Rosacea Cure? ETS Surgery?

[Peter]

For me personally a few thousand for a much better quality of life at 99% success rate (1% -I predict is side affects outweighs benefits)is worth it.
Thank you

Hi

Rather you than me is all I can say. Given the evidence of the serious side effects that can result from ETS then I think you should think again before entertaining this procedure. You have been supplied with some good links to information about ETS and I suggest you read them in full before making a decision to go ahead.

Treating rosacea can be very difficult, frustrating, is long haul but many people who have had the patience to stick with the right treatment have achieved excellent results without having to resort to surgery. ETS seems to be portrayed as a “quick fix” for rosacea but the majority of people I have heard from and read about always regret having had it done.

Thanks

Peter

[phlika29]

Negatives I find are from those who mostly make money from us buying products to try manage our condition, as well as those who have had some side affects.

I think you are missing the point. If you truly believe that the people are only saying something negative because they are trying to make some money then you have obviously already closed your mind to other possibiblities.

Dont you wonder why there are whole websites dedicated to trying to inform people of the risks of ETS surgery?

Sarah

[jayinoz]

Hi to all,

I agree 'songboy' has a negative story to tell without benefit to himself. All on this forum seem to be very negative against the surgery due to his story. My question is if today's side affects are so bad so often then why do the specialists still recommend it for sever cases and why are they all not broke due to litigation cases against them. This forum has made me very nervous about the surgery as it is very anti-ETS, as songboy's site. Nobody conceeds that it may be an option only for the most sever cases. Maybe making up to only a few % of us rosaceans. I would love to be directed to an ets (not anti) forum that gave unbiased views, especially from those who have had the procedure. I have battled the condition for over 15 years and it affects all aspects of my life. My family conceeds that I have exhausted all other options in time, oney, life and if the chances of success are so high it will change all our lifes for the best.

My specialists accepts that very few have had complications due to errors from surgeons just like any surgery. Cutting wrong nerves, missing nerves, etc. Yet percentage in complications would be less than cosmetic surgery. Thank all for their links to make an educated decision.

All the best,

Jeremy

[David Pascoe]

Hi Jeremy,

I think the problem is that the sort of support you are looking for, you might not find directly here.

The support you are being offered is `whoa take it easy, move forward carefully'.

ETS is only for a small percentage of the population. How can anyone be sure that they are in the group that is suited to this treatment, have a surgeon that is good for them - would turn them away if they weren't a perfect fit etc. etc. ?

I know I feel that I couldn't recommend it to anyone because I can never know if they are in this very small group. That is the case for the rest of us here as well - we can't give you a because there are too many risks.

So we want to support you as much as we can, but so far we just want to be sure you know the possibility for problems seems pretty high.

davidp.

[Aurelia]

I agree 'songboy' has a negative story to tell without benefit to himself. All on this forum seem to be very negative against the surgery due to his story. My question is if today's side affects are so bad so often then why do the specialists still recommend it for sever cases and why are they all not broke due to litigation cases against them.

The problem we have is that when you keep misunderstanding - and misrepresenting - the material you are directed to, it seems pointless to go on discussing this with you.

People are NOT only opposed to ETS due to Songboy's story. A lot of people tell the same story, to varying degrees of disability. Do you think Sweden banned ETS because of one American, or because of documented, provable damage caused over a long period of time to large numbers of Swedish citizens?

Why aren't the surgeons broke from litigation cases? As previously explained, most patients feel a lot better right after the op, which is why most of the rapturous reports come in that "honeymoon period". The timespan for bringing malpractice law suits is often too short for the worst side effects to have come out. By the time most patients want to sue, it is too late.

Consider Alexandra Parker, who was a radio journalist in her 30s. In 2002 she had ETS for armpit hyperhidrosis (severe sweating). There were no side effects for more than a year. Then she developed arthritis, extreme pain from her shoulders to her fingertips, vertigo, nausea, fatigue, constant headaches, racing heart, and much else besides. "I am now on Government payments for disability. I can never work again. I can never have children. I can never be normal again." It took a further two years to establish that this stemmed from brachial plexus injury caused by ETS. In Texas the malpractice limit is two years so the doctor was untouchable. Also, she had signed the obligatory pre-op consent form.

Again, no one is saying that everyone who has ETS will be badly affected. Some patients are happy long-term, but studies have shown that the majority of satisfied patients have the op only for palmar hyperhidrosis (sweaty hands), where the nerves are cut at a lower point. To affect facial flushing and blushing, the nerves have to be cut higher up the chain, and the higher up, the greater the risk of doing irreparable damage. It's one hell of a gamble.

That's why an increasing number of ETS surgeons are refusing to perform the op for anything other than sweating, on the grounds that the risk profile for facial flushing, blushing and rosacea is unacceptably bad. If your surgeon says otherwise, and you choose to believe him, that is your choice. Again, your body, your life, your choice.

However, anyone who comes onto the boards and pastes up bumf about how wonderful and incredibly safe ETS is will get this kind of response - and all the more so if they offer ETS as a cure for rosacea.

