quality of life

Crocs

/ carynjoan / 6 Comments

Unfortunately, many of my shoes suffer a premature death. Especially my ballet flats that I sometimes wear with no socks.

This is because of my Hyperhidrosis.

HH will ruin the insoles of a shoe pretty quick. I had 2 pairs of Steve Madden flats that ruined within one summer. The metallic inside rubbed completely off.

HH will also make your shoes smell. I try odor-eater insoles but it doesn’t help much. Usually those insoles ruin even quicker than the shoes.

Having HH and wearing no socks will also probably impact your walking pattern.
I know that I walk differently when I’m slipping and sliding in my shoes. This altered step can ruin the whole make of the shoe, inside and out.

So, I’m in Disney World on vacation a few weeks ago and I saw a woman wearing some shoes that looked cute, comfortable and….plastic?

Okay, so they’re Crocs. And after researching them, I learned that their Croslite material doesn’t absorb water! Check this Youtube video below!

How perfect for me! I bought a pair of “Kadee” Crocs and I’m giving them a try. They are really comfortable and so far doing great with my HH.

If you buy online, sign up for a new account. You will receive a welcome coupon and save money on your first purchase! There’s also free shipping!

I know that the Crocs name has gotten some laughs, but I think the new styles are really nice. If you have HH especially, I think it’s worth a try.

Here are the ones that I got: Kadee Croc. 

Happy New Year!

Caryn

Blushing and Blotching

/ carynjoan / Leave a comment

I am having a problem with the overactive blushing symptom of HH recently. I’ve been given a lot more responsibility at work, and maybe I’ve just been more nervous and anxious than usual, but my neck and chest are blotching up like crazy!

It’s so frustrating and embarrassing. I see coworkers looking at it, and one has even made a comment. I try to explain that it’s part of my condition, but I don’t go much into detail.

All I can do is be strong, and look them in the eye. I try to ignore it. This takes a lot of will power, as you know.

When people with HH blotch up, we can feel it. At least with me, there is heat on the skin of my chest and I know immediately that I am having a blushing problem.

I want to tell everyone that I can’t help it and that I’m sensitive about it.

Other ways you can  cope with overacting blushing are:

1. wear scarves
2. wear large necklaces to cover it up
3. keep your chin down so the neck isn’t fully exposed
4. in a meeting, hold your notepad in front of your chest
5. or- let your blotching continue to the point where your entire chest and neck area are all the same color red. I almost prefer this to the inconsistent blotching. I think it is less noticeable.

These tips may sound silly and probably aren’t fully effective. But, these are my personal coping mechanisms that make me feel a little better about it.

At any rate, remember to breathe and drink water.

I had a meeting today where blotching and blushing was a real problem. I ended up with a terrible headache from the anxiety I put myself through. Yet, no one said a thing.

All my best to you out there…welcoming the cooler weather!

Caryn

 

(I know it) Like the back of my hand

/ carynjoan / Leave a comment

I use the back of my hands a lot. You might find this strange or confusing, but it’s another coping mechanism.

The back of my hands sweat less. The tops of my fingers will sweat occasionally when my HH is very strong and opposite the palm area (above the wrist and below the knuckles), there is no sweat.

For my job, I have to hang a lot of posters to advertise concerts. I always smooth them down with the backs of my hands. I can’t do it with the front of my sweaty hands or the ink will run!

On the subway, I will sometimes balance myself by pressing the back of my hand to the rail. This works for the most part. I’m really good at balancing.

Side note- I truly think I have better balance from having HH on my feet. Walking with sweaty feet in sandals requires a lot of balance!

If I ever really need to be in close proximity to people where my hands may brush them, I make sure it’s with the back of my hands.  Fist bump instead of hand shake?

I tend to keep my palms down, so people are only seeing the back (tops) of my hands. Less glistening in the light!

At a bar, I will hold onto my drink most of the night so only the back of my hands are showing. Also, if you need to shake someone’s hand unexpectedly, you can claim that the sweat is the condensation from your glass. I do this a lot, actually. More lying- I guess this should have been in my “lying” post.

Does anyone else with HH use the back of their hands?

Caryn

Oh yeah, I’m a flute player

/ carynjoan / Leave a comment

So, I have been noticing that I rarely write anything about my flute playing in here.

Let me tell you a quick story.

I am in a woodwind quintet that performs all over the city.
In March 2012, we auditioned for MUNY (Music Under New York).
MUNY participants are able to reserve the best tip spots to perform in the subways.
Well, we won the audition!

We started playing in the subways this summer.

The evening before our first performance (which was in Union Square), I realized something I should have thought about a long time ago.

The subways are HOT. I have complained about the heat in my posts before, and other readers have commented on their heat as well. I have had some of my worst HH moments in subways!

I started freaking out- What did I do!?! Why did I intentionally do this to myself?!?
I was so upset with myself for not thinking this through.

