2Y4M Post ETS

Time flies. It's been 2 years and 4 months ever since I had my ETS done. Till today I still hold on to the same thought as before - no regret - undergoing the ETS.

However, the side effects which are slowly surfacing now in me, to some people, may be disturbing and irritating, or merely unacceptable. But for me, I'm still grateful that my palms are still dry and warm!

My armpits are both starting to sweat more nowadays. For whatever reason. I have to carefully select my clothing, as I cannot wear dark coloured cotton shirts, as the armpit sweat marks will be extremely obvious and unsightly. The armpits used to be so dry after the ETS operation, and I thought it was so cool that I didn't need to put on any anti-perspirant or deodarant on them anymore. But now, even with anti-perspirant, they still sweat a lot, especially in hot and humid environments.

I also realise that I can't take any more spicy food. Not even a little spicy. A simple chilli sauce on my nuggets will cause my forehead to sweat profusely. But if I avoid spicy food at all cost, I am just as ordinary as I am. Luckily I don't enjoy spicy food all this while, and hence this does not bother me a lot. Only occasionally when colleagues and friends invite me to Thai food or Indian cuisine, then I will bring along a small towel to wipe my forehead sweat! :D

My palms are dry and warm, but nowadays I notice at times, the palms will be moist a little, especially after heavy exercise or anxious moments. Never like before when they were dry and needed moisturiser. Nowadays I don't apply anymore moisturiser because my palms, in fact, feel more "natural" than those days immediately post-ETS. They "sweat" a little at appropriate time. And that's what I want!

These are just the very few side effects I am "suffering" now, but if you ask me, my answer remains the same - no regret undergoing the ETS.

Sweaty palms are just a 1000x more of a nuisance than not having spicy food, or sweat in my armpit.

Almost 2 Years Post ETS

Time flies. It's been almost 2 years since I had my ETS done. I have benefited so much ever since I had the surgery performed on myself. It was an operation I should have done long ago! No regret, definitely.

However if you ask me today, what sort of side effects or complications I am experiencing.. Well, I can tell you for sure that there are not many major one, except probably I can no longer take any spicy food anymore. Even with just a little pepper or chilly in the food, my forehead will sweat so badly that it just won't stop. I literally need to use a towel to continuously wipe off the sweat while eating the spicy food. That's how bad it is today.

And in the recent few months, I suspect my sympathetic nerves are "regrowing". I at times start to get a little more moist palms, especially during anxious moments. They were completely "stone dry" for the first 6-12 months post ETS, but now, my palms appear to be more "natural" - ie. they sweat at "appropriate" times!

My soles and armpits are starting to sweat more than the first year post-op. But well, that was not my main reason I went for the surgery anyway... so it's ok! :)

But if you ask me, whether I regret having that operation...The answer is NO. I definitely enjoy the days with my dry palms. I have been able to do so many things I have longed to do; and now in bank or immigration office, I am able to have my "correct" thumbprint all the time, and the officers no longer need to complain of my "blurred" thumbprints!