No Sweat

Teenage Girl Regains Confidence Goes to Eigth Grade Dance

RENO, NV (PRWEB) November 15, 2003

Ms. Keckly has hyperhidosis, excessive sweating of the hands, feet, underarms and face. She is part of the 7.8 million Americans affected by hyperhidrosis.

"I felt like a freak," Keckly said. "The last time I tried to dance with a boy, I left a wet mark on his back where my hand was."

For twelve years, Keckly and her parents, did not realize she had a problem even though her hands were sweating excessively. Pediatricans and dermatologists told them that Ms. Keckly held her hands in odd postions that caused her to sweat and gave her cortisone creams for her hands.

Teachers told the Ms. Keckly that she was disorganized. Her school papers were always smudged by the sweat dripping from her hands.

Frustrated, Mrs. Keckly finally received a diagnosis from a nurse practioner. Now they began a search for a cure.

Hyperhidrosis is an hereditary condition caused by an overactive sympathectic nerve. It is associated with facial blushing, Raynauld's Syndrome (excessive cold hands) and Reflex Sympathectic Dysotrphy, pain of the hands and arms.

A serach on the Internet gave the Keckly's options such as Botox injections into the hand, a topical anti-perspirant and Dr. David Nielson, a cardio thoracic surgeon based in San Antonio.

Dr. Nielson performs the Micro Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy. The Micro ETS procedure is the least invasive surgery for people suffering from hyperhidrosis. The procedure has a quick recovery time and a 99 percent success rate for patients with hyperhidrosis.

Using microscopic tools, Dr. Nielson makes an incision 1/12th of an inch under each arm of the patient. He inserts a fiber optic camera and micro surgical instruments and locates the sympathectic nerve. He severs it to instantly improve the excessive sweating.

The procedure takes 30 minutes and the patient is able to leave two to four hours after the surgery.

Ms. Keckly made the decision to travel to San Antonio for the surgery.

"I couldn't see myself getting 30 to 40 shots in my hands," Ms. Keckly said. "Another surgeon we talked to collasped the lung and that sounded scary."

For Ms. Keckly and her parents, the surgery ended twelve years of suffering.

While in San Antonio, Ms. Keckly purchased a formal dress for her eigth grade dance.

"I kept asking my parents to feel my hands," Ms. Keckly said. "I have a new confidence."

For more information, please visit our website at www.etsus.com or call 1-877-VERY DRY.