I'll be going through the surgical treatment - Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathetomy, for my sweaty palms next Wednesday at SGH. I've to admit i'm feeling excited yet so unprepared for the surgery.
I've been suffering from sweaty palms for as long as i can remember. My hands are wet and clammy 80% of the time, the exact feeling of not swiping your hands dry after you washed 'em. Since young, this physical condition somewhat makes me thinks that i'm different from the rest and deep down, i'm always a little more inferior than the rest. People thought i'm cool about it, i thought i could just live with it forever too. Friends joke about it when my fork and spoon are soaking wet during meal times, friends were reluctant to share badminton rackets with me back in school days, people are unwilling to pair up with me during ice-breaking games...... & things like how the sides of my documents are always full of thumbprints after holding them and the money i gave to the hawkers are always wet. This inferiority wasn't made known to people around me, not even my parents. It didn't hit me so hard until the recent year or so; with the increasing amount of sweat (not only my palms, but feet and forehead as well). I turned cranky and snapped at almost everything and anything every time i sweat non-stop. It was then i realised how much it has affected my mood and daily life and how it will continue to affect me if i were to just live with it. A life-changing decision has to be made and this was why i decided to take up the surgery.
During the surgery, the surgeon will cut 1-3 incisions through both sides of my underarm region. The endoscope is inserted and my lung will collasped. A short section of the sympathetic nervous system will be exposed and burnt/cut. A chest tube will be inserted through my underarm to ensure that air in the thoracic cavity is removed and my lung will be able to expand fully again before removing the tubes and closing my skin incisions with stitches.
My parents ain't really supportive of this surgery because of the possible complications and side effects:
1. Severe bleeding in chest after the surgery
2. Air-leak from the lungs
3. Horner's Syndrome: drooping eyelids and smaller pupil
4. Small risk that nerves can regrow!!!!
5. Side effect: compensatory sweating whereby my palms stop sweating but other areas such as chest, back or trunk sweats instead.
Seems like in most cases, compensatory sweating occurs must commonly among patients. I'm not sure if i'm ready to accept any of the complications/side effects. I wish with all my heart and might that this surgery will completely eliminate my sweaty palms.
"You, without sweaty palms will not be you again. Till then, you will be a brand new you."
"You, without sweaty palms will not be you again. Till then, you will be a brand new you."
Babe, you don't have to go thru surgical to not have sweaty palms. My aunty used to have very bad sweaty palms like you. It's even dripping. She went to chinese medical and she recover quite a lot after that. You might wanna re-consider about it!
ReplyDeletehey.. even am suffering from the similar problem. Can you plz let me know the what are those chinese medicines.. Thanks.
DeleteHi thanks for the advice! Mine drips too! I tried TCM for a period of time when i was younger but it didn't work. I guess surgical treatment is the only way out for me now.
ReplyDeleteHi, I totally ustd how you feel, cus mine too. everytime when i do hmwk, my paper would be abit wet. I'm always affected by what people says abt it too! Mind telling me how much is the surgery? Will it be painful? Anw, still i wish you all the best for the surgery :) God bless.
ReplyDeleteHey, my bf did the same surgery before. And it didn't completely solve his problem, because he perspires excessively at all other areas now (back, feet, neck, forehead). Plus, his palms are still sweating (maybe not as much as before), but still quite alot. I feel that there really isnt much diff whether doing the surgery or not, but I guess you know best! In any case, wish you all the best if you really do the surgery!
ReplyDeleteExactly! I'll never forget how wet all my olevels' scripts were because my school hall wasn't air-conditioned x the stress and nervousness.
ReplyDeleteThe estimated bill now is about 2K after subsidies, inclusive of the surgery cost and stay. To be honest, i don't know how pain it'd be but the doc warned me about the excessive vomiting and dizziness aftermath. I will do an update again after the surgery hopefully! And thank you for your kind words.
Oh man an instant surge of negativity after reading your cmnt. My hope meter crashes down to zero hahaha. Somehow i feel that i won't get 100% cured too because i know that my condition is way too bad. But i got to be hopeful still (even if it just helps to reduce by 50%, i'll be more than happy!) :D
ReplyDeleteHi :) hope the surgery will be a successful one!! Be brave <3
ReplyDeletehehehe
You should come by my godfather's shop, he's a TCM, but definitely, i'm not here just trying to promote him but it really helped my aunt's problem. But to say first, it's not a one - two time kind of treatment that will cure it, but it's gonna take quite awhile. But if you're still going for the surgical, then i hope that all is fine and well for you after the surgical. <3
ReplyDeleteYou are so brave, i hope all goes well for you huijuan!!
