Taking The Hyperhidrosis Surgery Option With ETS
Here’s my story of how I got the hyperhidrosis surgery (ETS or “Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy“)
Since I was 10 years old till I was 17 I was constantly uncomfortable and feeling incredibly self conscious because of excessive sweating.
I remember when I was 10 year old I would stuff tissues under my arms and keep them plastered at my side all day, I’d even wear woollen jumpers in the middle of summer even though I was dying of heat.
I remember being on a flight overseas and actually having sweat roll down my arms. This is from being completely motionless in an air conditioned cabin!
My sweat patches are GINORMOUS!
I remember I carried around a bottle of anti perspirant with me everywhere I went and reapplied it at least 8 times a day.
I tried everything, prantel powder (made with excess aluminium), and (honestly, it was this odd contraction with these foam pads over these two metal plates and I’d have to put them under my arms and literally electrocute my armpits!).
Nothing worked for me even remotely! I was so fed up and felt broken.
I used to cry alot when I’d come home from school because I was so physically and emotionally uncomfortable. I was angry that I had to put up with this while also trying to worry about all the other things a teenage girl has to think about.
I couldn’t wear our school uniform because it was a white collared shirt…I was getting around in a polo!
I was so sick of scrubbing my shirts every single night and feeling horrid whenever I had to get around in a wet, disgusting shirt.
Eventually I went to a few Dr’s who weren’t really that concerned. I then went to a specialist who recommended I get an Endoscopic Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy.
It was an operation which involved a tiny incision underneath my armpit (no scar or anything now and required two stitches I think) and they would deflate your lung then cut one of your sympathetic nerves which is responsible for sending signals to your sweat glands.
I had the operation with no complications. To this day I can wear whatever I like, my uniform now is a pale blue shirt!
It elimated any sweat coming from my hands and only minimal amounts coming from my armpits when I’m exercising or it’s exceptionally hot.
I got my life back and will never look back. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
I really think you should look into this if you just cannot find a lasting solution for your hyperhidrosis. It has now been 8 years since the operation and there are no complaints from me.
I wish you all the best!
FROM CHRIS:
Hi Lizzy! Thanks so much for sharing your story. I am happy that you found relief from the excessive sweating and hope that your life continues going great!
-Chris
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Patients should be clearly warned that sympathectomy is not as minor a procedure as usually asserted
Ann Thorac Surg 2001;71:1116-1119
The results of endoscopic sympathectomy deteriorate progressively from the immediate outcome
British Journal of Surgery ISSN 0007-1323
1999, vol. 86, no1, pp. 45-47 (12 ref.)
“sympathectomy induces several biochemical changes in skeletal muscle which constitute a change and increase in fast myosin light chain synthesis and a corresponding fibre type transformation.”
Journal: Clinical physiology (Oxford, England) (Clin Physiol), published in ENGLAND.
Reference: 1988-Apr; vol 8 (issue 2) : pp 181-91
Several reports also demonstrate significantly lower heart rate increases during exercise in subjects who have undergone bilateral ISS [9–12] compared to pre-surgical levels. In spite of this high occurrence, recent reviews on the usual collateral effects of thoracic sympathectomy still do not include these possible cardiac consequences [6].
The aim of the present prospective study was to confirm that a significant impairment of the heart rate to workload relationship was consistently observed following unilateral and/or bilateral surgery.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2001;20:1095-1100