Sharing My Story and ETS

I shared my story on a forum about ETS. Here goes.

It was genetically passed on. She was born with it. It affected her hands, feet, body, head, wherever that skin was present. It made her feel second class. It made her demoralized, depressed, withdrawn and alone. She had no friends and no one to talk to. She did not even know how to interact or socialize.

She couldn’t :
write without shredding paper
play with anyone or anything as everything she touched turned murky , slimy and muddy
touch people or hold hands
walk without slipping
wear covered shoes without stinking
hold anything without dripping water
have meals without making puddles
walk without looking like she was caught in the rain
stand the smell of her sweaty stinky body, feet and armpits
stand people who implied her condition is a ‘small matter’ and ‘what’s a little bit of water and sweat?’
sleep without wetting the bedsheets
wake up feeling dry
do nothing without breaking out in sweat
see herself as a normal human being like everyone else
stand another day of being alive

She wished for God to have mercy, let her life be as short as can be. She tried every single remedy people recommended to attempt to cure her sweaty palms. Hands are the most important thing is her life. If she can use her hands to do things that normal people could, life would be different.

She went through her life like that until she was 22. All these years of crying and trying anything that people said worked for them and failing. She finally read about ETS surgery and was determined to get it done. She read of unhappy endings, regrets and compensatory sweating but she doesn’t feel it can possibly be worse her sweaty palm crisis. She went for consultation then the surgery. The doctor couldn’t believe she endured this all her life, he asked what took her so long to come forward to have the surgery. She was the worst case he had ever seen.

After ETS. The good was that her hands now no longer sweat unless it’s under sports condition. Bonus was that her head and neck stopped sweating as well. Her body and legs and feet sweat twice as much as before. But still, she had no regrets. She loved her new life and new found confidence. She would like to encourage other sufferers to consider the surgery risks and assess whether their condition. If your hyperhidrosis bad enough to warrant the feeling that the impending compensatory sweating at its worst form is bearable? If so, please proceed to ETS now. If you have doubts, then don’t go for it.

She wishes fellow sufferers good luck and a happy life ahead - sweaty or not. She knows that no one else will understand this condition unless they have it, the severe kind.

Her sweat, will never end.

Courtesy Begins with You.

I've met with so many inconsiderate people everywhere that it really makes me feel like I don't see any silver lining in the horizon. I feel sickened. Few weeks ago, rain pelted heavily after office hours. Like others, I waited for a bus instead of walking home. I boarded a bus. It was crowded, I was standing. An Indian man who looked in his 30s boarded the bus limping. Would you give up your seat to someone who walks with a limp but doesn't hold a walking stick? Obviously, no one would. This is NOT a long haul bus. It's a short distance looping bus ride. He eyes the last seat which is available but sadly inaccessible to him as the woman was seated on the aisle seat. She must have had some eye temporary blindness going on as she was unaware of his entire situation. He is swerving around unsteadily as the bus revs and performs quick sharp turns maneuvering out of the bus interchange. After a few bus stops, he finally couldn't take it and he squeezed himself into that seat. I witnessed the look of relief on his face once he was seated.

Just when I started to feel that humanity is lost, a bright line shone through once more. I just witnessed a kind man giving up his seat to a small kid on MRT today. Just 2 weeks ago, I gave my seat to an old man. I could see in his eyes that he was very happy and thankful. As I stood in front of him playing my cell phone games, I sense his eyes. When I looked up around 2 stops later, a man in his 30s seated 2 spaces away from the old man waved at me and offered his seat. Of which, I rejected. For a split moment there, I admit that I sneaked a quick peek at my stomach and dress just to check if I looked pregnant. Nah, it wasn’t my dress. He’s a gentleman indeed. This is the first time I experience it first hand from a stranger. It makes me feel like there is some small hope, no matter how small, that there still are many considerate people after all. (Hopefully I’m right about this).

As I prepared to exit the MRT, I felt the old man’s eyes following me. He said goodbye and also thanked me twice. I think this feeling of him appreciating the seat is none comparable. It’s not that I want anything in return but I feel that even a “Thank you” or “Gam Siah” would make me or the giver feel damn happy. Some people say that others were rude after receiving the seat or some even reject the seats when asked why they do not give up theirs. I’ve my share of such experiences too. However, I am more than happy to give up my seat to people in need, even if I get rudeness in return. You know why? Because why should we punish the kind and courteous recipients by denying these people of seats just because of some bad sheeps.

From Priority to Reserved Seats. Although the aisle seats are best for needy as they are nearest to the door but does it really matter who ought to give up the seats? Shouldn't it be instinctive? Like if all others are asleep, you give up yours? The reserved tag irks people and triggered alot of people to spat over it.

Perhaps it's high time to introduce Courtesy Seats instead.

You see, life is not fair. No one ever said it was, so we should stop thinking that it would or could be. We should start changing to make life better and Singapore a better place to live in. Even if I had a million dollars, I don't think I would be truly happy here if our culture does not change. I think I would ideally use all that money to migrate to a happier place. We have much to learn from other countries. Courtesy and consideration begins with us. No amount of courtesy campaigns will help. God save us. We need to start from babies for crying out loud.

P.S: Watch The Joy Truck on Channel 8 every Tuesday at 8pm. It's a wonderful show.

My Thoughts at Random

Same shit, different day
Shovel shit, get paid
Diao shit, na beh
No pay, ho seh

Look away, pretend you didnt see.
How our world had turned out to be.
Look away, pretend you dont know.
How our world had turned so cold.
Look down, right into your cell.
Needy people are standing, you really cant tell?
Look around, I know you're entitled cause you've paid.
But if your needy loved one's standing, would you still think it's okay?

Bullying/abuse. Tolerated by none yet most choose to keep silent about.
It's not easy to speak up when you are the subject of bullying/abuse.
The limelight should be thrown at the abuser and by-standers, not the abused.
On this, I applaud SIM Amos who stood up for a right cause.
May this serve as a warning to all those evil employers out there.
Justice prevails.

Toot toot toot doors closing sibei intense
Why some people kannasai and dense
Stand at doorway form human fence
Move aside or step outside, no offense
Get out to get in, it's common sense

Although life beats us down, we never ever concede defeat.
We struggle, fight and make a blardy lot of noise.
One life. Live, believe, find our inner peace.
Let faith guide us in our path and we will never walk alone.

I learn and experience new things and feelings everyday. I am thankful for that. God bless us all. ♥

Lately seen a lot of hate propagating posts & news. It's really screwing up my mind.
War isn't created to solve anything except buttering battered egos.
War ended to make peace. MJ says Heal the World, make it a better place.