Kind regards,

Aurelia

[jayinoz]

Hi all,

I have become rather nervous about the whole operation, after printing the postings and going through with the surgeon. My decision in cancelling the operation at this stage is due to other stories I have investigated in the side affects of the surgery. Also the lack of garantee from the surgeon on the outcome. I always look for a permanent fix to everything i encounter in life- I have been able to maintain an ok quality of life although not ideal....

The thought of it (the operation) not working and having complications\side affects on top of my moderate to sever Rosacea battle would be unbearable. Although the surgery will be on hold for a few months (indefinately) & I will continue accutane\ipl laser\sedates to have an ok quality of life. If still completly dissatified i will then perform the surgery. The battle continues....... Thanks to all.

[David Pascoe]

Hi Jeremy,

I really am glad to hear that you aren't going to go ahead You can always go back over all your reasons again in the future, but you will never be able to get back to where you are now. It really is for the best that you delay having it done, and search for other relief. We wish you all the best for your ongoing treatments.

davidp.

[Katrien]

Jayinoz,

I'm glad you have reconsidered. Because what i didn't really get is why you'd want to take this enormous (non reversible) risk with this procedure, when you could try other options.

I have just finished reading Geoffrey Nase's book. And from what I gather (I still have to dig into all the laser therapy options), these treatments are evolving pretty fast. There DO seem to be certain laser treatments available with less bruising, if the info in this book is correct (and the book already dates from 2001, so it is already 6 years dated).

Have you checked out the new laser options?

Lots of luck.
Katrien

[whizz-dude]

Hi jayinoz

I am too a rosacea sufferer. I am 20 years old male and have only recently developed a full blown rosacea. I have always blushed but the redness would come and go when I was younger. Now when I blush I stay red for far longer periods and that really exacerbates my rosacea. I have tried using creams and other over the counter products but to no avail. After an unsuccessful trial of a new product I'd had a particular nasty break-out. At that point I decided that drugs is not the way to control my rosacea and have starting looking into other ways of putting an end to this horrible condition. First of all I began applying green tea on my irritated skin to help calm it. Take a soft tissue dip it into cold green tea(I used two bags of grean tea and 1 bag of mint) and then apply it on your face. It may sound ridiculous but it works especially right after you have had a breakout. Green tea is very good for your skin apparently.Look it up if you don't believe me.

Obviously green tea is fine and all but you can not keep on applying it throughout the day to alleviate the symptoms of rosacea. Well you do not have to. As I have already mentioned I started looking for alternative ways to control rosacea and I believe I have found it. I have read a book by Brady Barrows(a fellow rosacean) who claims that rosacea can be control with a diet. His solution is a 4 week diet which should change your metabolism and greatly reduce facial redness and other symptoms of rosacea. If I am honest my first day into the diet I was very sceptical about it but It has been just over a month and I must say the diet works. I wake up each morning I look in the mirror and my face is not red at all. I take a shower and then I look in the mirror. One month ago my face would have been bright red. Now it is normal white. Ok maybe my cheeks are slightly pink but that is normal after a hot shower. I flush less often and overall my rosacea is almost gone. It is not a cure I know. The diet is very strict and not for everyone. I strongly recommend you buy the book(it is called Rosacea diet by Brady Barrows) but I could sum up the main premise of it. In a nutshell according to Brady sugar and carbohydrates is what trigger your rosacea. So if you are prepared to cut out sugar and dramatically cut back on carbohydrates then you are a good candidate for this diet. I strongly recommend it. Look it up. Buy the book.

Having said that I am still considering ETS surgery. The diet unfortunately only helps with some aspects of rosacea. My face is no longer red and I flush less but my blushing has not gone away. Blushing is a cardio-vascular disorder and can only be treated with the surgery. After the diet I only realise I still have rosacea when I blush. As soon as I blush my face turns bright red and stays that way for some time. The main reason why I am still considering ETS surgery is because my father had it done last year and it was very successful. Despite what you may read on the internet regarding the procedure you have to remember the golden rule of customer service :a dissatisfied customer will tell 10 people about the appalling service s/he received but a happy customer will only tell 2. I think the same rule applies here. Satisfied ETS patients are less likely to go on the internet and share their experiences than the unsatisfied ones. Take my dad for example apart from my mom and me not a soul in this world knows that ets surgery was a success for him(let alone that he had it done!). His severe blushing is no more.

Hope you get better soon. Good luck

[Peter]

In a nutshell according to Brady sugar and carbohydrates is what trigger your rosacea.

If only it was that straight forward. I could eat tons of sugar and carbohydrate and it had no effect on my rosacea at all. My triggers when my rosacea was bad were mainly stress and heat.

Good luck to your father and I hope his operation was and remains a great success. Unfortunately some of the side effects can sometimes take several years to surface. Anybody thinking about having ETS should look at this site first.

http://www.truthaboutets.com/Pages/FXBottom.html