Essential tremors: Anyone experiencing shaking?

Shaking is my normal with ET. I was diagnosed in 2008 and my shaking has increased. I tend to drop things I pickup like I’ll be in kitchen cooking and I’m shaking, so I may drop a fork or there will be plenty of things I use like salt, flour, sugar etc on floor because of tremors. If I drink coffee, I shake like a leaf. I quit drinking alcohol long ago because of prescriptions, but I’ve heard it makes you shake as well with ET. I was prescribed Lorezapam .05 mg, and it tends to help. It’s part of the disease. A neurologist prescribed me Primidone in 2011, but I said no because I’m on long term pain medication (18 years) and I didn’t want to mix barbiturates. Talk to your neurologist. My right leg also has started shaking when I’m sitting down, I’ll notice it starts shaking. I can stop it if I concentrate so I know it’s from ET.

I also have ET. So did my Dad and our oldest son also. I have not tried meds in years. Mine are worse in the am. Is that true for you ?

Since 2018 two fingers in my left hand started trembling, today is difficult to write and eat. I’m using weights in my hand that makes easier for eating.

My doctor added gabapentin to the primidone, which has been effective so far. The gabapentin is also being somewhat effective for my combined arthritis and fibromyalgia pain flares.

I can't remember not having a essential tremor, I'm pretty sure I was born with it.
I remember not being able to hold a pen still at 8.
At this point it was only my hands.
As I've got older it has moved to my head as well, which I find more problematic than my hands, the worse time is when I first wake up and I can feel my head shaking and I can't stop it, and don't get me started on putting on mascara.
I'm 57 now, so I have had many years to get used to it, but it does amaze me how little the medical profession really know about it.
I have been taking sumial 40 for the last few years which helps but I worry about the long term damage this will do, so I now only take 10mg instead and try and try other natural remedies.
For me I try and eat a very healthy diet , limit or abstain alchol, which is hard as when you drink the tremor seems to go until you wake up and it's worse.
Ive noticed if I take B12 B6 magnesium and potassium it really helps.
For me I also get great relief from cannabis oil, i put a drop on my tongue before I go to sleep and it really helps.
Also binary music for tremors on YouTube makes a difference as does meditation.
I enjoyed writing this as sometimes you feel alone and it's nice to feel their are other people that are struggling with the same problems

I also have ET. My dad and son do too. Mine is worse in the mornings. I tried meds years ago but without much relief. Mine has not moved to my head. I love to do crafts but usually give up because my hands are to shaky. I’m 75 and have just learned to live with it.

I have had essential tremor for a very long time - 4th generation in my family, and I we now are seeing it in 2 more generations.
When you talk about giving up crafts, my watercolor teacher taught me to take advantage of it. I do Great feathers, flowers, and impressionist paintings. I just had to give up on realism.

I also had to give up precise needle work so I concentrate on dyeing, small pieces and other more forgiving pieces than the precise quilts I was once able to do.

My mom did beautiful impressionist watercolors into her 80's.

I was diagnosed with Functional Tremors and have balance issues all relating to damage of my cerebellum. The tremors are getting worse so I had to stop driving. My foot (both) starts “taping” on the pedals when I flex them up to press the gas or brake. I’ve seen 2 movement specialists, and am waiting for the second one to give me his opinion.
I also have dementia.

Thank you. There is always another option. Lol

Hi. Had 2 strokes during open heart surgery in 2022, have bilateral upper extremity tremors and internal tremors. I constantly feel like I’m “on a moving train “. No one (medical) cares these days. So I’ve stopped trying to get answers.