Handed to Me

As told to Faigy Peritzman

Hospitals are full of people suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Such situations are devastating. We’ve therefore become immune to conditions that, while not life-threatening, can still be life-altering. It’s because of such a mentality that I’ve broken years of silence on my own personal condition, in the hope of alleviating the pain of others who may be dealing with the same situation.

Ever since puberty, I’ve suffered from Primary Hyperhidrosis, an overdrive of the sympathetic nervous system that causes excessive sweating in one specific part of the body. In my case, it was profuse sweating in the palms of my hands.

You’re probably thinking, Sure, I sweat a lot, too. Or, My teenage son always has sweaty feet. It’s horrible. But while you use these words easily, my condition has been anything but easy.

When I say excessive sweating, I don’t mean damp, hot palms. The palms of my hands were constantly soaking wet, as if I’d just washed them well. I had a hard time opening doors or bottles covers as my hands were too slippery. Using a pen or pencil was an ordeal, and my papers would get smudged and wrinkled from the constant moisture.