sweaty hands- please help!!

[NICURN22]

Hello! I am new to this site and new to the nursing program- just started my second week of classes. I SUFFER from hyperhidrosis- sweaty palms, and it can get pretty bad when I get nervous. I don't know why, but I never thought about how much contact you are going to have with other people until we started going over some of the skills we are going to be doing in the labs. I'm starting to get freaked out because I do not want to be doing an examination on someone in lab with extremely sweaty hands. It's so embarrassing and I know the other person is wondering why my hands are sweaty and I'm sure they do not want me touching them. I'm starting to think that maybe I should have picked a different program because it seems like my sweaty hands are going to interfere with my learning. I've always been able to sort of hide my sweaty hands in the past but there is no getting around it now! But if anyone out there has been through or is going through the same thing I am I would really like some tips/advice on what you did to get through it. I read some other postings and the only thing I really saw was that someone said to wear gloves, but can you really wear gloves ALL the time? Even when doing simple things like finding a pulse?

I have tried the drysol, certain dri, and other medications prescribed by my dermatologist but nothing worked. I just pulled them all out and about to try them over again to see if maybe they will stop my hands from sweating even just a little bit.

THANKS!

[kjsquared]

I know what you are going through and I know how hard it can be. I have hyperhydrosis, also. It's extremely embaressing and hard to deal with. I have been to doctors and dermatologist with NO help, also! I still can't find any relief from this and I seriously question myself and my ability to do nursing!

HOWEVER - I regularly tell myself that it's mostly self conciousness and not many people notice. Obviously, people do notice sweating but I often think that it's much worse than it really is. Most people don't notice and no one comments about it, but just like you, the more I think about it or worry about it, the worse it gets and I can't seem to control it. Everyone sweats and every nurse will sweat!

Feel free to send me a message if you need any emotional support and don't let it hold you back from becoming an amazing NURSE! :heartbeat :heartbeat

[catshowlady]

My niece had this problem as well. She had surgery that I believe involved cutting a nervous connection to the hand. I wasn't a nurse then, so I don't know all the medical nitty-gritty on it.

I would just be honest with fellow students in the lab. There are sure to be other students who will be understanding of your condition and who will work with you if you are up front about it.

Best of luck to you.

:paw:

[tattooednursie, LVN]

I have the same issue. Doing most tasks I wear gloves, but if I have a non invasive contact I simply wash and dry my hands. It really helps calm down the sweating for a short about of time, and if there was moisture felt . . . they will think it was from washing your hands :)

[NICURN22]

well last week i had my first skills lab and we practiced taking blood pressure, radial pulse, and respirations. I was so nervous that I was actually going to have to touch someone! (i know it sounds so stupid). I told my partner when we started that my hands were a little sweaty and I was sorry and she didn't seam to mind too much (at least to my face lol). my fear is that people are going to find out and not want to be partners with me.. as childish as this sounds...or that they will think im some kind of freak. I think this is going to be the hardest thing for me..getting over not wanting to touch someone because of my sweaty hands, but i know its going to have to happen!

still haven't had a talk with my professors yet, but i'm working up the nerve.

I am going to a dermatologist soon that is suppose to treat hyperhidrosis, so for everyone else that has it, I will keep you all informed if there is anything new that seems to work better than the usual medications. KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED!

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Try a search on this site. I remember reading a thread about this not too long ago with lots of input.