I've just found this site, and am Sooooo glad to see your friendly welcomes. I've been browsing throughout the site for over and hour, and don't want to leave and go to bed. Essential Tremor is my buggaboo. I was diagnosed three years ago, although my hands started shaking 5+ years ago. Now I am not only annoyed by both hands shaking when eating, typing, holding my cards in Pinochle, and trying to hit the correct keys on my ipod more than once. It's beginning to become depressing, and goodness knows I don't want to go there ...been there, done that. I'm having significant difficulty accepting the fact 'it ain't gonna go away.' I have given the 'old college try' to the major families of drugs indicated, without any lasting improvement, and some of them increased the tremor or had other negative effects. So, I'm toughing it, but not likeing it at all.

I'd like to discuss ET with others with the culprit. OK? I'll be back on the site often, for sure.

Welcome bandonpaul!

Sorry about the predicament of 'ET'. I am sure some people here have knowledge of your type of suffering, and will lead you in the right direction.

Take care!

Welcome bandonpaul!! So glad you found the site - it's awsome, isn't it?!

Hi Shaken Away- I have had ET for a couple years now and sometimes still don't want to accept it. I search for a cure on the Web which I know isn't there. My Dr. has it under better control with propranolol, but I wish I didn't have to take that as I worry about the long term effect of taking this medication. I rather take homeopathic remedies but have had to submit to this drug for now. My symptoms are in check with this medication, I can hold my glass without looking like I am trying to juggle!
I can sleep without my head doing the sandman boggy dance all night.
So I should be more appreciative of this help.
Glad to know someone else with this challenge. My family does not think that I should be taking any medications, my mother is 83 and hardly even takes a Tylenol!
Have a good day, firefly

Firefly, it appears that you have one symptom I haven't experienced - head shaking. I'm glad to hear that you have found relief with propranalol, it didn't work for me. In fact, 40 mg bid didn't do anything, good or bad. I have not seen a neurologist for several months, but when I last saw her she didn't believe any of the 'standard meds' for ET would be worth the potential side effects for me, and hesitated to recommend DBS. Recently, my internist prescribed Ativan 1 mg, it primarily made me very tired, with little reduction of tremor. The only med that has given some relief is diazepam 5 mg. That's a mild dose, but I'm not anxious to take it. My tremor is definitely increasing in frequency and intensity. The only time I feel completely free is while lying down or sitting in the recliner with my feet up. When it's most bothersome is while typing, eating, playing cards or other board games. Concentration appears to lay a fertile opportunity for lotsa shakin. Good luck to you, and don't hesitate to take the meds that make life better.

Hello, bandonpaul and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I found some information at the Mayo Clinic that may or may not be helpful:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ess...tremor/DS00367

I have Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and tremors can be a symptom of this disease but I don't remember ever hearing MS tremors referred to as essential tremors.

Here is some information about tremors related to MS:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/abo...mor/index.aspx

Hello bandonpaul and another Welcome to NeuroTalk here. Glad you found us and hope you feel right at home here.

A big welcome to NeuroTalk from me as well bandonpaul.

I'm sure you'll have already found out by now that essential tremors are symptoms of many different neurological conditions. I wish you luck in getting the answers that you seek.

Meanwhile take a look around the site. You will find us to be lively, informative, empathetic, and very friendly

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Great to see you have come to be with us. You will find a great number of caring, supporting members here willing to help each other as they can.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Thanks Snoopy for the Mayo Clinic web site. I looked carefully through the info several days ago. It's definitely one of the best, most definitive discussion of ET and all of it's ramifications. I was not aware that one of the symptoms of MS was tremors, but as I look through more resources I find that tremors are associated with many diseases.

My best wishes to you.