Essential tremors: any ideas on coping and managing tremors?

I was 43 when my ET started and I am 74 now. Mine started in my left thumb, couldn't turn a page in a book easily. Mine has progressed slowly I think. I can't drink out of glass without a straw or I dribble, I'm not too good at carrying a full glass. But I golf, garden, type, do all my own housework, walk 4 miles a day and I'm still very social. Those friends that know I have it, we laugh at times when it affects me in some way, like carrying a drink from a bar to a table and I am sloshing it around. Don't get depressed about this, you could have a lot more serious health problems. I have just developed head tremors where my head bobs up and down somewhat and that can be embarrassing but when I feel it starting if I relax my shoulders and it stops. The 3 year diagnosis from your Dr. is I think a little extreme since I've had it for 31 years and still function pretty normally. I have found that 2 drinks when I am out stops the tremors so I can eat normally such things as soup. Drinking isn't a cure all by any means but it helps me cope in social situations and I only do it when I am in a social situations, I don't drink at home. My Dr. said he could give me medications to help subside the tremors but also said all meds have side effects and I would know when I'm ready for them. So far I feel the alcohol in social situations is better than taking meds with side effects. Not a judgement call for those that do take meds, but it isn't for me yet. You will probably find, that an aunt, uncle, cousin, parent or sibling has/had it. I have a great aunt that had it and she was an alcoholic to cope. Exercise to keep muscles strong will help with dropping things. Lifting weights and squeezing a ball will help with the hand issue of dropping things. I hope this helps, I know it is frustrating and has increased the amount of times a cuss in a day1 LOL!

Alcohol does calm down the tremors. It has helped me in a situation when we are out to dinner and want to eat soup without throwing a spoonful on the person next to me. I find two drinks calms me down, but more than that makes it worse the next day for a few hours after I get up. Still better than taking meds with the side effects, but not against the meds when I feel I will eventually need them.

I have temors in my hands. Right much more than left. Thing is, sometimes none and then sometimes a lot! When I'm more stressed it's more. I also have aphasia and it's the same. All after a lot of strokes. Everything else is OK. My balance isn't perfect, but it's so much better than before. You think the temors will stop??

I have had essential tremor for years. I did try a shot of whiskey a day for 3 days. It actually stopped the shaking. However, I also have rosacea and the whiskey made my face really red so had to stop. darn.

I take 150 mg of primidone every day plus propranolol twice a day. Still I shake. Can't carry anything without making a mess. I've been thinking about the focused ultrasound they do these days that actually makes the tremors almost go away. Mayo Clinic does it as well as several other hospitals.

Right now I have to concentrate of my myasthenia gravis before I take on anything else.

God Bless and good luck .

😀

Hello! I'm new at this so please bear with me. I have been diagnosed with essential tremors, which I've had for at least 20 years. Some of my family members have them also. The tremors have definitely gotten worse over the years and they're so bad that it's embarrassing. People are constantly making comments and asking if I have Parkinson's. I'm taking Propranolol, Gabapentin and Primidone. It doesn't seem like they're even working! I'd like to know how others cope with the tremors. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks!

Welcome @dlynne056, I have started experiencing tremors in my hand this past year but haven't been diagnosed with essential tremors. I can't imagine how it has been for you to deal with the condition for 20 years. While you wait for other members with experience and suggestions to respond, I thought I would share this resource in case you haven't already seen it.

-- Living with ET - https://essentialtremor.org/resources/living-with-et/

How long have you been taking the Propranolol, Gabapentin and Primidone? Have you told your doctor that the medications don't seem to be working?

Thanks for your response, John.

I've been taking the meds for probably 10 years. I told the neurologist about the drugs not being very effective. She's very conservative and wasn't much help. My primary physician is now continuing to prescribe the meds while I look for another neurologist with a movement disorder specialty. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. I also have restless legs syndrome which a lot of physicians don't seem to know a lot about. So, the search continues. I'm making the best of it but don't even want to eat in public anymore.