ReplyDeleteLots of love, x
Omg babe, i know exactly how you feel. Hope your surgery will be a successful one and blog about it to share with me! would like to go for the surgery too but i'm too afraid of the side effects.
ReplyDeleteHi! Can you share the address of the TCM? My big brother has sweaty palms too, not as serious as mine thou!
ReplyDeleteAwww thank you for your well wishes ruby! I might just run away at the very last min hahaha.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all & only the best for the surgery HJ. To dry palms! :)
ReplyDeleteYea bell, to dry palmsssss! *keep my fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteluck babe!!!! i have sweaty palms too! and im thrilled to know that you WILL BE cured soon<3<3<3 if you arent, go get your $$$ back hahaha
ReplyDeletewishing you all the best for the surgery! =) stay strong & stay positive!!
ReplyDeletehow was your surgery?
ReplyDeletehow was your surgery?
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late response! The surgery was a success, never better i swear!
ReplyDeleteHi, I have the same problem as yours and would do a consultation next week in Raffles Hospital. Could you tell me more abou your life after surgery? How much it cost and does it have any side effects? Where did you done yours?
DeleteLife is awesome after the surgery (extremely cheesy)!!! I did mine in SGH and it was slightly less than 2K in total. I do experienced the side effect of compensatory sweating as i perspire alil more on my back and thigh areas but i'm cool about it. Nothing beats having sweating palms.
DeleteHi Juan, great to hear that your surgery was a success. Would you mind sharing who your doctor was at SGH? I am currently considering doing the same surgery as well. Thanks in advance!
DeleteHi Juan, great to hear that the surgery was a success! Would you mind sharing the name of your doctor at SGH? I am currently considering the same surgery as well, as I can no longer take the continuous sweating, and inconvenience that it is causing. thanks in advance!
DeleteHi Derf, thank you! I'm not sure of surgeon's name! But there's only 1-2 surgeons handling such operation if i am not wrong and i believe they are all equally qualified.
DeleteHi Juan, you went to SGH directly or you got referral from polyclinic? The doctor will explain more regarding the complications ?
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of luck using Drysol (prescription strength antiperspirant). Although, I have to admit, it gets to be pretty harsh after a few weeks of use. I recommend to people who are thinking of using Drysol to have a backup antiperspirant (something less intense)
ReplyDeleteWhat worked for me was using Drysol for about two weeks and then switching to Certain Dri to maintain results. That tends to be more feasible for longterm treatment.
Hi! How Are you now? How's the end result? I'm considering to do the surgery too, don't mind to share your surgeon and any other information please? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteFor my case, it was really successful! I can't remember the surgeon's name i'm sorry. I believed all surgeons are equally qualified so not to worry. Do loads of research before making your decision dear, as you will find out it doesn't works for everyone! Lmk if you need more specific information :>
DeleteHi Juan glad to know the surgery went well for you. Thanks for writing and sharing this on your blog as there is not much personal stories out there. I'm comforted to know I am not alone in this.
ReplyDeleteI just went for a couple of consultations with sgh and have decided to go ahead with the surgery. (more or less I guess I keep wavering feeling scared of the risks at the same time) I was told today that there will be about 2cm scar at the incision site and possibly more feet sweating due to compensatory sweating. I have sweaty feet problem already and it bugs me of this will get worse...
Wondering if your scars healed well? Doc said that it will be hidden though. Did you have normal stitches or the ones that dissolve?
Hope you can help give some advice as I'm feeling very lost now :(
Cherie
Hi Cherie, sorry for the late respond as i'm no longer that active on blogger.
DeleteI used normal stitches and went back to sgh to remove the stitches 1-2 weeks after the surgery. The scar is almost non-existent now, so you don't have to worry to much about this point!
As for sweaty feet, i do already have sweaty feet problem as well and the condition seems to be the same after the surgery as well. I wasn't hoping for my feet to get cured in the first place(i can't be too greedy haha), so i don't find this a problem. I'm just glad my palms are perfectly dry now!
Thanks so much for your reply! I really appreciate it :))
DeleteDo you also know which level of the sympathetic chain was cut? Is it t2 or t3?
Oh dear, i've no idea! I don't know about this at all heh.
