Essential Tremor

[AM20]

I guess I should start off by saying that I have never actually been dignosed with essential tremor, but my symptoms seem to be those of ET (my hands/arms shake when I'm using them, not when they are at rest). I am a 20 year old full-time college student and my symptoms, although not becoming increasingly WORSE, are becoming increasingly BOTHERSOME.

My symptoms first appeared when I was in elementry/middle school, so I have spent years being asked "are you cold?", "are you nervous?", "why are you shaking?"... The comments and questions are ENDLESS.

I've looked over a few of the posts in this forum and it seems like a lot of what's effective in treating ET is drugs, which poses kind of a problem for me since I'm 20 and am in school full time, I obviously don't have a job that comes with health insurance and even the insurance avaliable though the university is really just not in my budget. So seeing a neurologist is pretty much out of the question...

So I'm wondernig what else is effective in treating these symptoms? What else can I do? Because at this point I'm feeling like all I want to do is just not ever go out in public... My shaking is taking a serious toll on the quality of my life: I avoid social situations because I know that people are going to notice my hands shaking (kinda hard to meet new people when you don't even want to go out) and I avoid taking certain classes if i know they're going to involve people seeing me doing this with my hands (I even changed my major because I didn't want to have to take chemistry since the lab involves pouring liquids with a lab partner). Simple little things cause big problems for me, like when I'm standing in line at a store, I find myself DREADING making it up to the cash register and having to hand money to the cashier because I know my hands are going to be shaking.

While some of my problems may just be that I'm too self conscious about it, I really am sick of all the questions and the comments. I don't think people realized just how much it bothers me -- I mean, I WOULD stop shaking if I COULD!! So, I would really like to get my shaking under control because if it continues I don't really see myself living my life to the fullest - I don't want to have to avoid things forever!

Caffeine doesn't seem to affect me and I can't afford expensive drugs, so my question is WHAT ELSE CAN I BE DOING TO REDUCE MY SYMPTOMS??? ANY ideas or suggestions would be helpful!

[Magsterma]

Hi AM
I can certainly Sympathize with your predicament. I was diagnosed with Essential Tremors in 1996 by a neurologist, however had shakes as far back as in 9th grade. At that time it was only in my hands, but doesn't effect my hands as much now as my head. In doing some research, I found out that it can be genetic and I beleive that's where mine came from. Several family members have tremors but they have not been diagnosed by a Neurologist. I am sure that my neurologist tested me in an extremely simple way. Perhaps you can find a friend to help you try this simple test so you will have an idea if it is tremors or something else. Very simple....get a regular size tablet, draw lines about 1" wide (4 of them), then 1/2" wide (4 of them). Have a friend hold this tablet in front of you while you hold a pencil. First draw a line within the 1" line, then have your friend pull the tablet back about 6" and draw a line in the 2nd 1" line, then have your friend pull tablet back about 6" again and draw a line in the 3rd 1" line, then have your friend pull the tablet back another 6" and draw the line in the 4th 1" line. These lines should have a top line and a bottom line and you should be just casually leaning toward tablet and drawing the line between the two lines. By the time that you get to the 4th set of lines to draw between, you'll be leaning forward, however, your hands will no doubt be shaking and it will be difficult to draw the line. This will give you some idea if you have tremors or not. It was absolutely clear when I was tested that I was shocked and amazed that such a simple test can tell so much. Now if this is not the case with you, you really do have to find a way to see a neurologist to be tested for other things too. I was placed on meds and my meds have kept me okay. I have only had to increase the dosage once in 11 years. Also, some of the meds can be purchased at Wal-Mart or Target for $4.00 per prescription. Also there is a program which Montel Williams talks about....PPA or something like that. If you type in "Montel Williams" in a search box, it will pull up the information for you. I used to pay about $50.00 for one script, but with that prescription coverage, it only costs $10.54. And the best part is that you just fill in all the information and they'll email you a form that you just print out and that's your prescription coverage. It is all based on income so I pay not one cent. As a student you probably won't have to pay either and you prescriptions will be extremely cheaper. But you first have to get to a clinic to get tested and get a prescription. Try your area and see if there are any free clinics for students. At age 20, you should not have to be going through this and curtailing classes or social issues. I urge you to get to a doctor....there is help out there and these tremors can be eased and you can live a more fulfilled life. Take care, Maggie

[AM20]

THANKS SO MUCH for the info and advice... I also know of at least one other person in my family who has tremors -- my uncle (mom's brother).

