Before I start let me get this out of the way...
I have debated for a while about posting more on my Essential Tremor. I have mentioned it in passing but never did an informative post. I finally said "what the hell" it's now or never! So, here it is. If you're curious, thanks for reading, if you're not, thanks for stopping by.
Our daughter and her family flew up in December to celebrate her husband's grandma's 80th birthday and my 60th. He was in charge of making the Lasagna for her party. I came in the kitchen and asked if he needed my help, he replied with a chuckle, "No thank you mom, I don't want to be peeling Lasagna noodles off the ceiling." My reply, "oh come on. Where's your sense of adventure!? " He smiled, "I love you mom, but No, while laughing!" I laughed too, because honestly the noodles may not have wound up on the ceiling but they wouldn't have been in the pan either! 😅
Or the time I was trying, unsuccessfully, to screw the lid on my adult sippy cup and flung ice cold water all over my son! After he said a few curse words and the initial shock, he said, "damn momma I know I need to take a shower but I didn't want to take one now!" 😆
until next time, thanks for stopping by! ❤
JOIN THE EMAIL LIST
AFFILIATE I DO NOT earn a commission when you use any of the provided links to make a purchase! Here
COPYRIGHT All content, text and images (unless otherwise stated), contained within this blog belong to Tina @ The MapleStone Home and may not be copied, reproduced, edited (including cropping of photos or removing watermarks), or used without express permission. Here
DISCLAIMER PERFORM ALL PROJECTS AT YOUR OWN RISK. The author/owner of this blog/website assumes no liability or responsibility for any loss, injuries, death, and damages of any kind as the result of attempting any projects contained within. PLEASE follow all manufacturers instructions; if unsure, before attempting any project, seek the advice of a professional. Here
TABLE OF CONTENT
❖ What is Essential Tremor?
❖ What Causes It & Is It Curable?
❖ How Is It Treated?
❖ How Do I Live with It?
What Is Essential Tremor?
Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder that causes your hands, head, trunk, voice or legs to shake rhythmically. It is often confused with Parkinson's disease.
Essential tremor is the most common trembling disorder. Everyone has at least a small degree of tremor, but the movements usually cannot be seen or felt because the tremor is so small. When tremors are noticeable, the condition is classified as essential tremor.
Essential tremor is most common among people older than 65, but it can affect people at any age. Some experts have proposed considering ET that starts earlier in life as essential tremor and ET that begins later in life as age-related tremor, because the conditions may have different symptoms and may respond differently to treatments. Here
What Causes It & Is It Curable?
- No! It cannot be cured; but it can be minimized...in some.
- The cause is unknown. Yes it is hereditary. It's more dominant in men than women.
The cause of essential tremor is unknown. However, one theory suggests that your cerebellum and other parts of your brain are not communicating correctly. The cerebellum controls muscle coordination.
In most people, the condition seems to be passed down from a parent to a child. If your parent has ET, there is a 50% chance you or your children will inherit the gene responsible for the condition. Sometimes, ancillary testing such as brain imaging or genetic testing may help with the diagnosis.Symtons & Diagnosis
How Is It Treated?
- There are prescription drugs available: Propranolol (successful in 40% to 50% of patients) - Primidone (successful in 60% to 100% of patients)
- Gabapentin or Topiramate
- Botox (is promising for hand, voice and head tremor)
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Try to keep stress at a minimum, sometimes easier said than done!
Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a treatment option for some people with essential tremor. The procedure uses energy from sound waves to precisely target tissues and to heat up and burn (ablate) a small part of the thalamus, a brain structure that acts as a relay center for sensory and movement information.
For severe tremors, a stimulating device (deep brain stimulator) surgically implanted in your brain may help.Here
How Do I Live With It?
Well...one day at a time.
Ok, that's a shitty answer!
I mainly just try to figure out how to do things without making a bigger mess, cutting a finger off or burning myself (oh the hot glue gun, how do I love/hate thee)! 😂
I could stay away from caffeine, but I sometimes don't want to! So I have to deal with the consequences. As for reducing stress ... Umm ... if I didn't have to people when I go out ... yeah I'm going to stop now, before I go into a rant!
• Do I complain? NO!
• Do I get extremely frustrated and irritated (which makes the tremor worse), when I can't do a simple task? Oh hell yes!
• Do I throw a temper tantrum? Yep I sure do, and then I walk away until I calm down. This is another reason why it takes me longer to finish some of our projects. I have to have help 😡
• Does my family help? My kids, there significant others & my grandkids all offer to help when they see me struggling and 9 times out of 10 I respond with, "no thank you, I can do it ". DH, bless his heart, he hovers, which he's getting better at NOT doing, thankfully 😉
Story time...
Laughter helps!
• Is it difficult to eat? Well...yes, sometimes! Eating a sandwich sometimes is crazy. Eating with a fork can be painful (I've jabbed my lip a few times), using a spoon can be a little messy, but I manage.
• How do I drink? If at a restaurant I have to use a straw and I never hold my glass or I would be wearing it. If fast food, a lid, straw, and both hands are holding the cup. Other than that, I use, what I call my adult sippy cups.
• What about make-up or shaving? Well, I've never really cared to wear gobs of make-up. Eyeliner, mascara and sometimes eyeshadow is all I used to wear, if I wore it. But now? Once every blue moon I will. However I have to start applying it about 2 hours before hand so I can apply it slowly and carefully! As for shaving? I use an electric razor.
• Can I cook? Well I use my Crock-Pot A LOT! Other than that, I'm very cautious when it comes to cooking on the stove and removing things from the oven; removing things from the microwave can also be a little sketchy. But I manage and I will ask for help when needed.
So, that's about it. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I will try to answer the best I can!
0 COMMENTS
THANK YOU for commenting, ❤