DeleteHey Huijuan, Hope you are doing alright and so far so good for ya. Can i just ask whether is there any other problem other than ur back and thigh areas are sweating due to the compensatory sweating. From articles online, it said that compensatory sweating happens only to 2% of the patients and is quite unlikely to get it. But then, contradicting to those articles, personal reviews had been made that people still get that compensatory sweating.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, my thoughts of getting my sweaty palm cure is very contradicting. to do or not to do. any 2 cents of your thoughts?
Hi Jason sorry for the late respond!
DeleteActually i'm not too sure for my case if it's really compensatory sweating because now (more than a year after the surgery) i feel like i'm just perspiring as per normal. It might either be a transition period back then or i've gotten used to it. So i can't really advise on this.
I understand your dilemma but i got to say i'd totally encourage people who are facing sweaty palms to go for the surgery. I'm real lucky that my palms are sweat-free now and i cannot imagine if i hadn't take that leap to undergo the surgery!
will your face and head stop sweating after doing the surgery?
DeleteI think there is no definite answer to compensatory sweating and it varies from person to person. It might be psychologically that i felt i perspire alittle more back then after the surgery on my back etc. But it has been almost 2 years since my surgery and now i think i'm perspiring normally! (There isn't an area that perspire more than others now actually)
DeleteDamn, I'm 14 and I already feel like going for the surgery. Is it possible?
ReplyDeleteI think it is possible! But your parents have to be the one to sign the surgery papers for you since you're under 21.
DeleteMy hands n feet sweat too. But i want my hands to dry. I want to go for surgery!! But polyclinic asked to go for Botox. I need to ask NSC how bad if I go for surgery instead of botox.
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteI too have sweaty palms for almost more than two decades. I too decided to live without sweaty palms and go for ETS surgery at SGH. The op was a successful one and I'm resting at home for a week now. It is really life changing for me as my palms are totally dry and warm now. Every new thing takes a while to adjust but it could never be better.. if we want a different routine then we have to take a different action. Do some research and u find plenty..
does your head still sweat after the operation
DeleteDavid: I'm sure undergoing the surgery was the best decision for both of us!!
DeleteHi Juan,
ReplyDeleteMay I know which department of SGH is this surgery under? Did you go straight to SGH to seek a consultation or did you get a referal from the polyclinic? Thanks!
Hello there! Really sorry for the late reply!
DeleteIt's under neurology. And yes, i gt a referral from the polyclinic.
You're welcome.
I just did the surgery 3 weeks ago after chancing upon Juan's experience here. The surgery was a great success!! Im so happy now that I feel like shaking every hands I meet. Just want to drop a note here to thanks Juan and to encourage those out there who are feeling fustrated and devastated due to sweaty palms. Life is so good now!
ReplyDeleteCheers!!
Hooray i'm happy for you!
DeleteCongratulations! ! As for me, i will stick to dirclor for life :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Juan,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that your op was a success.
I suffer from similar problem as u had. I am dying to have my sweaty palm condition treated.
I am really interested to know the cost involved and how did you manage to get the subsidies (if any)?
Looking forward to your reply.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers.
Hello!
DeleteI paid slightly less than 2K in total for the surgery and hospitalisation fee. Fully payable via medisave. If i'm not wrong, subsidies is applicable as long as the case was referred from polyclinic!
Hi Juan :) May I know if the surgery is painful ? If it is not a referred from polyclinic how much will the surgery cost? Thank you !
ReplyDeleteHi Hui Juan (and many others who are facing the same problem), I just want to let you know that although I'm a complete stranger to you, you have made a huge impact on my life. I chanced upon your blog while searching for solutions on hyperhidrosis (esp in Singapore). After reaching your two blog posts, I have decided to go for the surgery as well. I did it two days ago and although I am still recovering from the incisions, I am feeling pretty good now since I'm not sweating at my palms so far! The surgery was a success even though I had too much oxygen in my lungs as a side complication of the procedure. The doc managed to extract some oxygen out. Anyway, just thought I should thank you and all (: To all those who are facing this problem, just do plenty of research and if after serious contemplation you think that this is the solution, have some faith and courage to consult a doctor about it (:
ReplyDeleteHello there!
DeleteI'm glad that my blog posts helped you in some ways or another! Till today, i still think going through the op was the best decision made in my life thus far, especially when the weather in Sg is getting so much more humid nowadays. I cannot imagine if i'm still suffering from sweaty palms under such condition.
I wish you speedy recovery
hi Juan! :) I'm interested in going for this surgery as well but I'm curious as it has been 3years since your surgery so how is life for you now? does you palms still sweat even a little bit and what are the side effect for your case? thank you!
ReplyDelete