Essential Tremor Support Group
Essential Tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder characterized by shaking of hands (and sometimes other parts of the body including the head), evoked by intentional movements. The incidence is unknown, but is estimated to be as common as one person in 20, and it is the most common type of tremor and also the most commonly observed movement disorder.
Hello everyone! I was recently diagnosed with ET, although I have had mild hand tremors for years. It does seem to have worsened in the last year, so I have decided to start medication. Unfortunately I'm in veterinary medicine and have to assist with surgeries and shaky hands are not ideal. My doctor recommended that I start on inderal la 60mg once a day (I'm about 110 pounds). I trust my doctor, but I'm worried about medication side effects. Will I still be able to exercise? What's the real risks about being light headed? I have fairly low blood pressure normally and I'm worried that this medication will drop it too low. Do you think I should start at a lower dose than this?
Also, what other things can I do to help? Unfortunately my ten hour work days are full of stress, so that unavoidable. I have started to cut out caffeine. I could probably eat a bit healthier, but I'm not awful.
And last question, what can I expect in the future? I just have pretty shaky hands at this point, but do most people progress? And if so how quickly and how severely?
I'm so sorry for all the questions! I'm just looking for some real life input/stories. Thanks!
I was diagnosed with essential tremors a few years back I tried to ignore it in the beginning I have some other health issues so I just didn't wanta have another thing to deal with. Eventually I had no choice I was unable to hold a pen to sign my name and a big one for me was I couldn't put my dogs leash on to take her out. I saw a neurologist about it and was diagnosed with essential tremors action tremors specifically they are made worse when I do intentional movements and are a bit better when I am relaxed. I am sorry that you are going through this you seem scared to me and that I understand completely I was too but I'm ok with it now it will get better not the tremors but living with them I mean.
To answer your questions about your medication I was given the same prescription dosage and all and I was given all the warnings about side effects for one it can make you abut lightheaded at first, I was told to take it in the morning but to not hurry up out of bed take your time standing up slowly and moving around at first then you should be ok I actually just had my dose increased to 80 mg from 60 mg I'd stick to the dose ur dr recommended.
As for what can you do to help well cutting caffeine is good I try to eat a healthy diet and don't skip meals if I can't eat lunch I try to make sure I get my nutrition still in the form of juice not suger loaded stuff I juice at home so usually it's more greens and veggies with an apple maybe for sweetness no added sugar's all natural. You're doing all the right things right now just keep it up.
Now for your bigger question of what can you expect that one's hard to say everyone is different I asked my doctor if it was going to get worse for me it was my hands arms and legs they were being affected my hands were the worst but I have a slight limp on my right side as a result of this as well my doctor told me that every case is different and no two patients are alike she said it could progress and get worse she also said this could be the worst of it and it Could remain at this degree only time will tell in the meantime the medication that you're on is the same medication and the same dosage that I was on and it helped dramatically. I can't express to you the feeling I had the first time I was able to go to a restaurant with my husband again and not feel like I was being watched because my hands were shaking when I held a fork or because I needed my husband to help me cut my meat. The first time I was able to eat soup and actually get soup from the spoon to my mouth without it all falling down on the way it was pretty awesome I have to say. The road head is different for everybody the thing that is helped me the most is that I try to stay positive I tried to feel as though I may have a few uphill struggle with things but I will get them done and there's nothing that I can do if I really want to. If your condition were to get more severe there's no telling how long it would take it could be something that's really gradual or it could be something that is really dramatic but like I said my doc said no to patients are the same and you're not going to suddenly wake up one morning with your head shakeing things like that happen slowly over time for me personally I found yoga helpful in dealing with stress I wish you all the best if you have any other questions please ask that's the good thing about places like this it's safe to ask anything and to support each other.
Rachel
I had taken the inderol 80mg for about a month & then I started to feel light-headed, so I stopped, but a month later, I still feel the same, which I think means that it wasn't the inderol. I need to go back to my neuro & see. He did say that he could give me a 20mg dose instead, so you can go lower & see if it works for you.
My regular Dr said that an 80mg dose shouldn't really lower my BP that much, but I had border-line high BP.
According to my neuro, it's kind of trial & error with meds to see what will help & if you google it, there are many different ones that you can take.
It's nice to know that others are able to manage ET fairly well. I wish I just had a crystal ball to see what my progression is going to be. But, for now I'm trying not to worry...at least not too much...
As far as my experience, i ve seen the tremors are mainly anxiety related, for me atleast.. it doesnt matter if the anxiety level is normal or abnormal.. i ve been on different medications over the 2 yrs that i ve been diagnosed but as i see, all of them have had the same effect for me.. they are super effective for a couple of months ( reduce tremor frequency and intensity) but i think my body goes immune to those medications :p
I quit aerospace engineering and chose a less stressful field as it was earlier in my studies that it was diagnosed.. as for u, it might be difficult to change jobs, i ll give u some advice that has been effective for me..
1. Dnt be afraid of ur tremors.. dnt think that what will i do if the tremors start in the middle of a surgery or anything.. tell urself u can deal with it and control it.. it helps, reduces the frequency of tremors during work..
2. Dnt care about ur tremors.. once they start, dnt stress out by thinking what the hell, what will i do with these shaky hands, i cant work like this.. again tell urself that i can control it, and also make a little effort to control them, through brain power.. but dnt work on it tooooooo hard as it just worsens them then... using this approach, tremors dnt last long during a particular episode..
3. Take vacations away from ur routine, whenever u can.. it helps when the overall stress level reduces.. :)