First, we object to the classification of excessive sweating and facial
blushing as diseases. While it is true that these conditions can be very
embarrassing, causing the afflicted to dislike or avoid social
situations, and this can indeed have a negative impact on the quality of
life, from a physiological point of view they are entirely harmless. We
believe that the recent “official” classification of these conditions
as diseases is borne not of medical accuracy, but rather out of a desire
to legitimize and justify the surgery in the eyes of both prospective
patients and their insurance carriers.
Second, and more importantly, we object to the procedure itself.
Interrupting the sympathetic chain in the thoracic region (by whatever
means) is proven to cause a litany of permanent physical and mental
disabilities, including anhidrosis, lowered heart function, lowered
mental function, diminished lung volume, loss of baroreflex, paralyzed
blood vessels, dysfunctional thermoregulation, chronic pain,
paresthesia, lowered alertness, decreased exercise capacity, lowered
response to fear, thrills, and other strong emotions. Thousands of
unsuspecting patients are having psychiatric surgery without consent,
forever robbed of their strongest feelings.
And, infamously, ETS surgery can cause uncontrollable, clothes-drenching
sweating from the nipple-line down. In other words, the “cure” for
hyperhidrosis can actually cause WORSE hyperhidrosis. Some cure.
http://forums.randi.org/archive/index.php/t-77170.html
