Yes and the shaking can vary throughout the day. I am taking primidone which helps but won't solve it. Have tried stopping coffee but it makes no difference.
I have had familial essential tremor for years. My mother and two aunts had it. Two of my cousins have it. It is becoming worse as I age, and I had a neurological visit about a month ago to rule out any other conditions. He offered a couple of medication options which I declined at this time. I can revisit those options later if it becomes totally unmanageable.
The main times that I experience it is when I am task focused such as writing, putting on makeup, fastening jewelry, or at times my voice shakes when I speak for long periods of time. It is mostly my head and hands that shake, although at times it feels like I am shaking internally. It can be very frustrating and aggravating, but it is not terminal so I just deal with it.
I have had familial essential tremor for years. My mother and two aunts had it. Two of my cousins have it. It is becoming worse as I age, and I had a neurological visit about a month ago to rule out any other conditions. He offered a couple of medication options which I declined at this time. I can revisit those options later if it becomes totally unmanageable.
The main times that I experience it is when I am task focused such as writing, putting on makeup, fastening jewelry, or at times my voice shakes when I speak for long periods of time. It is mostly my head and hands that shake, although at times it feels like I am shaking internally. It can be very frustrating and aggravating, but it is not terminal so I just deal with it.
@lynno7, when you mention shaking, if you are comfortable, could you share a bit more about what you are experiencing? Is that in addition to the tremors that come along with this diagnosis?
I do not find that the essential tremors affect my sleep. I also have restless leg syndrome which is another diagnosis that may or may not be related to my essential tremors. I have had RLS since I was a child, way before I even knew what it is called. It is also an internal phenomena that is difficult to describe unless you have ever had it. RLS creates an intense urge to move my legs to find comfort. I do not have it every night, but it seems to come in waves. I may have it for a week straight before it subsides until the next episode. It mainly happens at night, although I also have it sometimes when I sit in a meeting, or church, or standing in line at the grocery store. I find that leg exercises sometimes helps with that.
Our bodies are complicated pieces of equipment. Sometimes I have to give up on trying to find out why I am experiencing certain challenges, and just go straight for learning to cope with diet, exercise, or medication as a last resort. At this time, I am not on any medication for my essential tremors or my RLS.
Just as a side note, my 45 year old son also has RLS. His is even worse than mine, and he frequently has difficulty sleeping.
@lynno7, when you mention shaking, if you are comfortable, could you share a bit more about what you are experiencing? Is that in addition to the tremors that come along with this diagnosis?
My Essential Tremors are on going and I am 80 years old. I confirmed with my Doctors that they are not necessarily progressive (worsening) but have been known to effect the shaking in their neck/head areas. So far, mine are limited to my hands . Best to you! Glenn
I have had familial essential tremor for years. My mother and two aunts had it. Two of my cousins have it. It is becoming worse as I age, and I had a neurological visit about a month ago to rule out any other conditions. He offered a couple of medication options which I declined at this time. I can revisit those options later if it becomes totally unmanageable.
The main times that I experience it is when I am task focused such as writing, putting on makeup, fastening jewelry, or at times my voice shakes when I speak for long periods of time. It is mostly my head and hands that shake, although at times it feels like I am shaking internally. It can be very frustrating and aggravating, but it is not terminal so I just deal with it.
My Essential Tremors are on going and I am 80 years old. I confirmed with my Doctors that they are not necessarily progressive (worsening) but have been known to effect the shaking in their neck/head areas. So far, mine are limited to my hands . Best to you! Glenn
Fortunately I have been retired for 4 years now. Since then my tremors have escalated, especially in the past two years. I have not had to deal with a computer for a while. I do a ton of texting in light of the fact that I am completely deaf in one ear with declining hearing in the other, so it is difficult for me to hear on the phone. I just slowly put it out there one letter at a time. Sometimes I wonder if my tremors are getting worse simply because I do not have to use my hands like I used to. I have a horrible time writing now. When I was working, I wrote and typed all of the time. In fact, back in those days, my most annoying trait was that my head would bob horribly when I talked on the phone, which was a lot. It was very much noticed by my coworkers. I remember my boss heavily encouraged me to go the doctor to see if I had Parkinsons. That was when I was officially diagnosed with essential tremor about 14 years ago.
This is going to sound crazy, but it works somewhat for me. The only advice I have is to create some type of distraction for yourself. I have found that if I am not as focused on the task that makes me shake, I seem to do better. The more I try to focus on not shaking, the more I shake. It becomes an anxiety sort of thing.
