Don't Walk Around Embarrassed for the Rest of Your Life! Do Something About It!!

Well, I moved from Florida to TN about 4 and 1/2 months ago (just after my last treatment) and just like summertime in Florida, TN is just as HOT!! So, I know the move or climate change has nothing to do with me being sweat free. I am happy to say that, even in this heat, I am about 95% SWEAT FREE!!!! The only time I'll sweat is if I'm outside working on my garden for a long period of time and it's 90 degrees out. Even then, the sweat mark is small (about the size of a quarter) and not very noticeable. ***If this is your 1st time reading about my situation, please make sure you read all of my updates, as there are many KEY things you need to know. What to ask, how you should be treated, make sure whoever's performing the procedure is following the correct steps of the procedure, get things they say in writing, etc. Unfortunately, I went to a crappy doctors office and learned the hard way. You don't want to spend all of that money and have a bad experience. However, in the end, I'm glad the procedure worked! I just wish I had gone to another doctor! Good luck to all of you and to your futures with dry pits =)

I suffered from extreme hyperhidrosis for the last 14 years. It started when I was about 17 years old. I worked as a waitress and I couldn't even put food or drinks on a table without this huge wet spot in everyone's face! Completely mortifying!!! It was suggested to me by a friend to put panty liners on the insides of my shirts. Brilliant!! Why didn't I think of that? So, in my everyday routine, I would turn my shirt inside out and stick 2 liners (side by side) in the armpit area of my shirts. For a while it was working (but annoying that I even had to do it in the 1st place). If I wasn't working, I lived in tank tops... but even then the sweat would drip down the backs of my arms, like tears coming out of my eyes. It was horrible. As I got older, the sweating got a little worse, it lasted all day long and sometimes it would soak right through the liners. So, I started to double line the insides of my shirt. That's 8 liners a day!! I thought to myself everyday, someone please find a cure for this!! When I was 25, I tried botox. It's very expensive. Luckily I had a friend that worked in a dermatologists office and she got him to charge me only $525, which was what it cost for them to buy it... but it was still expensive even with the discount. Had I not known her, I would've paid around $2,000. They say it lasts about 6 months. For me, it lasted about 8-9 months, but then came back full force! After another few years, I started considering surgery. Did some research and read that all they do is clamp a nerve shut so that sweat isn't released under the arm, but the sweat glands still remain under the skin alive and active! So, all that means is that you could start sweating in your face or your hands... it just wasn't worth the money to not know.

Around the 3rd week in July, I was listening to the radio in my car and a commercial for The Center For Hyperhidrosis came on and it said, "there's a new and fast NONSURGICAL procedure". I turned it up really loud and grabbed my cell phone. I called immediately. Spoke to someone for about 40 minutes, I probably asked a million questions. The woman I spoke with had it done about 6 weeks before, only her 1st treatment but she said she was already happy. I went home and Googled the procedure, watched a video on YouTube that showed that even 'The Doctors' tv show had it on one of their episodes. I then called my mom to ask her what she thought. Everything was telling me to do it. So, I called them back the next day to find out about payment and they told me they took Care Credit. So, I called Care Credit and applied over the phone and was approved within 5-10 minutes. Called the office back and made the appointment for 4 days later. That specific office only does their treatments on Friday, but I could only get mine done on Tuesday since it was my day off. I'm guessing they heard in my voice how desperate I was because they made an exception!

I had my 1st treatment July 31st. The doctor's office that I went to was Leon Egozi MD. However, a woman that works in his office did my procedure was very nice and explained everything to me 1 step at a time. I never saw him. She measured my axilla (armpit) and then made a graph to go off of. It's very similar to the stencil that's placed onto your skin before getting a tattoo. I needed about 35-45 numbing injections under each arm. That part was quite uncomfortable, but I knew it would be worth it. She set the machine to level 2, 5 being the highest. The machine was used in about 24 small, rectangular sections on each side and it took about 30-40 minutes to do. The whole thing took about an hour and 15 to an hour and 30 minutes. The procedure itself is completely painless. I only felt the heat a few times, but the second I said "ouch", she immediately pressed the cool down button that her thumb is on, and it's gone instantly. The doctors office usually has frozen gel packs for after the procedure. However, I read on here before I went there to bring frozen water bottles in a small cooler. I was so glad I listened. Unlike other frozen ice/gel packs with sharp edges, the water bottles are smooth and fit under the curve of your arm perfectly!! I kept 2 in the freezer at home. Once the 2 I was using were half melted, I'd switch them out and refreeze the ones I had just used. Best thing about it, they're way cheaper that going to the drug store for ice packs. Right after the procedure, I started swelling. You definitely don't want to go to work afterwards if you don't have to. I iced for about 2 days and then had to stop when I went back to work. Wasn't a big deal thought because I wasn't in pain, just really swollen, bruised and had little hicky-like marks from the suction of the machine. I immediately noticed a huge difference in the sweating though. It dropped about 75%. As the weeks went on, I still sweat but not nearly as bad. If I did sweat, the wet spot I'd say was between a quarter and golf ball size. I lost feeling under my arms for about 2 months (not a big deal) and you will get these hard, marble sized lumps under the skin. Also not painful, but normal. As soon as my feeling came back, it was time for round 2!!

My 2nd treatment was almost 3 months ago. That time she used a level 5. Why they don't use a level 5 the 1st time, I don't know. I forgot to ask. The swelling and bruising was a bit worse than the 1st time but not painful. Just uncomfortable. Kinda feels like you're walking around trying to hold a baseball under your arm. Afterwards, the sweating went down just a little bit more. One strange thing I have noticed is that the hair under my arms doesn't really grow anymore, BONUS!! LOL... but I still have days where I'm still sweating! Some are worse than others. My right arm seems to be the one that sweats most. Even after drying off after a shower it's still wet. I stopped wearing colors again because I'm afraid if I do get hot and start to sweat, everyone will see it!

When I was at my 2nd treatment, I asked what happens if I'm still sweating afterwards? They said I shouldn't happen, highly unlikely! I said, "well humor me, just for [RS bleep] and giggles... IF it doesn't work 100% like advertised, then what happens?". The woman said I could go back for a 3rd time free of charge. So, in about 2 weeks, I will be going back for my 3rd. I'm moving to TN in 4 weeks so I gotta get it done before I go. In my eyes, $3,000 and they say its effective and permanent... I should be able to wear colors and NEVER sweat! I will say that it's definitely worth it if you suffer like I did. Most of the time I don't sweat, but when I do I think about the money I spent and I get aggravated. I just hate sweat, no matter how little it is. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. Anything is better than the way I used to be!!

I'll let you know how it goes!!