I've had essential tremor for a couple of years. Personally I don't find it very "essential." I'd certainly be happier without it! When I'm standing up, my head shakes. It's not that noticeable. People only notice it if I ask them to look at my head when I'm standing. I'm going to be getting a full neurological workup one day in February. Hopefully I will eventually find out why I'm a bobblehead. I'll have to be at the hospital for 8 a.m. What's difficult is that I have to bring someone with me who knows me well. This isn't easy because I don't have a spouse or partner. I only have one friend who doesn't wake up before noon!
I was diagnosed with familial essential tremors in July 2024 (my dad and that side of the family had it). I am 54. It does get worse as you age. My doctor joked and said I will see you in ten years. So, for me, I can manage on my own without medications. Anxiety makes it worse, and caffeine makes it worse, so I cut out coffee, which seems to help, and I switched to tea, but eventually I will need to cut all caffeine. I notice it more with exercising and holding posture, but I just need to accept that or take medication. I ruled out other things that can cause shaking before I went to a neurologist. It is frustrating because so many conditions can cause shaking. We don't have a comprehensive testing system in the US where you can rule out everything. Unless you are an executive, of course! For me, knowing and knowing how to treat something is better than not knowing, but everyone is different in that way. If it were me, I would get tested for Parkinson's because that's another progressive condition, but there are medications that reduce the tremors. Good luck.
I would like to share an experience I've just had. I've had ET for 30 years, mild at first, gets worse as I age but not bad enough for meds yet and I am 74. But I recently had out patient surgery. Came home with the chills which progressed over a couple hours to sever chills. Temperature was only 99.6. And this is what I want to tell you out there with ET. My chills affected my tremors so badly I was shaking severely, couldn't use a phone or hold anything. Tylenol finally stopped the chills which stopped the shaking. But it was very scary. When I talked to my gastro Dr. that did the surgery, he said chills after an anesthesia is not unusual. I haven't spoken to my neurologist about it yet. Just thought I'd give you all a heads up.
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Did they say what type of tests they are running that takes a whole day. I had the nuclear test that took 5 hours.
No, they haven't said what type of tests they will do. I hope that they will send me more information closer to the test date which is in February.
I was diagnosed with familial essential tremors in July 2024 (my dad and that side of the family had it). I am 54. It does get worse as you age. My doctor joked and said I will see you in ten years. So, for me, I can manage on my own without medications. Anxiety makes it worse, and caffeine makes it worse, so I cut out coffee, which seems to help, and I switched to tea, but eventually I will need to cut all caffeine. I notice it more with exercising and holding posture, but I just need to accept that or take medication. I ruled out other things that can cause shaking before I went to a neurologist. It is frustrating because so many conditions can cause shaking. We don't have a comprehensive testing system in the US where you can rule out everything. Unless you are an executive, of course! For me, knowing and knowing how to treat something is better than not knowing, but everyone is different in that way. If it were me, I would get tested for Parkinson's because that's another progressive condition, but there are medications that reduce the tremors. Good luck.
I would like to share an experience I've just had. I've had ET for 30 years, mild at first, gets worse as I age but not bad enough for meds yet and I am 74. But I recently had out patient surgery. Came home with the chills which progressed over a couple hours to sever chills. Temperature was only 99.6. And this is what I want to tell you out there with ET. My chills affected my tremors so badly I was shaking severely, couldn't use a phone or hold anything. Tylenol finally stopped the chills which stopped the shaking. But it was very scary. When I talked to my gastro Dr. that did the surgery, he said chills after an anesthesia is not unusual. I haven't spoken to my neurologist about it yet. Just thought I'd give you all a heads up.