regular basics, also I tend to have smelly feet from the bacteria.  This spray worked really well and you can shower and not have to worry about reapplying it.  It did make my feet dry at first but with a good moisturizer you can avoid this.  I am able to wear flip flops and not have to worry about ruining them or the smelly bacteria.

After choosing an outfit to wear and finally cooling down I will work on VSB or go out with girl friends and family.  I tend to avoid being out in the heat any time I can.  I go from an AC van to an AC store.

How we miss the little things in life living with this.  I’d love to go for a walk, picnic but can’t in this constant heat.  I long for the few weeks of winter here in South Texas.  I feel normal for a while and can enjoy the outdoors.

Once kids are home I then cook dinner, this alone makes me sweaty!  I tend to bring one of my fans and have that blowing on me.  I have to fight for this with my brown poodle, Yogi who suffers too   Who said pets don’t suffer, he takes over the fan and ears are flapping.

I find that after eating within minutes I start sweating again, this is caused by GUSTATORY sweating, spices, heat, foods that you digest.

Are we really ever FREE from SWEATING?  If you look at your every day life?  I know I’m not.

How do we balance life and find happiness living with HYPERHIDROSIS?

We can help you find BALANCE, HAPPINESS, SUPPORT and FRIENDSHIP, right here at VSB, our members make it happen.  We are an independent, non-profit organization.  All of us are volunteers and all suffer from Hyperhidrosis.

All these products I have spoken about you can find these products at www.klimadeodorant.com   They offer a free consultation to helping YOU find the right product for YOUR Hyperhidrosis.

So maybe we can find balance and happiness.

Hope to see you in the forum.

hugs and sweat happens, try not to let it take over you life.

“Anne

www.verysweatybetty.com