Hello.
My ETS story is completely unique that it's surreal. I'm from the gorgeous island of Oahu, Hawaii. In my case, two doctors falsified my records with a diagnosis I never had in my life, for which I underwent ETS surgery for on August 14, 2003. In June of 2003, I saw a a family practice doctor to establish a primary care physician. It was a basic checkup, with me informing him of my history, and excellent health. He then asks if I had any questions or concerns. I say, yes, I have sweaty armpits. He asks if I have a problem with my hands. I say, no, and show them to him. He then refers me to a surgeon for ETS. I call to schedule a consult with the surgeon, and the secretary keeps saying "sweaty palms." I meet with the surgeon, mid July of 2003, and he also mentions sweaty palms, but I told him I only have a problem with my armpits sweating profusely, and showed him my very normal hands. He then tells me his secretary can give me the name of a patient who just underwent the surgery, whom I can ask all the questions I need to. He then says insurance covers it, and complemented me on my nails. That was it -- the whole consult was 10 minutes tops. On my way out the door, he tells me to sign a paper, which was mostly covered, and I did, without question. I put my full faith and trust in these doctors, thinking they had my best interests in mind, and got mutilated for their own personal gain. No alternatives whatsoever in the form of conservative treatments were offered by either doctor. Or the simple fact that they could have both referred me to a dermatologist first. Nothing. I called the "patient referral" and the guy applauded ETS for saving him from severe facialcranial sweat, no mention of sweaty palms. So, I get the surgery done on August 14, 2003, and that was the death of Kimberly Ann Katjang, as I knew her. I was under the impression the surgery was going to stop my armpits from sweating, but they and the rest of the lower half of my body sweat profusely everyday, all day. Meanwhile, the upper half of my body, including my hands, are dry as a bone. I thought that I would get better, but no. I suffer from the severe compensatory hyperhydrosis, as well as a number of a laundry list of side affects I was never made aware of, like losing my beautiful hair. As you all know, there is no way to return my body to it's original, perfectly functioning state -- it's permanent and the side effects increase and get worse with time. Well, the horror of my "new" body sank me into a deep depression, where I contemplated suicide. I managed to pull myself out of it, thanks to my boyfriend and four month old baby. I dumped the whole miserable mess out of my mind, till this year. I don't want this living nightmare to happen to anyone else, and want those "professionals" held accountable for their actions. So before I did anything, I retrieved a copy of my record from the family practice doctor, and was shocked and outraged he wrote that I had a problem with axillary (underarm) sweat, palmer sweat and plantar sweat. I didn't tell him I had those problems, because I never in my life had a problem with my hands or feet sweating profusely, and I can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. I then go the surgeons office, and ask for a copy of my medical record. The secretary only gives me copies of my op report and pathology report. Well, right on the front page of the op report as the admitting diagnosis is severe palmer bilateral hyperhydrosis. And the reason why is insurance does pay for the procedure -- I find out that HMSA will pay for it only if it is for the palms, or a combination of palms and other parts of the body. Those two "professionals" are probably golfing buddies, with no regard for the quality of of human life other than their own. I've tried seeking legal counsel, and so far I've been through a dozen lawyers and their referrals: they say I have a case, sympathize, then say they can't take it because of costs, conflict of interest (being that this rock is so damn small), etc., give me referrals, sometimes, then wish me luck.
So my mission continues: I just may have to start calling the mainland for counsel. There's somebody out there who will help me, I just have to be persistent.
That's my living nightmare.
My ETS story is completely unique that it's surreal. I'm from the gorgeous island of Oahu, Hawaii. In my case, two doctors falsified my records with a diagnosis I never had in my life, for which I underwent ETS surgery for on August 14, 2003. In June of 2003, I saw a a family practice doctor to establish a primary care physician. It was a basic checkup, with me informing him of my history, and excellent health. He then asks if I had any questions or concerns. I say, yes, I have sweaty armpits. He asks if I have a problem with my hands. I say, no, and show them to him. He then refers me to a surgeon for ETS. I call to schedule a consult with the surgeon, and the secretary keeps saying "sweaty palms." I meet with the surgeon, mid July of 2003, and he also mentions sweaty palms, but I told him I only have a problem with my armpits sweating profusely, and showed him my very normal hands. He then tells me his secretary can give me the name of a patient who just underwent the surgery, whom I can ask all the questions I need to. He then says insurance covers it, and complemented me on my nails. That was it -- the whole consult was 10 minutes tops. On my way out the door, he tells me to sign a paper, which was mostly covered, and I did, without question. I put my full faith and trust in these doctors, thinking they had my best interests in mind, and got mutilated for their own personal gain. No alternatives whatsoever in the form of conservative treatments were offered by either doctor. Or the simple fact that they could have both referred me to a dermatologist first. Nothing. I called the "patient referral" and the guy applauded ETS for saving him from severe facialcranial sweat, no mention of sweaty palms. So, I get the surgery done on August 14, 2003, and that was the death of Kimberly Ann Katjang, as I knew her. I was under the impression the surgery was going to stop my armpits from sweating, but they and the rest of the lower half of my body sweat profusely everyday, all day. Meanwhile, the upper half of my body, including my hands, are dry as a bone. I thought that I would get better, but no. I suffer from the severe compensatory hyperhydrosis, as well as a number of a laundry list of side affects I was never made aware of, like losing my beautiful hair. As you all know, there is no way to return my body to it's original, perfectly functioning state -- it's permanent and the side effects increase and get worse with time. Well, the horror of my "new" body sank me into a deep depression, where I contemplated suicide. I managed to pull myself out of it, thanks to my boyfriend and four month old baby. I dumped the whole miserable mess out of my mind, till this year. I don't want this living nightmare to happen to anyone else, and want those "professionals" held accountable for their actions. So before I did anything, I retrieved a copy of my record from the family practice doctor, and was shocked and outraged he wrote that I had a problem with axillary (underarm) sweat, palmer sweat and plantar sweat. I didn't tell him I had those problems, because I never in my life had a problem with my hands or feet sweating profusely, and I can prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. I then go the surgeons office, and ask for a copy of my medical record. The secretary only gives me copies of my op report and pathology report. Well, right on the front page of the op report as the admitting diagnosis is severe palmer bilateral hyperhydrosis. And the reason why is insurance does pay for the procedure -- I find out that HMSA will pay for it only if it is for the palms, or a combination of palms and other parts of the body. Those two "professionals" are probably golfing buddies, with no regard for the quality of of human life other than their own. I've tried seeking legal counsel, and so far I've been through a dozen lawyers and their referrals: they say I have a case, sympathize, then say they can't take it because of costs, conflict of interest (being that this rock is so damn small), etc., give me referrals, sometimes, then wish me luck.
So my mission continues: I just may have to start calling the mainland for counsel. There's somebody out there who will help me, I just have to be persistent.
That's my living nightmare.
