Hyperhydrosis

There have been some commercials on tv recently about Hyperhydrosis.
Essentially it is just excessive sweating. There is not necessarily a dangerous component to it, but even the most powerful products do not usually help.

I have had issues with excessive sweating since I was a child, with the symptoms peaking in junior high and high school.
I tried all sorts of over-the-counter deodorant and anti-perspirant combinations, I tried natural products, medicated products. I even tried a specific medicated product where I had to put it on before bed then wrap my underarms with plastic wrap overnight.
None of this helped, and the last option resulted in pretty severe rashes.
Again, this syndrome was not painful or highly disruptive, but it was embarrassing, disgusting, and I used to have to change clothing several times in the day. I went through clothes quickly because they always stained the first or second time wearing something. I always wore baggy clothes and nothing especially colourful. My wardrobe was black or so heavily patterned to help conceal the sweat stains that often extended all the way to my hip bones. Yes, seriously. Gross saucers dripping down my sides all day long. I never left the house without at least one large sweater and a change (or two, or three) of clothing.

With all of the other health complications I suffer from - the diseases that are highly disruptive and severe - the excessive sweating was not exactly a priority to get sorted out.
Luckily for me though, when I was in University I went on Remicade, which helped reduce some of my most awful symptoms from my Crohn's Disease. I was then able to concentrate on the symptoms that were less dangerous and more annoying than anything.
I was quickly approved for an underarm surgery to remove my sweat glands.

Before this surgery it was explained that it may not work, that they may simply grow back, and that a high percentage of success was 60-70%.
I had hopes but I attempted to keep my excitement low just in case it did not work. There was also a chance that that sweat would simply go elsewhere, causing excessive sweating in other areas.

Well, it's been 10 years since that surgery. I can say, confidently, that my underarm sweating was nearly eliminated. At least 95% better. Not only that, but I only seemed to suffer a little more sweating in my neck for the first year or so, and even then it was nothing like what it had been under my arms.
I can now wear t-shirts of any colour and not even think twice about it. I can wear clothing tight up against my underarms. I do not need several changes of clothing, I do not need baggy sweaters or concealing extra clothing. I do not believe I have had more than 5 instances of sweat stains under my arms since that surgery - and only during other medical situations or while on specific medications.

It may not seem like a big deal, but something like that took a massive toll on my confidence. Once it was repaired, my confidence improved, I was no longer self-conscious or running to the washroom every five minutes JUST to check for sweat stains (okay maybe because of my Crohn's too... but I always checked for stains). With so many different serious illnesses, it was an absolute dream to be able to actually improve one of them. To be able to fix something.
With so many life disruptions caused by illness, I am always grateful that I went through with that surgery. It helped give me a sense of control and satisfaction that I was able to reduce a symptom.

Now I can wear tighter t-shirts. Confidently. In any colour. In any pattern. No hesitations whatsoever. No risk of sweat stains.
It's a small piece of satisfaction and control in a life where control is often an illusion.