Using Fischer iontophoresis device for feet

[superyou]

I've been using the Fischer iontophoresis device for the last couple of months to treat my feet and I wanted to write about my experience here.

I've suffered from excessive sweating of my hands and feet for as long as I can remember. About ten years ago when I was in my early 20s I had surgery to fix my hands which was successful and changed my life. But ever since then I've still been bothered by having very sweaty feet. After discovering the old ESFB forum I learned about the various methods used to help remedy this problem. I tried several things, from Drysol and other roll-on anti-perspirants (none of which worked), to using the Secure Wipes (which worked to a degree, but are expensive and a pain to apply each day). Eventually I came across one person's posts about the Fischer and was convinced to try it myself.

My doctor had never heard of this remedy for excessive sweating. After reading the information at the Fischer website she was actually intrigued by the idea and happy to write me the prescription necessary to order the device.

Following the instructions supplied with the device I began by treating my feet every two days (every 2-3 days is suggested in the instructions), with it set to 15 milliamps (they suggest a voltage of 12-18 milliamps). The feet are treated for ten minutes, then for another ten minutes with the polarity reversed. If this sounds complicated to you (as it did to me at first), it's actually easy to use.

At first the voltage felt a little painful on my feet. It makes one feel itchy and the longer the feet were in the water the worse it felt. But the more I used the device the easier it got; I don't feel any pain using it now.

After those early treatments my feet would be red and feel sore, though mostly only around where the waterline met my feet--the tops of my feet and toes. My skin would be itchy, dry and began to flake in those areas. The rest of my feet, the part below the waterline, did not get affected in this way. Applying moisturiser to my feet when I'd go to bed or before putting on socks in the morning helped soothe the affected areas.

By the time I'd treated my feet ten times the sweating had completely stopped! MY FEET NO LONGER SWEAT AT ALL!

The soreness eventually cleared up, either because I increased time between treatments (every three days instead of every two), or because I raised the waterline to reach my ankles (by changing the trays) which I describe next.

The trays supplied with the machine are inadequate for treating feet as they are not deep enough. The water barely covers the top of my foot and I needed to be treating my foot up to my ankles. The tops of my feet and my ankles were still sweating. So, I made my own replacement trays which was easy.

I used plastic storage containers for trays, found for $3 each at a dollar store. The exact ones I used are on this page, item #1894:
http://www.sterilite.com/Category.html?Section=Storage&ProductCategory=42#

And to connect the wires from the device to the trays I used the following parts ('binding posts') from Radio Shack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103984&cp

To assemble the trays I just had to make a hole just big enough to screw the binding post into and then used a socket wrench to fasten it securely. And it works perfectly! Now I can treat my entire foot up to my ankles.

The metal part of the binding post in the water got discolored quickly but it doesn't seem to have any negative effect on it. It will likely eventually corrode and need to be replaced.

I have found that now the water level is higher my toes and the tops of my feet are no longer being adversely affected by the current. The redness and dryness I was getting have gone. Where the waterline now reaches my ankles my skin doesn't get affected as badly, just a little redness. Though maybe this is because I treat my feet every three days now, instead of every two days like I did when I started.

My aim is now to start stretching out the time between treatments. The instructions supplied with the device state the eventual possibility of only needing to use it once every 2-4 weeks. I'll plan on reporting my results here later.

My life has changed for the better from this. The high cost of the device (over $600) really was worth it for the comfort I now feel. I hope this post is helpful to some of you and will encourage you to try this, as I was encouraged by reading someone else's experiences. There isn't much information out there so I hope I've been clear and that my post will answer questions some of you may have.

--Robert

[Pinker]

That's cool. I'm happy the device is working for you

I use the Idrostar machine for my hands and feet and its stopped almost all my sweating too.

But i'm interested, you said you filled the tray up to your ankle and it stopped the sweating there. I thought the skin had to be in contact with the metal plate? My feet still sweat a bit above the waterline so i'll give this a go.

[superyou]

I don't know much about the Idrostar but there are no metal plates in the Fischer's trays. The wires from the device are plugged into the binding posts which are exposed to the water. My feet touch nothing but the water and the plastic trays. Literally putting the wires in the water would work just as well (but would eventually corrode them of course).

[Pinker]

Wow right I see what you mean.

When I was told about iontophoresis long ago the nurse put me under the impression or told me basically that the skin needed to be in placed near the metal plates. But current can travel through the water to my understanding.

I wonder why they bother having metal plates with the idrostar?

[zinedine]

Hey you guys, I am also in a similar boat. I had ETS for palmar sweating, but my feet sweating got much much worse post surgery.

I am trying to collect these kinds of posts for each iontophoresis device out there at:

http://www.no-ets.com/forums

Maybe you can post your results in a thread titled "success" or something to that effect in the Fisher and Idrostar sections of those forums. I don't have enough money to buy these machines and risk them not working right now, but many such positive posts might force me to risk it in future.
_________________
Hyperhidrosis Forum

[ETSsuccess]

[superyou]

Update after using the Fischer for several months:

I experimented with stretching out the time between treatments. After a few weeks of treatments five days apart I found my feet began to sweat again (plus visiting Texas in June didn't help!).

So obviously I need to be doing it more regularly. I'm a bit disappointed as the instructions implied the possibility of treatments every two weeks. I guess it's different for everyone and I did have REALLY sweaty feet. I'm just glad this works at all and can live with treating them every 3-4 days which keeps me dry.

I've read a little about using baking soda in the water so will try that to see what effect I get.

--Robert

[jimmy]

Thanks for the update, I don't think anyone here manages to go for more than a week between treatments do they? I have to do it at least twice a week.
_________________
UK age23

[sixers]

I used to have three weeks of complete dryness.

[jimmy]

Lucky old you!
_________________
UK age23