"CH (compensatory hyperhidrosis) is a result of a lack of negative feedback to the hypothalamus after sympathectomy"
J. bras. pneumol. vol.34 no.11 São Paulo Nov. 2008
The authors of the article consider this to be more evident after T2 sympathectomy, but members of this forum (http://etsandreversals.yuku.com/directory) who have had the surgery performed at a lower level(s) have also experienced thermoregulatory dysfunction and severe/disabling lower body hyperhidrosis.
The article is important because it states clearly that sympathectomy will change the function of the hypothalamus, - part of the brain responsible for much more than thermoregulation. It also refers to the abnormal sweating as hyperhidrosis, indicating that it will be more that what the body needs for thermoregulation.
"The hypothalamus affects the endocrine system and governs emotional behavior, such as anger and sexual activity. Most of the hypothalamic hormones generated are distributed to the pituitary via the hypophyseal portal system.[10] The hypothalamus maintains homeostasis; this includes a regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus
When you sign the 'informed consent' document, you are not told that the surgeon is going to interfere with the system that maintains the body's homeostasis, and that loss of homeostasis leads to pathology. If you are not told this by your surgeon, then he/she is withholding information that would allow you to understand the nature and scope of the irreversible procedure your are agreeing to.
You are also told that the amount of sweat you will have on other parts of the body after surgery equals the amount of sweat on the palms before surgery. There is not truth to this claim, and no surgeon can substantiate this. The doctors KNOW that this is a lie, yet they tell this to the patients in order to make the surgery appear as a simple and safe and ...predictable.
If you have a procedure that is distinctly different than what you agreed to, your consent based on the information provided by your surgeon is void, meaning that you can argue your case in court that the procedure was performed WITHOUT consent, which constitutes 'trespass to a person' and battery. In this case (if you win), the court can bring a much harsher sentence on the (fraudulent) surgeon, and can award exemplary/aggravated damages in addition to your loss of earnings etc.
"The High Court (of Australia) has said that the question of choice on the part of the patient is meaningless, unless he or she is provided with the information to make a reasoned decision." (Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, Vol. 15, No 1 1995)