The next day, we all played, and boy was it hot! But we all survived.

I brought a very absorbent towel with me, and that worked well. I keep that towel in my flute bag now, and use it every time I play. I use my music to fan my hands if necessary, and wipe my hands on my jeans.

My quintet and I have since then performed in Grand Central, Penn Station, Herald Square, and Columbus Circle. Each has been successful, and I am able to play my flute okay.

This past weekend in Columbus Circle, I became paranoid because people were looking over my shoulder (probably at the music) and my hands were dripping sweat. I hope they didn’t notice!

Also, my hands made the pads under my keys all sticky and moist. This gives an annoying sound when you move the keys. I hate feeling like I’m breaking my instrument every time I play 😦

For more info on my flute playing- www.carynfreitag.com

Stay strong out there- anything is possible, with a few alterations.

Caryn

What Would You Like to Read About?

/ carynjoan / Leave a comment

Hi All,

I want to write about things that you want to read. Please fill out this poll to let me know what you’re interested in. I have included a few options, but please, if you have suggestions about a topic, write it in the “other” box.


Thank you for reading 🙂

The weather is cooling off, so I hope you are all doing well!
Caryn

Rings and HH

/ carynjoan / 2 Comments

I wear rings every day. Usually, I wear my class ring from college- a classy one that gets a lot of comments from people.

You already know that HH causes my hands to swell to the point where I need to get a ring size larger than normal for my fingers.

What you don’t know is what happens when people want to look at my rings.

Many times, people will grab my hand and start admiring my ring.

With HH, this is highly uncomfortable. I don’t want them to notice my sweaty hands so I immediately take my ring off and hand it over to them to look at.

Anyway, I’m getting older…and one day I will hopefully be engaged and have a ring on my finger. Many women love when their engagement ring is looked at and show it off. Many friends and family don’t even ask to look at the ring, they just grab the Bride-to-Be’s hand to “ooh and ahh”.

This is going to suck for me. I don’t even know how I will handle it. I’m not going to take the ring off for the person to look at. This might be fine for other rings, but not an engagement ring.

Don’t get me wrong…I still want a ring. I’m a pretty traditional person when it comes to weddings. I am just imagining some uncomfortable situations in my future.

It’s sad that I need to think of this. Being engaged should be nothing but happy. It shouldn’t be awkward and uncomfortable.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

Caryn

Chocolate?

/ carynjoan / 2 Comments

Today as I rode the subway, I saw a girl snacking on some chocolate covered candies. My hands were a sweaty mess at this point and I imagined trying to eat what she was eating. My thoughts in order: Impossible, Disgusting, Messy.

How have I never mentioned this before? I can’t eat chocolate anything when my hands are sweaty!

M&M’s? Forget it! I will have a colorful mess left in my hand.

What’s up with their tagline, “Melts in your mouth, not in your hand?”

These candies surely have not been tested by people with HH!

Maybe the candied shell is keeping the chocolate from melting, but it is giving me an unwanted multicolored palm.

Another Reaction to Glycopyrrolate

/ carynjoan / Leave a comment

This one is not physical. This reaction is emotional.

After getting a glimpse of dry hands (or at least significantly less wet ones), then abruptly stopping the medication and becoming sweaty again, I am sad.  Having sweaty hands again after almost two weeks of being dry has been depressing. It is a let down that feels brand new. What a tease.

I feel like if I think about it too much, my outlook on life starts spinning out of control, leaving me a terrible feeling of the unknown in the pit of my stomach. I just have to shake the thoughts away because I can’t deal with it right now.

I am still afraid of going back on the medication right now because of my reaction to it. The plan is to speak to a doctor about it soon.

Good luck out there!

Caryn

Glycopyrrolate (Robinol)

/ carynjoan / 2 Comments

After being off the Glycopyrrolate medication for 1 year and 3 months, I started up again this past weekend.

I went off the medication because I was feeling immune to it, but my doctor and I thought we could try it again and see what happens.

This medication worked miraculously the last time I was on it (2007-2011). I was really hoping I would receive the same results.

So far, I have!

The medication worked almost immediately. My hands and feet are dry.

The one side effect I am struggling with is having a dry throat. My doctor says this may go away with continued use.

It is a strange sensation, being on this medication. My hands will still get hot and really feel like they are sweating, but they are not.

Personally, I worry a little because I want to have that visual of sweaty hands to explain to people what HH is. As someone who wants to help the HH community, I feel like I should continue struggling and suffering with it. I want it present in my everyday life.

This might sound crazy to you. To purposefully want to struggle with HH. I guess I just never want to forget about it. I never want to dismiss its impact on my life and others.

We will see how this medication goes. So far, I’m dry. So far, I’m still passionate about helping the HH community.

I recommend this medication to anyone suffering with HH.

Thanks for reading!

Caryn Joan