Comments on: ETS – Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy

By: Kira

Kira — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:01:38 +0000

I am really considering this surgery. I have tried all of the other methods to include Botox which didn’t work. I’m just so confused about this surgery but I’m desperate for some relief. Some people have really good success stories, while others regret their decision. I am 27 years old and sweat has affected me for as long as I can remember. I’ve even switched church’s because I was too embarrassed every time the pastor would ask everyone to join hands. I now go to a church that I really don’t enjoy but at least I don’t have to worry about people feeling nasty after holding my sweaty hands. my feet sweat all day every day regardless of temperature. I can’t wear any cute shoes or sandals because my feet swell up and slide to the front of my shoes due to the extreme moisture. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:53:06 +0000

I had the ETS surgery when I was in high-school about 8 or 9 years ago. I have suffered from Hyperhidrosis my whole life, mainly the worst in my hands, feet, and underarms. The surgery was successful in my hands but my feet are way worse, sweat profusely, and are actually hot and red to the touch and swollen most of the time.

My hands have just started turning red, getting extremely hot to the touch, and swell. I have a feeling this is a side effect of the surgery. I have problems regulating body temperature, I am hot all the time, and I have had problems with asthma, allergies, and swelling of my hands and feet since the surgery.

I have the compensatory and gustatory sweating. Gustatory sweating is sweating when you eat food. I sweat when I eat anything, even when I drink beverages such as juice, alcohol, wine, or anything fruity. I even sweat when I eat candy. It is very annoying but I would never go back to sweaty hands. I just hope the sweating in my hands never return because if it does, I will regret the surgery.

As of right now I wouldn’t change anything but the side effects are life effecting and life changing. I am currently on anxiety meds because of anxiety and depression, and I have other complications in my feet and hands that I deal with. I am never cold, and my hands and feet never seem to be normal when it comes to temperatures. AND TO YOUR COMMENT, GABBY, THIS IS A NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDER, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU GOT YOUR INFO FROM BUT I HAVE UNDERGONE THE ETS SURGERY, AND HAVE HAD NERVOUS SYSTEM ISSUES EVER SINCE. UNTIL YOU EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND THE EFFECTS OF HYPERHIDROSIS, AND HOW MISERABLE IT CAN BE, YOU CANT DETERMINE THAT THIS IS MAINLY JUST HORMONAL BECAUSE IF IT WAS, THEN I WOULDN’T BE SWEATING PROFUSELY IN -12 DEGREE WEATHER IN THE WINTER HERE IN MINNESOTA, AND WHEN I AM DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. ALSO, HOW IS THIS HORMONAL WHEN I HAVE HAD HYPERHIDROSIS SINCE BIRTH? OBVIOUSLY MY HORMONES WERE NOT FULLY DEVELOPED WHEN I WAS A TODDLER.

I remember not being able to button up my coat, or even sign a piece of paper when I was younger because of the sweat pouring off my hands….I just needed to get that out there because I took great offense to your comment. From a hyperhidrosis and ETS surgery sufferer to the next, I know how you feel, and you are not alone. I will keep you posted.

Thanks for reading.

By: Ali

Ali — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:34:57 +0000

Hi everyone,

I’m facing a problem with a facial blushing, my face and my ear getting red and the temperature increase until sweating like someone run for 10 miles. omg it’s horrible and make me nervous when i talk to a stranger or when talking in public.

I’m 29, and I’m facing this issue since i was 27. After reading all these comments and side effects I’m afraid to do the ETS. Thank you everybody for your comments and advices. and I’m going to try some medicines you mentioned .

By: Haylee

Haylee — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:41:27 +0000

So i have sweating very badly in my hands, and not as bad in my feet and armpits, but still there. I am 15 and I am seriously considering the surgery because i am very self conscious about my sweating. I cant shake peoples hands, high-five, or hold hands on dates. Idk what else to do. I am going to try Maxim, but if that doesn’t work should i get the surgery or are the side affects THAT bad?? My sweating doesn’t occur in high pressure public situations or anything, it happens anywhere even at home, it could be snowing and they would still be clammy. I am actually very confident besides the sweating so its nothing like that. is there anyone that got it that has the sweating randomly with NO cause like me? Because I’m thinking the CS will be less if its just random sweating like me?? Anyone with the same experience that can help me? Even my friends will touch my hands and be like eww thats gross when they know i have it. Idk what else to do its embarrassing and its the only thing bringing my confidence levels down.

