Essential tremor support thread!! Advice

[princessAlo]

Hi everyone! So I had a thread up before about essential tremor, and it is now gone. I got some really good advice, I had said before since I was about 16 I noticed it, it runs in my family.. my mum has it quite bad.
I thought I would set this up again as sometimes I feel like the only one in the world with it I've never seen anybody else with it apart from my mum.. I'm 30, and it's actually not to bad in my hands it's more my torso and my head that shakes, and it gets worse with nerves/anxiety. I am on 20/30mg of propanalol and tbh I don't think it does anything, maybe that is to low a dose but I'm a bit scared to take more as I notice even 30mg leaves me a bit tired and slows my heart so scared what it would be like if I took around 80mg.. I said in my old post before I'm very upset thinking I might have passed this onto my 5 year old daughter:(
this thread is set up to talk about things that help it/ or your experiences. I also notice that if I'm out for dinner etc and I finish an alcoholic drink the shake nearly completely dissapears.

I also am freakin out because I have laser eye surgery tommorow and it says you have to sit extremely still and I do not know how I'm gonna do this as I'm VERY nervous for it to! So any advice on that would be great, they have to put eyedrops in, stay still obv for the laser, actually freakin out about it incase I'm all shakey 🤣
This is a safe space to talk about if your also suffering with ET

Fairly sure they have have a head padding thing to help keep your head as still as possible?

I have it. Inherited from my mothers side. I find the same thing with Alcohol easing it. Stress worsens it. Like you I was a teenager when I first noticed it, slightly younger than 16. I only take Propanalol on a prn basis (as needed) eg if I have to give a presentation or similar. Unfortunately I have found it worsens with age. On the bright side it won't kill us, isn't painful, more embarassing. I often tell people I have it if I am going to be having coffee with them for example. I sometimes think people may assume it is alcohol withdrawal. It is awkward and socially embarassing, but I am used to it now, the older I get the less of a fuck I give. There are much worse health problems to have so I don't get worked up about it. Telling people helped me. I cannot carry a cup on a saucer so I just take the cup. If I am with my husband or certain friends they carry the drinks.

Thank you! I usually have to take a diazepam if I'm goin to get my hair done. I'm also currently doing a hairdressing course not sure if that was the right choice of career lol but it's not bad in my hands! I'm also single and find I avoid dates because theyl be thinkin I'm shakin like that cause I'm nervous

Ahh, nice to find this thread as I feel like the only one! I just have shaky hands and its just embarassing; I have struggled to get forks of food in my mouth and thrown tea all over tables/myself. I have to use two hands like a toddler sometimes or if im at a conference for example, I just hold my tea i'm given but dont drink it! 😅 I don't really know what my trigger is, stress yes but it seems to be a cumulative effect thing rather than one particular trigger. I havent spoken to a doctor and didnt realise there were drugs available, although they dont sound appealing!

Yeah there is drugs to take I think there's even ones specifically for it I can't remember the name! I'm on proponal but tbh it doesn't do much I'm still shaky, does your head shake to ?

Not yet! Just the hands, it started about 3yrs ago when i was 35

I've had it since my mid teens.
It's obviously an inherited condition looking at my parents and brother!

Im now used to the two handed coffee drinking in public, but still can miss my mouth! 😝

It does get noticeably worse when I get anxious.

Im currently going through treatment for BC so have to face my nemesis more than I'd like.

In fact one of my operations was postponed at the last minute when the nurse noticing my tremors. Ten minutes before I was due to be taken down.
They were worried it was alcohol withdrawl because I'd admitted to drinking two bottles of wine a week!!

I've luckily since had a sensible conversation with my consultant who recognises it's anxiety driven.

Much like my white coat syndrome when they try to take my BP half an hour before going under the knife.
She's very understanding so will take my BP the day before any procedure.

It's very difficult though when even many medical professionals don't seem to be aware of it 😞

Yup. Had it since my teens. Mam has it, my aunt and cousin. Deffo gets worse with age. Alcohol does help it, a doctor told me why once but I can't remember. It's affected my balance and coordination

I'm so nervous for today I know I'm not going to be able to sit still. I know I'm going to be highly judged by this but it's not till later in the evening and my dad is driving me I wonder would I be able to have a wine or two before I go?🤣 I know that makes me sound like an alcho but I know it will steady me and my head shake will completely go away