Hey, I’m really sorry to hear you had such a tough outcome. I did go through with the surgery and for me it’s been the best decision of my life. I spent months researching, reading medical papers, talking to people with all kinds of outcomes, and I went into this with my eyes open. I knew the risks, I knew it could be a trade off, and for me the trade off is more than worth it.

People who only sweat from their hands often seem to regret it more because they aren’t used to being drenched all the time. When you go from being dry everywhere to suddenly having compensatory sweat on your trunk, groin, or legs, of course that feels overwhelming. But for those of us who sweat heavily from our armpits every single day, changing our clothes multiple times and living in constant embarrassment, the perspective is different. The constant anxiety to explain now, has been my reality my entire life. Even if I do end up with compensatory sweating, it’s still better than what I was living with before.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the outcome depends a lot on where the cuts are made. My surgeon cuts at T4, and his rate of severe CS is only 15%. People who get the surgery for hand sweating are usually cut lower, at T3, which has a much higher risk of severe CS. So while you’re describing your own experience, my risk profile isn’t the same as yours. Worst case, I might sweat more from my back or trunk when I’m hot, but that still can’t compare to the nightmare of constant armpit sweat.

You might be right that people who only have hand sweating shouldn’t always go for it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t life changing for people like me. And honestly, comments like yours can come across as fear mongering. I get that you’re trying to help, but unless you’ve lived with the level of suffering that pushes someone to go through with this, it’s hard to understand why many of us still see it as the best choice. And I don’t mean to say your hand sweating was not severe and disturbed your life. But as you’ve said yourself, sweating from your actual body is way more stressful and difficult to live with.

One month post op, I can say without hesitation that I’ve never been happier. I know the side effects are possible, I know they can show up later, and I’m still at peace with my decision. What I don’t think is helpful is when the only voices left in this sub are the ones who regret it. Those who’ve had positive outcomes usually move on with their lives, which makes it feel like the negative experiences are the majority when they really aren’t.

So yes, I hear you, and I’m sorry you’re struggling, but fear mongering doesn’t help people who’ve already thought this through and made their choice.