Need Advice for Hyperhidrosis Sufferer

I'm looking for advice from knowledgeable individuals regarding an issue I've struggled with for years.

I was born with a rare nerve condition called Hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis causes locations across the body (varying from person to person) to sweat frequently and profusely. I was born with the condition affecting my hands and underarms and experienced perspiration at both locations almost constantly. My hands sweat so profusely and frequently that in high school I occasionally had to wear gloves while doing school work to prevent saturating the paper.

I tried just about everything to rectify the problem including wearing antiperspirant on my hands and sleeping with my hands coated in Drysol to dehydrate the sweat glands. Nothing worked so I eventually turned to a neurologist who turned me on to the possibility of Endothoracic Sympathectomy (ETS). At the time ETS surgery was a new procedure and not well studied but I was desperate and agreed.

The procedure was a success and it is now impossible for me to sweat from my shoulder down on either arm as well as part of my head. However I was not well informed of the risks inherent with such a radical surgery and I now suffer from a new set of equally debilitating side effects.

To compensate for the lack of ability to sweat down either arm my external body temperature permanently raised a few degrees and the trunk of my body now exhibits what is known as compensatory sweating. Compensatory sweating manifests through sensitivity to heat causing me to sweat profusely on my back and chest and to a lesser degree on my legs upon the mere notion of feeling hot.

To put this in perspective if I walk down my driveway to get the mail and come back inside in the middle of summer (a less than five minute trip in around 80-90 degree weather) my back will usually have begun to sweat through my shirt.

My problem is that I'm constantly battling trying to stay cool and to keep my sweating from being noticeable. Even a moderate amount of effort risks causing me to sweat enough to cause large wet spots to become visible in the center of both my back and chest. What I would like from the Style Forum community are some suggestions as to how I can attempt to wear more fashionable clothing without constantly having to live in fear of my condition drawing unwanted attention.

I currently go everywhere in denim jeans or black slacks (because they rarely show moisture) and a black UnderArmor compression t-shirt (for breathability and water wicking) and a thick, dark colored shirt to absorb most of the excess sweat and slow the onset of the water spots showing up on my shirts. I'd really like to begin dressing more fashionably, though, and I could use some pointers.

Is there anything else you can suggest I do or wear to try to better control my severe sweating or to make it less noticeable so that I can begin wearing the clothes that I want?

Unfortunately the sympathectomy cannot be reversed. ETS surgery involves making small incisions under the arms and using an endoscope to find and remove the sympathetic ganglia on either side of the spine. Without those nerve ganglia the sympathetic nerve system cannot relay signals down either of your arms which eliminates your body's ability to send the message to the sweat glands to sweat.

So, unfortunately, with those ganglia removed there's currently no medical way to rewire that portion of the nervous system.

I had mine done in 2002. The physicians I spoke to referred to it as a bilateral sympathectomy at the time but I've since heard most people calling it an ETS on forums and support group sites dealing with the condition.

I was initially very wary of the procedure. I didn't want to undergo surgery unless it was absolutely necessary to deal with the problem but the only other option we hadn't tried was Botox injections and the doctors made Botox sound very costly and dangerous. The only warnings they gave me regarding the ETS were the usual presurgery warnings (Some people don't deal well with anesthetic, in rare cases people die during surgery, etc.). They made it sound very safe and said that most people don't experience any side effects at all.

Honestly, I think that's the reason a lot of other ETS patients are currently angry about the results of their procedures. A lot of them were given false promises that didn't ring true later down the line. I, personally, don't blame the physicians. I just happen to be one of the rare cases that developed a severe side effect from the procedure and its something I've got to cope with. I just haven't found many comfortable wardrobe options over the years.

Some of the other hyperhidrosis sufferers I've spoken to have suggested undershirts from kleinertsshields.com. They advertise highly sweat resistant clothing for people with issues similar to ours but I'd like a third-party opinion from someone who's tried their clothing before I make any purchases.