For example, if I am focusing on putting on makeup, I play some type of podcast and try to focus on that instead. If I am texting, I can focus on a television program. If you are typing on a keyboard, try playing some of your favorite music in the background. Try to focus on the tune instead of your hands. Hopefully you can come up with your own distractions, and see if it helps. I hope all of that made sense.
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Yes and the shaking can vary throughout the day. I am taking primidone which helps but won't solve it. Have tried stopping coffee but it makes no difference.
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2 ReactionsI have had familial essential tremor for years. My mother and two aunts had it. Two of my cousins have it. It is becoming worse as I age, and I had a neurological visit about a month ago to rule out any other conditions. He offered a couple of medication options which I declined at this time. I can revisit those options later if it becomes totally unmanageable.
The main times that I experience it is when I am task focused such as writing, putting on makeup, fastening jewelry, or at times my voice shakes when I speak for long periods of time. It is mostly my head and hands that shake, although at times it feels like I am shaking internally. It can be very frustrating and aggravating, but it is not terminal so I just deal with it.
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4 ReactionsDoes it cause you to not sleep when it is internal? My 46yr old son complains of that.
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2 ReactionsHello @lynno7, I'd like to invite @glenner075, @marye2, and @purpleturtle to this discussion to see if they have experienced shaking specifically as a result of essential tremors. You have met them in the "Essential tremors: any ideas on coping & managing symptoms?" discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/essential-tremors-1/.
@lynno7, when you mention shaking, if you are comfortable, could you share a bit more about what you are experiencing? Is that in addition to the tremors that come along with this diagnosis?
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3 ReactionsI do not find that the essential tremors affect my sleep. I also have restless leg syndrome which is another diagnosis that may or may not be related to my essential tremors. I have had RLS since I was a child, way before I even knew what it is called. It is also an internal phenomena that is difficult to describe unless you have ever had it. RLS creates an intense urge to move my legs to find comfort. I do not have it every night, but it seems to come in waves. I may have it for a week straight before it subsides until the next episode. It mainly happens at night, although I also have it sometimes when I sit in a meeting, or church, or standing in line at the grocery store. I find that leg exercises sometimes helps with that.
Our bodies are complicated pieces of equipment. Sometimes I have to give up on trying to find out why I am experiencing certain challenges, and just go straight for learning to cope with diet, exercise, or medication as a last resort. At this time, I am not on any medication for my essential tremors or my RLS.
Just as a side note, my 45 year old son also has RLS. His is even worse than mine, and he frequently has difficulty sleeping.
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3 ReactionsMy Essential Tremors are on going and I am 80 years old. I confirmed with my Doctors that they are not necessarily progressive (worsening) but have been known to effect the shaking in their neck/head areas. So far, mine are limited to my hands . Best to you! Glenn
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2 ReactionsYour tremors are about the same as mine apparently ! How do you manage keyboarding (typing)? Thanks for sharing. Glenn
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1 ReactionMine are also limited to my hands
Do any of our connectors have advice regarding typing (With Essential tremor)? Please and Thank-you! Glenn
Fortunately I have been retired for 4 years now. Since then my tremors have escalated, especially in the past two years. I have not had to deal with a computer for a while. I do a ton of texting in light of the fact that I am completely deaf in one ear with declining hearing in the other, so it is difficult for me to hear on the phone. I just slowly put it out there one letter at a time. Sometimes I wonder if my tremors are getting worse simply because I do not have to use my hands like I used to. I have a horrible time writing now. When I was working, I wrote and typed all of the time. In fact, back in those days, my most annoying trait was that my head would bob horribly when I talked on the phone, which was a lot. It was very much noticed by my coworkers. I remember my boss heavily encouraged me to go the doctor to see if I had Parkinsons. That was when I was officially diagnosed with essential tremor about 14 years ago.
This is going to sound crazy, but it works somewhat for me. The only advice I have is to create some type of distraction for yourself. I have found that if I am not as focused on the task that makes me shake, I seem to do better. The more I try to focus on not shaking, the more I shake. It becomes an anxiety sort of thing.
For example, if I am focusing on putting on makeup, I play some type of podcast and try to focus on that instead. If I am texting, I can focus on a television program. If you are typing on a keyboard, try playing some of your favorite music in the background. Try to focus on the tune instead of your hands. Hopefully you can come up with your own distractions, and see if it helps. I hope all of that made sense.
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