I'm also glad to hear that the tests for it can be very simple (I plan to try that out!). I'm seeing my family physician next week for refills of another prescription I take, and I will ask him about it then.

The good news is that - at least for now - my tremors aren't interfering with my ability to function, it's just more of a little annoyance that just becomes an issue when I know that other are noticing it. Anyway, thanks again for the info, and I will definitely be looking into an actual diagnosis and meds to treat it!

-Alena

P.S.
Do you (or anyone else) find that your tremors get worse when you start focusing on them? Like, if you're doing something and shaking a little, do you start shaking MORE when you notice people are looking at you? Because I think that may be the case for me. It's like the more I think about controlling it, the more I can't control it.

[macacoza]

Putting on my mascara is one of the hardest things for me. At times the tremors are so bad my husband does it for me..he also plucks my eyebrows..hahaha...I wind up with pinched skin and brusises if I do it.
Here is another very simple test to see if you have ET. This is how my Dr. diagnosed me. He had me go home and drink a glass of wine. If the tremors lessened then it was PROBABY ET...if not he woudl ahve tested further. WELL..guess what...tremors lessened considerably! NOW..I am not telling you to start drinking. IT is just a way to test. My husband also has me drink about 1/2 glass when we are going out to a party or something so that I dont drop my food all down my shirt...although that happens even without ET.
I wish you the very best learnign to live with ET...do not be ashamed..tell folks..I had to learn to do that because in my business I am with people everyday. I just tell them in short terms. That way they know I am not JUST nervous! AND on very bad days I tell them that also.."HEY..it is a bad shaking day" You learn what works and what doesn't!
Keep in touch and let us know how things are going!
OHHHHHHHH...1 more thing..I ahve a friend that is a hands on therepist..he hynotises...does RIKI...meditates...he is studying ET to see if he can help me...he totally believes that there is a way to help us without all the meds!

[kaushal]

You can go to a homeopathic doctor, homeopathy offers cure for this without any side effect..............see if that works for you or not
best of luck
one drug is causticum

[macacoza]

I will certainly look into this...thanks
deb

[steadyshaker]

I find the frustration factor to be one of the biggest challenges of ET. I really have to have a little chat with myself many times a day some days about calming down in order to complete a task. It's the little things, like opening packaging, which is one of the most frustrating things to me. And as you all well know, the more frustrated you become, the more intense the ET becomes. Thus, I tell myself, "just chill...it'll all be OK!"

Yes, the embarrassment adds to the frustration as well. 'Frustration Control' turns out to be a big part of coaching oneself through the day. I'm sure you can relate to that.

But I do want to say how glad I am to find a supportive community to be able to discuss the challenges associated with ET. Thanks!!!

Ron

[macacoza]

Nice to see you at this one too Ron!!! In my business I sign a lot of contracts. At times I have to have our secretary sign my name..but I get by...I ahve learned it is best to not offer to pour coffee! haha..AND..to not get frustrated..it is what it is..I just live with it...I know 8 people with MS..I think I am not so bad off!

[andrewinston]

WOW!!! This is AMAZING! I am so emotional right now I could just cry...for the first time in my life I think I have some answers to some very pressing questions about my health. I'm now 26, but as far as i could remember I have always had a nervous problem. I've been to Doctors and none of them seems to be able to give me a diagnosis. I also have some fears when in public like when people ask me to take pictures or simply to open a package or something. What I realise is that doing those things when I'm alone doesn't cause me to shake that bad, but when I'm in public and I know someone's watching it's almost impossible to take a glass of liquid from someone. At times when it happens people would laugh at me or look at me weird. Everyday of my life I wonder what it will be like when and if I get married. Will I be able to put on my wife's ring in front of all those people???? Boy it's frustrating...but I've learnt to live with it and i have many versions of excuses when I am asked about it. One thing I must add though is that somehow the severity of this thing fluctuates and I've in some ways learned how to control it to an extent.

It's feels great to know I'm not alone...I LOVE YOU PEOPLE!

Andre W. Humphreys
Antigua, West Indies

[moderator note: e-mail address has been removed]

[andrewinston]

I am so happy to have found you people. I feel like I've found a new place of belonging. (AM20) I do share the same experience as you and it's complicated because I feel like it's psychological at times. When I'm out in public no one will notice it if I'm not stared at because it doesn't show that much until someone notices it and starts staring at my shaking hands, then I'd have to put down whatever it is I'm holding.