Sympathetic Nervous System
The Autonomic nervous system is made up of the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system. Think of these systems working together and maintaining a balance that impacts every part of your body! Heart frequency, heart capacity, lumbar function, kidneys, blood vessels, stomach and intestines are just a few examples.
The sympathetic nervous system pushes where the parasympathetic function is more relaxed. The sympathetic chain nervous connects to skin, blood vessels and organs in the body cavity and is located on both sides of the spine which consists of ganglias.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system most notably kicks in gear during emergency situations that cause stress and requires us to “fight” or take “flight”, as well as non-emergency situations that allow us to “rest” and “digest”. The autonomic nervous system also provides maintenance of normal internal functions and works with the somatic nervous system. When the body reacts to signals such as danger, it is the sympathetic ganglia that performs functions such as widening the lungs for more oxygen, reduces desire to consume food, sends blood to the brain and increases heart rate.
Nervous System
sympathetic nervous system
Above is a common picture of the sympathetic nervous system and inner connections. You can see that how complicated the sympathetic chain is and how difficult Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathicothomy is! This is not a matter to be taken lightly!
My fiance had the surgery done – it stopped the sweaty palms and now they crack because they are dry. Her face is dry, her hair has started to fall out, her stomach and back are now sweaty and she has no energy.
This was done about 8 years ago – I don’t recall where it was done.
Not sure if you know how to ‘reverse’ this by tying the nerves back in place or?
Thank you for any recommendations you can make.
I have been dealing with sweaty palms and feet since a young age. At times they get so bad they drip with sweat. Job interviews are terrible cause I have to shake the interviewers hand with sweaty palms. I can’t wear sandals because my feet get so sweaty and then this causes my hands to sweat as well. I always have to wear shoes that I can wear socks with.
They even sweat when I am making love to my husband. It is very annoying, but don’t know what to do about it. Scared surgery will cause worst side effects. So I deal with it silently since only 1% of people deal with this most people don’t understand and just think you are nervous, but it sweats at all times.
I have such a difficult time at work or if I’m going for a job interview or at the grocery store or just sitting down calmly at home watching TV with the fan directly on me. If it’s a job interview I try sitting in my car with the air conditioner on as high as it will go aimed at my face, then I get to the office for my interview in my suit and tie and my head begins pouring sweat like something you might see in an old bugs bunny cartoon or someone who is running a marathon, in a matter of seconds my hair is soaking wet and streams of continuous sweat are running down my face and I’m trying to act nonchalant while answering interview questions.
It’s very embarrassing when it happens, I over heard one interviewer whisper to another coworker, “he looks like somebody with real health problems”, it can be very difficult to sell yourself on an interview short of saying, “I come equipped with my own rubber chair covers!”, it can be very difficult to live with at times. I’ve had my thyroid, heart and blood checked for everything and all tests came back very healthy.
I tried Xanax but it made me feel weird, plus I discovered how dangerous long term Xanax can be. I exercise regularly and eat a very healthy diet, I’m only in my mid-thirties but I have had this problem for more than twenty years and it has only gotten worse with age. When I make love to a woman her idea of safe sex is bringing an umbrella, I’m literally at the end of my robe but after googling awhile I found something called Hushed Sea Tea, I haven’t tried it yet and I can’t find it at Whole Foods Market or Amazon.com, but I did find it at a website and plan to try it.
I hope my hair doesn’t fall out or anything I really want falls off, if anyone else has tried this tea or wants to share their experience please do. The only things that kind of helps is really cold weather like 10 to 20 degrees but I can only stand that for so long until I’m forced to go back inside where I begin sweating profusely again, I don’t want surgery I’ve heard to many nightmare experiences from that, please, does anyone have a cure or treatment that has worked for them, head sweating specifically.
Hey Everyone,
Thought I’d add my personal experiences in dealing with Hyperhidrosis here…
I have tried EVERYTHING (trust me) to treat my palmar/plantar HH (hands & feet) and the only thing that has worked is glycopyrrolate. The side effects include severe dry mouth & throat and occasional blurred vision (if you take a lot) but I am at least able to function in a corporate environment and not be constantly annoyed with my sweating, as you can anticipate meetings, etc and just take water w/ you. I’ve been taking it for around 5 years or so.
Take care everyone and don’t let HH ruin your life!
-Aaron
Don’t get ETS!! i did and worst decision of my life. If you’ve tried everything and want ETS make sure you use the clamp method and if you get severely sweaty from the nipple line down to your feet after….get the clamps off right away. This is called compensatory sweating (CS) google that and read everything.
There is no way to tell if it will be severe…most all people get it…recent studies show up to half get it severely. Don’t believe your doctor that getting cut is the best way to go like i did. It has dramatically changed my life, drugs don’t help. I will not give up however and am looking at all options. Reversal is difficult and not usually successful in those who had the cut method. If you are looking for a righteous doctor to consult see Dr Reisfeld in LA…this is not an ad for him he is just the best one I’ve spoken with and visited with, and he does the clamp method only, he is also the leader in reversal.
I’ve also talked with Dr Duarte in Brazil he cuts more of the ganglia to stop the sweating in the upper body for those with CS….again very new and of course messing with the sympathetic chain is not advised. I’m going to try reversal first.
One thing that may help those with CS in the future is finding a way to return sweat to the head (heat rises and is “capped” when head sweating stops with ETS) I’ve noticed I can sweat from the head when I eat spicy food or put hot sauce on chewing gum…a little uncomfortable but I notice the CS stops for a while…maybe an artificial nerve stimulation device could be created to create this reaction …like the Vegas nerve stimulator implant.
There is also clothing that can help direct perspiration away from the body and through the fabric so that it evaporate fast. Try two layers. At least it evaporates and is not as noticeable. I’ve also heard of spraying clothes with Scotch Guard on the inside. I have not tried this. ….
Don’t give up!! keep positive… it’s just water.
Hey,
Wow it’s great to read everyone’s comments on this problem, here was me thinking that I’m the only one in the world that suffers from excessive sweating, it interferes with every aspect of my life, social and working especially, i have to leave the dance floor half way through a song to go to the bathroom, nobody understands why, people have started noticing and they ask if I’m OK and i always say that i’m fine, for me it’s my face, chest and back that give me the most grief, my face especially, any tips and answers would be greatly appreciated thanks
Hello,
Someone mention trying the Hushed Tea. I just placed an order, I should be receiving it within 1 week. I will let everyone know how that works out. I too suffer from really bad sweating everywhere on my body. My hands would start sweating then my feet. Then My nerves would start to over re-act causing me to sweat all over. This is a serious condition.
For years I thought that I was the only 1 having this problem. Thanks to everyone who posted a comment, letting me know that am not alone!
I’ve found that Botox works wonders for about 6 mos, then you need another injection. That’s for axillary hyperhidrosis – when I have it, I don’t sweat at all from my armpits, and had no compensatory sweating either. I’m going to try the sage tea this time around, however. Botox is a toxin, after all.
I’ve been using Levsin (generic hyocyamine) for over 20 years. It provides an overall drying out of the body and works great to eliminate/reduce sweating. Side effects are dry mouth and eyes, but a small price to pay for relief. Only dermatologists that specialize in hyperhidrosis will know about this drug, your basic skin oriented derm will not.