Essential Tremor

[Guest]

I have been diagnosed with essential tremor I suffer from minor to moderate hand shaking, noticeable with fine hand movements, (holding a glass etc). Worsens under stress. I will be attempting to apply to the police dept this summer. Am I dreaming? My hands do not have a problem with the gun control as the weapon is heavy enough not to affect my tremor, and any embarrasing side effects could be controlled by medication. I am taking propraninol occasionally as the situation dictates, is there something that may be more effective to my situation? Has anyone heard of a police officer working with this condition. If you were the Dr clearing me for duty, would you with my condition?

[Guest]

If your tremor is under good control with the propranolol, and you pass the required tests for the department (which I would assume would test fine coordination, motor skills, handling weapons etc), and you are not having any hegative side effects from the medication, you will probably be cleared medically, but you should speak to the police department doctor about this. Good luck.
[quote] I have been diagnosed with essential tremor. I suffer from minor to moderate hand shaking, noticeable with fine hand movements, (holding a glass etc)... [/quote]

[gypsea]

I am an officer that suffers from ET. I have been an officer/detective for 15 years. I was diagnosed 8 years ago after failing a firearms qualification. It has gotten progressively worse to the point that I may have to retire medically. You can do your job, but I cannot advise for the length of time before you may have to retire also. Qualifying is the worse! Good Luck!

[macacoza]

I also wish you luck...I am on th eother side of it..my husband is a 30 cop and I have ET...HE unbderstands my problems...
WOWWWWWW...I just noticed that the first as written in 2002...I am now wondering what has happened in these 6 yrs...hope you get this!
Deb

[Killamanjaro]

i am 42 yrs old now and have had et for 25 yrs. i went to college to obtain a bs degree in criminology... i too wanted to be a cop... they won't allow it even tho i asked many many screening docs from many man counties cities from many many police depts who said it wasnt an issue.... i could tongue beat them all for wasting my time in college obtaining a degree that is no use to me now... it is an issue...

i even put myself thru the academy... stressful as all hell... but i was doing great... top 5 of my class in largest academy they had at that point in time, 7.5 weeks left to go........ upon the large inspection my right arm/hand and head shook badly... i was ousted.

those docs were wrong... and they wont allow for it... sorry. this was back in 1995 and maybe things have changed but doubtful.. i didnt realize my et would get worse like it has.

et sucks and it ruins one's life imo. i would try for something non gun in same realm if u want that bad to get in. i even had highest shotgun shooting after 4 times of being trained and never shot one in my life.. i shook badly when shooting and still maanged to beat out 80 other people, male and female... my grades, high marks, etc. none of it mattered.. et blows. i am pursuing dbs in hopes it stops the tremors.. who knows maybe when i am in my later 40's or early 50's i can try again... but even dbs does not stop et 'triggers' stress being one for all of us... it only makes the shaking worse....

i dont mean to burst your bubble but i have wanted to be a cop almost all my life... and cannot be what i want to be here... it is reality they wont give a gun to a shaky person.

~M

[macacoza]

I am so sorry to hear your story!...ET can and does upset some careers..and not others. I am at a loss for words...

[Killamanjaro]

i appreciate your condolences...

BUT.......

et ruins most careers. as years go by and it gets more and more uncontrollable... just sitting in an interview alone isnt easy... i have NEVER had a career and always wanted one...

careers arent much of an option when it comes to ET.. perhaps craptastic JOBS are... here is your 8 dollar an hour job... live it up... it is called no independence.

not taking this out on u, please dont take it personal it is me venting about this gawd awful disease...

ironically, my mom has it but nothing like i do.. her's never got worse.. and there are many days i watch my 80 year old mom who doesnt even have a slight shake. no one in the family has ever mentioned it.. i dont think she thinks she has it or realizes she does.. her head shakes from time to time.. i get head almost always... and random trunk, dominant right arm/hand and on rare occasions.. legs and back (when overheated).

i did go thru a lot of sibling torment in my younger years, nasty head injury at age 9 inflicted by such sibling and POSSIBLE stroke at age 15. these factor coulda triggered this disease... hard to say.. i have a brain mri done in two days.. it is about time a doc placed this order... and to think i only had to wait 25 #%#$%$x^^%#$$ damn years for it.

I hate this life go around.

~M

[macacoza]

I guess I am very lucky. I have been a Realtor since 1985 and love my job...each yr ET gets worse, but I am able to work. I do explain to my customers that i have ET so they dont just think i am a nervous nelly. They are very gracious..it is amazing how many of them have someone in the family with ET so they know a lil bit about it. They usually have questions and a few have asked me if it was ok for their friend or relative to call me. I do agree though that every yr it gets harder to keep going in my job....but i will as long as I can!!!! Good luck with your test!
take care
deb

[Killamanjaro]

u are very lucky.

so yours is getting bad too? what do u do or utilize to try and control it? have u considered dbs?

i am looking again into herbal stuff and see if i can find a good combo for anxiety brought on by et and for et.

u ever go that route? natural? did it work if u did?

http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Parkinson/pd_herbal.htm

http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=./QandA/Medicinal/19990902-4.html&cart_id=1017261.14489

~M

[macacoza]

I have considered the surgery, but I am not ready for that YET! I take my meds and it helps..does nto control much, but it helps!
Let me know how the natural works for you..I will give it a try..
deb