"Sweaty-Hand Girl" Finds Relief from Excessive Sweating Disorder

Nine-Year-Old Austin Girl suffered from Hyperhidrosis from birth. More and more young people are being diagnosed with the excessive sweating disorder. These young people are choosing surgery over Botox injections.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) February 14, 2004

Sweaty-hand girl was Heather Chody’s nickname in school.

The shy nine-year-old girl had hands that would instantly sweat in any conditions. Her schoolmates refused to hold her hands and called her names. Her school papers were ragged and torn due to the wetness from her hands. Heather self-esteem was deteriorating.

Heather suffered from hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating of the hands, face, feet and underarm area. Hyperhidrosis affects over 7.8 million Americans. Caused by an overactive sympathetic nerve, hyperhidrosis is now being recognized as a chronic medical condition affecting work, school and social interaction with the public.

"We could definitely see Heather’s self confidence was waning," said Robert Chody, Heather’s father and also a hyperhidrosis sufferer. "Once we determined there was a problem we started looking for help."

The Chody’s researched different treatment options through the Internet. Botox injections, Iontophoresis, (water shock therapy), and surgery were included in the options. The Botox treatment includes multiple injections directly into the hands to freeze the sweat glands providing temporary relief for up to a year. Cost for the Botox treatment is approximately $1,000.

"I couldn’t see Heather receiving shots into her hands and then having to do it all over again in a year," said Mr. Chody. "Her mother and I decided that surgery was the best option and since I have had facial sweating for years, I decided to have the surgery as well."

The Chody's traveled to San Antonio Texas to see Dr. David Nielson, a board certified cardio-thoracic and endoscopic thoracic surgeon. Dr. Nielson has treated hyperhidrosis for years with a minimally invasive surgery he created, the Micro Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy. Through advance technology and research, Nielson revolutionized endoscopic sympathectomy to create the Micro ETS procedure, the least invasive surgical treatment for hyperhidrosis. The Micro ETS procedure has a 99 percent improvement rate for palmar hyperhidrosis (hands) and almost equally as high for facial sweating and underarm sweating.

Using micro-instruments, Dr. Nielson makes a single incision, one-twelfth on an inch per side, under each arm. Nielson inserts a 2-mm scope, camera and micro scissors into the incision. Nielson compares the size of his instruments to angel hair pasta. Once the sympathetic nerve is identified, he severs it, which instantly improves the excessive sweating. The procedure takes 30 minutes. The patient is able to leave two to four hours after the surgery. Most health insurance covers the procedure and the results are usually permanent.

"Surgery is always a last resort," said Dr. Nielson. "But as technology has allowed, I have been able to take this surgery from a 5 mm incision, or even larger, to a very small 1/12 of an inch incision. The recovery time is less, there is virtually no trauma to surrounding tissues. Patients can resume normal activities within days."

"I can recount hundreds of stories of patients from teens wanting to go to the high school prom to adults changing careers because the anxiety of their hands or face sweating was too great, said Dr. Nielson. It is most gratifying to see patients in post-op rubbing their hands because they are dry and warm."

Fourteen-year-old Margaret Keckly, from Truckee, California, elected to fly to San Antonio, to undergo surgery for her hyperhidrosis of the hands.

"I have had sweaty hands for as long as I can remember," said Ms. Keckly. "I did not want to get shots in my hands and then go through it again in six months."

"After the surgery, I kept asking my mom if she wanted to feel my hands. They were dry," said Ms. Keckly.

For more information on hyperhidrosis, go to http://www.etsus.com or call 1-877-VERYDRY.