By: Catharine Kulk

Catharine Kulk — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:43:38 +0000

I had my symphatectomy done 48 years ago. I was 16 years old.
It was not done because of excess sweating but poor blood circulation.
Nobody ever told me about the side effects, the terrible sweating all over the body except the neck and face.
I really don’t think I needed it, but the doctor probably liked to try this then, new surgery, out for selfish reason.
It was done in Holland at the time, now I live in Australia.

Another side effect with for me was a constant blocked nose, I had to use nose drops since the surgery, and I still do, probably until I die.

I have the same problem as everybody else, problems with closes, try to wear no colors because of the whet pages everywhere.
I’m lucky it never smells, exercise in the heat is hopeless but necessary , it takes a long time to recover because of the excess sweating.

At least it feels good to know that I’m not the only one who is suffering from this medical mistake, they should ban it everywhere in the world.

In the mean time we live on, and try to enjoy my live for what it is, but as soon as I will hear of a cure I will be the first to have it done, as long as they tell me what can go wrong, I know now what I have, but not what I will get.

By: john doe

john doe — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:34:43 +0000

does it affect physical activity? like because of the surgery is it harder to run?

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:22:36 +0000

I wrote on this forum a little while back in August and found some things to help reduce compensatory sweating and foot sweating that i really want to share. I think i got the ideas off of this cite. There is a roll on salt based deoderant called Maxim which i put on before i got to bed at night about twice a week now. At first you will have to apply more often. I learned of it from this website and it has been a godsend. Since it is not alcohal based it does not irritate your skin as much. It only itches sometimes and just for a little time after you apply it at night. It has greatly reduced my torso sweats. Just dont give up and give it a little time to work. Just google it and the website comes up. It is not too expensive either. Also there is a foot spray called Klima which i have tried and it has reduced my foot sweating a little but not dramatically.
I hope you try them and dont give up! It took me a LONG time to find something to work after many failed attempts. I also stopped acupuncture treatment because it was kind of expensive and it was not really working for me. Thanks, and Good Luck!

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:04:10 +0000

You didn’t mention the side effects Honor, they are usually so bad that you are left worse off than not having the surgery, or simply moving the problem from one area of the body (like the hands) to another, the buttock for example. If you review the internet for ETS success rates, you’ll find it’s horrible along with a ton of complaints. ETS HAS SEVERE RISKS AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE!

By: Honor

Honor — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:37:02 +0000

Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS) changed my life. I profusely sweated from my earliest childhood memory until I had the surgery at 45 yrs. It was like being cured of a life of leprosy. Ten years later I am still amazed I can take someone’s hand and not slime them, I don’t have to worry about slipping when I walk in bare feet, paper does not wilt in my hand, and the car steering wheel does not slip away from me on hot days. ETS has allowed me to normal, and that is phenomenal!

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:39:31 +0000

H.H. – I just read your message and have a few comments:

1. I don’t believe doctors even offer ETS for generalized hyperhidrosis. Everything I’ve read says it has to be a primary place (hands, feet, armpits or blushing).

2. The surgery is ABSOLUTELY NOT REVERSIBLE. This applies to both the cutting method and the clamping method. If it were reversible, don’t you think all these people posting the awful stories would just reverse it…

You mentioned where would the sweating go and it would be better than talking to someone at a social event and dripping with sweat. believe me, with the ETS you will be dripping with sweat even before you arrive to the social event. And because you mentioned social event, maybe it’s some type of social anxiety causing you to sweat. Maybe that’s something you could look into. Anti anxiety medications might be a place to start?

I’ve read a lot of stories on sites that have spent more than 7 years discussing/researching reversals and the possibilities there, and nothing has really come out of it.

I really hope you find something that helps, but the surgery isn’t your answer.