Essential tremor. Really getting me down. Need advice

[Ririgirl95]

I’m pretty sure I have a tremor. My mum has it quite bad and my granda also had it. I notice when I get really nervous I would literally shake so bad not just my hands but in my head for example if I was arguing with someone it would be so bad or if I’m at a interview anything basically that raises my anxiety levels. But it’s kind of effecting my life because I couldn’t go and get my eyebrows done/eyelashes done/ hair done because I would not be able to keep still, unless I was drunk then the shaking stops altogether 😂
I also notice it more now because I do a hairdressing course and we sometimes practice on each other and sometimes I just have to tell the teachers no because I just know with everyone shaking my head would shake and it would be so embarrassing.

has anybody experienced this before? I feel like I wouldn’t be half as anxious or anti social if I didn’t have this 💔 I’m only 30.
P.s was also just at the doctors today about it and they tbh didn't really do much about it. They made me follow there finger and they did notice my head shaking etc. done some other tests aswell which ruled anything serious out made me touch my toes standing up etc. she just said it's part of who I am and booked me in for a talking therapy session about it in a month.. not sure what help that will do tbh. I take propanol for it but I was given that years ago for anxiety but I find it doesn't do much. I can't take a high dose of it either because I always suffer with low blood pressure. So always only take about 20/30mg.

Thanks for listening guys it is getting me down. Also the only thing that takes it away is alcohol. If I'm having a couple drinks it completely goes away. Which is annoying because in social situations I find myself drinking more which isn't a good thing.

This sounds neurological. Can you return to the surgery and see a different GP?

I maybe will ring tommorow and try or should I even try and get a different doctor to ring me even? I'm surprised she didn't give me medication. I know tablets aren't a good thing but if it's effectin my life think medication is a must.
Altho I'm not thinkin it's anythin else apart from essential tremor. My mum was diagnosed with it years ago

DH has it, inherited from his mother. It has improved massively from taking supplements: magnesium 1 gram per day, B vitamins, and especially glutathione. Not sure what dose of glutathione, will find out and let you know.

Oh thank you! See I have also inherited from my mum she has it alot worse. Can I ask would ur husbands just get worse when he gets nervous etc ? In his head? And thank you let me know and I'll literally buy the stuff tommorow id try anythin to help haha x

Poor you, I sympathise wholeheartedly. I used to have this (like you, it runs in my family). My hands used to shake so badly when I was under pressure, or people were watching. I used to be asked to make coffee for board meetings in the office and I once actually paid a colleague £5 to do it for me because I just couldn't. Another time I pretended to faint rather than carry the cups. My head and whole body would also shake if, like you, I was having a row with someone. There were so many things I had to avoid, even being offered a cup of tea at someone's house was a nightmare and I'd break out in a cold sweat - which would also make me shake. I was OK if I had a hit of alcohol but that is obviously unsustainable. It ruled my life. I was prescribed propanalol which helped a tiny bit but it also made me feel weird so I stopped taking it. I know it's very little consolation but with me it stopped after the menopause. I still wouldn't volunteer to carry cups into a crowded room but it no longer rules every aspect of my life. It's as if my "chemistry" has changed.

I'd ask to see a different GP at your practice and ask for a neurology referral! Relaxation techniques, acupuncture, breathing etc might be beneficial to a degree. Especially as its genetic, I'd want to know what the chances of your children inheriting it if you have any too.

I do have a daughter she's 5 and it breaks my heart thinking she's going to get it to. Like it actually makes me so sad. I got it from my mum! So id say it's pretty high chances ?

My DF and DB had this since their late teens. Definitely worse in public and when nervous. DB doesn’t order any food that he has to cut up and hates signing his name etc. My DF never took medication (He died over 10 years ago so Im not sure there was any then ). DB also hasn’t taken medication. His is definitely less problematic after a drink. But as you say it’s not a great solution. I would speak to your GP again and tell them just how badly this is affecting you and what can they do to help.

Omg this is exactly me. Or I would avoid going to the hairdressers etc. or if I literally had to go and get an eye test I would shake like uncontrollably it's so rmbarsssing. I remember one time someone thought I was taking a seizure. Do you have any kids and did they end up having it? I have a daughter and it makes me cry at the thought of her having it

I do have a daughter she's 5 and it breaks my heart thinking she's going to get it to. Like it actually makes me so sad. I got it from my mum! So id say it's pretty high chances ?. Out of 3 of us only one has inherited it so it’s not a given your DD will be affected.

I hate signing my name in public I would take a complete jerk like I've been electrocuted. Although I'm like a completely different person if I was to be drunk the shakes completely stop,
I wonder if there is medication for it

I have a familial tremor and it's been the bane of my life!
If I have to carry a cup and saucer I need both hands, basically one holding the cup and the other the saucer. If not I'd be sipping it out of the saucer 😂
Also the head wobble.
It has been an additional challenge recently because I've been diagnosed with breast cancer so I'm being exposed to more scenarios than I'd like.

