SweatSolutions.org: 2 Paths to Treament, 2 Men Talk About Living with Hyperhidrosis

July/August 2010 Edition Table of Contents:

» Our Hyperhidrosis Medical Education Creates Champions

» Considering ETS for Excessive Sweating? Proceed with Caution!

» Sponsorships and the IHHS: When It's a Perfect Match

» 2 Paths to Treament, 2 Men Talk About Living with Hyperhidrosis

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2 Paths to Treament, 2 Men Talk About Living with Hyperhidrosis

Living with excessive sweating affects each person differently; but there are qualities of the condition that are shared universally by all hyperhidrosis sufferers. In whatever country and in whatever native tongue, millions of hyperhidrosis sufferers around the world would characterize their day-to-day lives as severely restrained by logistical, social, professional, and intimate inhibitions because of their excessive sweating.

To expand on some of these commonalities, we asked two men to share their journeys from struggling-with to managing their excessive sweating. Their stories are different, but you'll notice the common themes�

Andre's hyperhidrosis symptoms began when he was in his early 20s. By the time he was 31 years old, he had endured many years of planning for and around his excessive underarm sweating. Andre never left the house without taking a minimum of three shirts with him. He elaborates: "It affected virtually every part of my life; it was a constant weight around my neck, the way it held me down and prevented me from doing important things and even little everyday things."

"I felt like I was going into battle every day. I'd have to plan everything to accommodate my sweating. From 8:30 in the morning until bedtime, I was sweating. I tried every kind of deodorant and antiperspirant out there, nothing came close to helping me stop it. I was becoming resigned to it, and carried around a duffle bag with a several changes of clothes wherever I went."

Andre's social and professional life was severely constrained by his hyperhidrosis,
but he says he was "fortunate to have a wife who loves me for me, despite the sweating." One evening, while attending a family get-together with his wife's family, his life with hyperhidrosis took a serendipitous turn�It so happened that IHHS's Executive Director, Lisa Pieretti, a member of his wife's extended family, was also at this gathering.

"Andre quietly approached me and asked if we could have a quick word in private. He said he knew that I was involved with an organization that worked with people who had excessive sweating. Then he told me that he had been suffering for years with underarm hyperhidrosis."

Pieretti beams when she recounts Andre's request for help. "When an opportunity to help someone I know and care about comes along, it is absolutely one of the best parts of my job. So, of course, when Andre approached me, I acted on it immediately. I got in touch with a local dermatologist who is a compassionate and skilled expert in treating hyperhidrosis -- Dr. Anthony Benedetto. During his office visit, Andre and Dr. Benedetto decided that Botox injections would be a good management option for him. Within a couple of weeks, the excessive sweating that had formerly dominated his life had recessed into a manageable condition."

"I did have some minor concerns about the injections," he says, "but when it was all said and done, the couple dozen injections in each armpit were so worth it; any worry was dwarfed by my results; I'd never think twice about doing it again. I can't emphasize it enough: Botox injections changed my life. They saved me."

Bob, who lives in Atlanta, began experiencing excessive cranial/facial sweating in his mid 40s. For him, hyperhidrosis was a major professional liability. "I am a gourmet food salesman, and when I call on customers and have them taste new and exciting products, I was usually dripping sweat from my head and facial area. He likens the experience to "being a waiter in a restaurant who comes over to show and describe the beautiful mouth-watering dessert tray all the while, sweat is dripping from his head. People would be turned off by that and would, of course, choose to pass on the desserts!'

"In my personal life, I just restricted my activity to places that were cool. That is hard to do when you live in a hot climate like Georgia. When going to a restaurant, the hostess would ask if I preferred the smoking or non-smoking section; I would say 'put me at the table where people complain that it's too cold, or put me under a ceiling fan.' I always avoid hot, humid events, no matter what time of year it is."

Bob began to get his life back three years ago when he volunteered to be a patient at one of the IHHS's renowned professional training seminars. "This was a life-changing event for several reasons: First, finding an expert who is qualified and has been trained in administering Botox treatment for excessive cranial/facial sweating is very difficult. Second, I have been unsuccessful in trying to get my insurance to cover the cost of Botox injections, since I couldn't afford it on my own. Third, this opportunity not only allowed me to receive the life-altering Botox treatment, it allowed me to regain control of my professional life." Like Andre, Bob feels that the slight to modest discomfort experienced during treatment is completely worth the trade off of six to nine months of being free of excessive sweating.

Treating cranial/facial sweating requires a skilled and specially trained professional, so it was fortunate that Bob was able to volunteer for this special training event and receive treatment under the direction of some of the top specialists in the field. One of the most important aspects of hyperhidrosis treatment is that it works best when performed by a physician who has received special training and who has experience with the procedure. The IHHS's Physician Finder directory of medical professionals who treat hyperhidrosis can help start the ball rolling. Remember: those with a gold star by their names have received specialized training in treating excessive sweating from the IHHS.

Each of these stories shows the oppressive power that hyperhidrosis can have on a life. But they also illuminate the power of getting good treatment. Be it through a serendipitous meeting with a compassionate friend, or through a straight-forward fact-finding mission on the Web, taking the steps toward treating your hyperhidrosis can mean finally being free of the constant burden, free to be yourself.