Weird question- underarm sweat only on the 'good' side

Hi Lizz,

Ha! been meaning to ask this question also. I too do not sweat under my "bad" arm, and it doesn't smell at all, making the other one, after exercise smell even worse lol.. I use the Moo Goo Aluminium free one, it's ok, not as good as regular deodorant but as i wash so much through the day now with the bloody flushes it isn't so bad, been meaning to try the Pitrok one, might be better after exercise!

Nix x

Hi All

Now that you have stopped using aluminium based deodorants you have also stopped using toxins which blocked the pores to the sweat producing glands.  You are bound to experience more sweat and consequently the bacteria which feed on it.  It's their by-product which makes your 'pits' stink.  Personally I am alternating between Bionsen and Missy.  Any deodorant (roll on's are better) WITHOUT aluminium is the best.  Good to know there are other ones out there.  Weird about the lack of sweat in the armpit where lymph nodes have been excised.  I didn't think they were linked!!

....still fighting this nasty little critter....

Hello everyone

Thank you all for replying with your experiences. Not sure if this is scientifically rigorous enough but I'm convinced that I no longer sweat on the side where lymph nodes have been removed. Just woke up from a hot and sweaty night and there is definitely a slight (inoffensive and only noticeable on fingers wiped in armpit) odour on the good side and nothing on the other. That's after 2 days of no deodorant on the right (bad), and a Maluka honey Dr Organic one from Holland and Barrett applied only on the left more than 24 hours ago. It reached over 30 degrees here yesterday, and I worked for 7 hours, drove 70 miles, and generally got quite hot and bothered at times, and I wasn't aware of being smelly when I showered before bed. So my conclusion (personally) is that I can use a mild, fairly natural deodorant on the good side and nothing on the 'bad'.

Is this the first silver lining? 

With love and thanks

Lizz xxx

Hiya Lizz  

I'm thinking that in some cases where more armpit nodes are taken than during a SNB some sweat glands get removed with them.

Surgery to remove axillary sweat glands is a very similar operation so perhaps the sweat glands are collateral damage when the nodes are removed ?

G n' J

I thought something similar George. I read that sweat glands are small and can be mistaken for fat. So, if the surgeon is poking around looking for the lymph nodes, it wouldn't be surprising that they nabbed some sweat glands too. I also had some skin removed as part of the mastectomy which may have had sweat glands associated.

Dear Lynn (Kacang) and others,

Well that's me well-offended - I don't have any fat!!!

No, but seriously, thank you all very much. I seem to be confirming the theory every day -  I haven't had a shower since bedtime and I'm having horrible night sweats which coupled with going for a long walk in 30 degrees has resulted in a very slight odour (only apparent when I rub and sniff my fingers - apologies for being gross) on the left and nothing on the right.

Have a nice day, everyone, even if you find my description a bit too graphic

With love

Lizz

Lucky you Lizz. I wish ...

L

Hi Liz, well I was hoping we had the same weird thing happen after sentinel node removal but mine is the opposite. 

I rarely wear anti perspirant because I don’t isuslly sweat. However, after my surgery 9-days ago, the armpit that had the surgery is always clammy and sticky and I don’t like it. 

My doc appt isn’t until last week but I’m sure she’ll say “nope never heard of that one before!”

i sure can’t find anything on the interweb, lol

i cannot believe this! i thought it was just me so the side i had radio on no sweat no smell at all my “good” side hmmmn different story prior to breast cancer & all the treatments ops radio i wouldt say i had stinky/sweaty pits but my goodness the good pit smells like onions!! not pleasant but glad it’s not just me how weird??? also my armpit hair on radio side is like bum fluff! hardly any aall and white in colour 

Wow, I thought it was just me. Since node removal I have yet to sweat that side. In fact I have decreased in the amount on the other side too. Prior surgery I wouldn't dream of going without Deodorant, in fact I had switched to Mitchum as normal Deodorant didn't cut it any longer. Xxx