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.

Thank you. What's your symptoms ? It's mostly my head which is shit,
Do you think should I ring my GP back tommorow and say about getting medication and possibly an mri scan?

I would never be able to be a hairdresser, I would be a danger to myself and the customers

A neurology referral is necessary because a) to discount anything else b) to get the medication, Im not sure GPs can prescribe anything other than beta blockers

I know I honestly felt like I was the only person in the world with it it felt like haha

My mum has it bad but I notice my mum would drink alcohol alot to calm hers down. She actually drinks a bit to much tbh because of it :(

Although I'm such a hypochondriac I'm scared incase it's something worse and I'm dying 🤣 even though my mum has it so it's Probly just inherited

I have this. I thought about posting on Mumsnet about this before but didn't becaise I thought nobody would understand me....

I cannot offer drinks at work as my hands shake, i hate having someone next to me and show them something on my computer, as my hands will start shaking (my mouse has to be on low speed). It is awful.

In my cause, I know it is not neurological, as it happens when I am stressed, and these situations stress me, but I can offer drinks to people i fell very comfortable with no problem, literally only happens when in places I feel under pressure or stressed, or on the spotlight. It is psychological in my case. Like my body reacts extremly to minimal stress and then when I notice a bit of shaking, that stresses me more and start shaking more and more.

I have developed an intolerance to Propanolol, which I used to have but cannot have it anymore, so thats not even an option for me.

@soupfiend do you reckon I should ring my GP Back tommorow and say about getting referred to neurology?

You need a neurology referral from your GP. There are 2 medications for benign essential tremor, the one you are taking and also Primidone. It's my understanding you take one or the other, not both.I was told that Primidone is stronger and therefore more effective (this is for a relative, it may not be the same in your case). Neurology referral is the way to go though as tremor could be caused by many things.

Or showing someone something on my phone, like a picture or a message they might need to see (particularly at work), hand is moving all around, cant steady it, need two hands but then I need a third hand to steady the two that are shaking!

Does it happen in your head ? Like shaking in ur head also

See I used to only get it when I was very nervous or uncomfortable but now I notice as I'm getting a bit older it's getting worse and happens more

Primidone is an anti epileptic medication and propranalol is a beta blocker.

Although I have primidone can cause seizures? That's why I'd be scared to take it

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8719469/#:~:text=Primidone%20suppresses%20limb%20tremor%20more,that%20with%20propranolol%20%5B12%5D.

Get your vitamin b tested

That's why you need to discuss your particular case with a neurologist. A lot of medications have side effects but the vast majority of people won't get them and they can start you on a low dose if appropriate.

Not in my head, just my hands

Honestly hoping when I ring the doctor back tommorow they let me see a neurologist but I'd be so scared haha

Does anybody find anti depressants make their tremor worse?? Or better.

My gp tried to prescribe me anti depressants today because she said it might help

In my case and the only think that has worked a bit is exposure to the situation and being open about it (at work). I used to be so anxious and the shaking was so bad that it was obvious I had a problem, I spoke to my manager and explain, so that has taken a bit of the pressure off if that makes sense. I still shake sometimes but it is much less, controlable with a low mouse speed. I don't offer drinks at work but that's not my job anyway, so shouldnt be a problem!

I was on antidepresants at some point it didn't make a difference.

I honestly just wish I didn't have it in my head.
If I had the choice I would rather it in my hands over my head. (I'd obviously rather not have it at all) but atleast if I didn't have it in my head it wouldn't affect so much like I would LOVE to be able to go and get stuff done (hair,eyebrows etc)

The way I'm studying hairdressing in college there was a girl asked if she could practice plaits on me and I literally just had to say no cause I felt sick lol

No certain anti depressants can make tremors much worse, also asthma medication

@soupfiend I tried taking Prozac one time and it was the worst mines had ever been. Could barely drive.

I feel like it's effecting m my dating life to, I'm single and I honestly hate goin on dates cause it goes 10 times worse when nervous. Also have to have 2 strong drinks before I go out for dinner else I would barely be able to eat

@RolaColaLola What do you expect neurology would do? you have a diagnosis.

By the sounds of it, the 'diagnosis' OP has is just from her GP and the propranolol clearly isn't helping much. I would expect neurology to rule out other conditions, possibly do nerve condition tests, bloods for deficiencies including Vit B and an MRI if indicated. I'd also expect them to have other options/meds to try to help OP, rather than says its part of who she is!

Others have also suggested seeing neurology, but you haven't asked them why they suggested it. Many posters who have been diagnosed have also mentioned seeing neurology, so its clearly not some outlandish suggestion!

You sound just like me, I've had essential tremor for as long as I can remember, it affects my hands and head, and sometimes, my voice! It's the bane of my life, and sadly, 3 of my children have it- my daughter has it terribly and I feel very guilty.
I take propranolol for anxiety, and it helps a bit.
My daughter (aged 23) has been to the GP about hers, they referred her to a neurologist, who basically told her that there wasn't much they could do for her, she tried propranolol but it made her feel unwell.
I hate everytime someone notices and asks why I'm shaking, they almost always assume that I'm nervous, which sometimes I am, but the shaking happens regardless of nerves, although they make it worst.
The worst time was at work last year, and someone asked me if I needed a drink , she was joking I think, and I laughed it off, but it really irked me, and I've kept my distance from her since.
I've never been able to be upfront about my essential tremor, I think because I didn't know what it was until recently, and before then it was just an embarrassment, so now I automatically close down if someone asks me why I'm shaking.
Luckily my daughter is a lot more open about hers- I've tried to teach her not to be ashamed of it, and now, in her words, she "doesn't give a fuck" if people notice her shaking and stare at her.

Yes DH's certainly gets worse when he is stressed. But he practices meditation and that helps with stress.