Carrying a tray across a room is mildly hilarious to everyone else.
Always reminds me of the character on Victoria Wood with the tea trolley 😂

Sorry I can't provide practical advice, just sympathy.

I’m pretty sure my DB has mentioned medication. I’m not sure why he’s not tried it. Maybe it isn’t suitable for him I’m not sure. But if there is something and you are able to try it, it would be worth trying. I know how much distress it’s caused him over the years.

Just to add, my brother and I inherited it but our children have not so it's not a given that your DC will suffer

If I have to carry a cup and saucer I need both hands, basically one holding the cup and the other the saucer. If not I'd be sipping it out of the saucer. After years of serving DH and DB with drinks of anything, I’m programmed to never fill cups and drinking glasses. Everyone else jokes why I always give them half measures.

And I forgot to say my DC didn’t inherit it either.

😂

I know OP, it's absolutely soul destroying. Like I said, I had to basically avoid half my life because of it. Things that other people wouldn't think twice about. Just to make it even worse, my neck would turn red and burn up as well so I had to wear polar neck sweaters if I was socialising or in a "challenging" situation. I do have a son (adult now) and he has inherited it a bit but nowhere near as bad as me thank god. For example, he sometimes has to wait until no-one is looking to take a sip from his drink but he isn't fazed about getting a hair cut or eye test or other "regular" things so there really is hope for your daughter.

Yes I have essential tremor, I was referred to neurology who did some basic writing and walking and movement tests and took a history, and like you it went away when I had alcohol and he said there and then it was essential tremor, sent me for an MRI to check it was nothing else to double check this but t the same time presribed me primadone which I take every night
My writing is getting worse and worse to the extent that I dread someone asking me to complete a form by hand these days but equally I struggle to operate my phone

Also like others above, never give me a cup and saucer together! Also taking drinks or a tray away at a cafe or pub, cant do it, hand is flapping everywhere. My teeth chatter all the time

Years ago I was given propranalol before formal diagnosis but it made my hair fall out so I stopped it.

I was thinking recently I may need much higher strength primadone, not sure wht Im on at the moment.

Try to avoid coffee.

@ginasevern this sounds so silly but I'm scared incase she hates me for giving her it 😅 yeah I have to drink with a straw 🤣 or drink when no one's looking 🤣 and my back shakes aswell. Like the bottom of it

I've even thought about things like there is no way I'd ever be able to get married LOL like if I had to walk down the aisle omg people would think I'm having a seizure and I couldn't sit and get my makeup done
I remember when my brother got married I was a bridesmaid and had to get my makeup done at 7am and I went into the toilet and drunk some vodka and my shakes literally stopped. 🤣 if I didn't do that my makeup would of been like the joker.
The dentist is awful to I sit and shake so bad and the dentist is always wondering wtf Is wrong with me

Yes I have to hold a cup with both hands to manage to get it to my mouth safely!

What do you expect neurology would do?

you have a diagnosis. You’ve tried the first line treatment which hasn’t been helpful. I think reasonable to go back to GP to discuss an alternative medication, though important to discuss the side effects of these other meds then decide whether you want to try them or not.

the plan for some talking therapy is not a bad one. There is no cure for Essential Tremor, though hopefully you’ll find a med that helps, so thinking about how you will cope with it is no bad thing.

Thanks for your message, see I went and seen the doctor today and she said duck all about neurology ! I'm so disappointed because I thought I was going to get proper help today, annoying.. would you get a shake in your head or just hands? See my hands aren't to bad it's my head and my back,
My dream is to be a hairdresser I'm currently studying hairdressing but it's awful because when I'm practicing on peoples hair I am obviously nervous because I'm just starting out so therefore can feel myself shaking /:

I have it too but not as badly as you. I take propranol like you but it makes me feel like I'm wading through treacle so I can't take too much either. I'm on pregabalin for nerve damage and that makes a difference to the tremor too. I take Valerian for sleep and I think that's supposed to help also.

I'm not in the U.K. and I did have a referral to a neurologist when it first started (mostly to rule out other things). I think it's poor that you haven't been offered one so do keep asking.

I'd love to see this thread ongoing.

It's the first time, outside of my family, that I've met people who 'get it'.

I agree it can be soul destroying at times, and I've often avoided certain situations because of it 😞

But to realise it is a 'thing' can be quite liberating.

And agree with signatures. Sometimes it's a barely recognisable scribble and most definitely not the same each time.
I find with deliveries when I have to sign, my signature looks like nothing earthly!