My Life with Hyperhidrosis

Trilby Beresford Blocked Unblock Follow Following Jan 13, 2016

I was in primary school in Australia when I got the diagnosis, and I remember feeling relieved that there was a medical term for the excessive sweat that dripped from my hands and feet almost all day long, even in the dead of winter. But I was also furious, because I didn’t want to suffer from hyperhidrosis, a condition which affects 3% of the population.

As my hands were sweaty, I refused to touch anything and did little to help myself. I walked around with sopping wet shoes and socks, and got awful fungal infections. When touching things became inevitable and the sweating on my hands particularly hard to negotiate, it was suggested that I receive Botox for temporary relief. Hundreds of injections pierced my hands and feet while I hummed Chumbawamba songs, but the treatment did little for me. Afterward, I tried an electric current therapy called iontophoresis. Every day I sat with my hands and feet in this spongy machine which would hopefully dull the nerves. It’s proved helpful for some, though not for me (I did get to play Nintendo after each session though, so I considered it a win -win).

Toward the end of high school, I finally had an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. It severed the sweat glands in my hands, and changed everything. Even though I have compensatory sweating in my underarms, the result meant that I could shake hands with new friends and play guitar in music class! And as thrilled as I was with the sweat disappearing, I learned a valuable lesson. I was encouraged by my doctor to embrace hyperhidrosis, as I’d continue to deal with this for the rest of my life. “Might as well make hyperhidrosis your best friend,” my doctor said.

So, I did the research and learned simple tips for charging forward with confidence. If I’m wearing closed shoes, I change them multiple times a day. Similarly, my t-shirts if necessary. And recently, I was encouraged by my girlfriend to buy my first pair of flip-flops. I had never done this before for fear of people noticing my unusual sweating. Now I slip and slide in my new favorite footwear, but the sweat dries instantly and I rarely get infections.

It’s almost eleven years since my surgery, and I’ve never met anyone else with hyperhidrosis. But if you’re reading this and you do sweat like crazy, know that everybody has something. Hyperhidrosis is, at the very least, a manageable condition. For instance, when I’m going out and about, I know that I need to pack that little grab bag with strong antiperspirant and extra clothes. When all else fails and I’m having a seriously unwelcome attack of the sweats and it’s making me anxious (which makes me sweat more), I laugh it off with my friends.

Of course, those moments of frustration remain. Sometimes I forget to pack my bag and I pay the price. But no matter the circumstance, I try to give hyperhidrosis the respect it deserves. One of my hobbies is coming up with new ideas to feel more comfortable in every day life, and I enjoy working on this enormous project with my girlfriend, and my on/off best friend: Hyperhidrosis.

International Hyperhidrosis Society is a fantastic resource for hyperhidrosis. You can learn more about how to manage the condition, what treatments are available, hear other stories, and more. I frequently use this site when I’m feeling like I’m the only person in the world who has hyperhidrosis, and it bounces me back to reality — there are others, living well and learning more tips every day.

Do you have hyperhidrosis? Feel free to reach out below!

Featured image courtesy of Trilby Beresford