 When You Travel with Essential Tremor
See your doctor before traveling. There are a number of very basic things you need to do to help your ET, and those things don’t change if you’re traveling. Seeing your doctor 3-6 weeks before traveling. This will give you enough time to adjust medications before traveling. Get a doctor’s letter and prescription. Get a prescription and letter (on your doctor’s letterhead) from your doctor to carry with you. The letter should outline that you have Essential Tremor and may need assistance. You also may need to carry certain medications and supplies with you. The prescription is important because you never know when you may become separated from your medications. Consider using a national pharmacy that is able to transfer your local prescription to wherever you are traveling. If you’re flying, it’s best to have all of your medication and supplies as they came from the pharmacy (with their labels on), as recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In addition to packing your medications, you’ll want keep them with you at your seat. Take along a certificate from the DBS manufacturer if you had the surgery and applying for TSA pre-screening so you don't have to take off your jacket and shoes. Consider emergency identification. Many people with ET carry an ID bracelet, an “in case of emergency” contact (ICE) for their smartphone, or a portable electronic record. An ID bracelet needs to identify that you have Essential Tremor so that someone helping you in an emergency can understand what’s happening and why you are tremoring, even if you’re unable to communicate with the responder. The ICE contact should be someone who knows something about your health situation. Finally, consider a portable health record that gives a provider important aspects of your care history. Tell the airport, train station, etc. that you have Essential Tremor or are traveling with someone with Essential Tremor. Even if you don't normally use a cane, walker, or wheelchair, consider bringing or using one if it's convenient. Tell the airline that you need early boarding and help. Take stretch breaks and exercise breaks when you can. Pack thoughtfully. Extra planning can help make the trip run smoothly. When packing for travel pack your supplies in a carry-on, so they’re always available. Plan for time zone changes, since this can make your tremors worse. Keep your medicine in a separate bag so it’s easy to pull out if necessary. Have your information, important documents in pockets or small bag that is easily accessible. Don’t over due on your trip/vacation. That will make your tremors worse. Get plenty of rest, drink water, and don’t skip meals. Last, enjoy your travels and don’t worry what others think.  Do you shake and don’t know why? Have a family member with tremors? Board certified neurosurgeon Dr. Darlene A. Mayo, DSF President explains in this book the most common causes of tremor and the symptoms you most often see with each condition. She wrote this book based on years and years of experience evaluating and treating patients with tremor. In this book she shares with you a multitude of proven ways to slow down or stop your tremors. From at home treatments to medicines and surgeries to alternative treatments, you will learn over 50 ways that tremors caused by ET, Parkinson’s disease, and other conditions can be controlled.   
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or a laboratory, stem cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells. These daughter cells either become new stem cells (self-renewal) or become specialized cells (differentiation) with a more specific function, such as blood cells, brain cells, heart muscle or bone. No other cell in the body has the natural ability to generate new cell types. Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell. Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics. First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division, sometimes after long periods of inactivity. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions. In some organs, such as the gut and bone marrow, stem cells regularly divide to repair and replace worn out or damaged tissues. In other organs, however, such as the pancreas and the heart, stem cells only divide under special conditions. Scientists have for the first time used adult human stem cells to “cure” rats with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative illness that currently has no cure. The study, published in the current issue of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, details how a team of researchers working in Germany at the University of Bielefeld (UB) and Dresden University of Technology were able to produce mature neurons using inferior turbinate stem cells (ITSCs). ITSCs are stem cells taken from tissue that would generally be discarded after an adult patient undergoes sinus surgery. The team then tested how the ITSCs would behave when transplanted into a group of rats with Parkinson’s disease. Prior to transplantation, the animals showed severe motor and behavioral deficiencies. However, 12 weeks after receiving the ITSCs, the cells had migrated into the animals’ brains and functional ability was not only fully restored, but significant behavioral recovery was witnessed, too. In another positive sign, no tumors were found in any of the animals after the transplantations, something that also has been a concern in stem cell therapy.Due to their easy accessibility and the resulting possibility of an autologous transplantation approach, ITSCs represent a promising cell source for regenerative medicine,” said UB’s Barbara Kaltschmidt, Ph.D., who led the study along with Alexander Storch, M.D., and Christiana Ossig, M.D., both of Dresden University. “The lack of ethical concerns associated with human embryonic stem cells is a plus, too.” “In contrast to fighting the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease with medications and devices, this research is focused on restoring the dopamine-producing brain cells that are lost during the disease,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. "These cells are easy to access and isolate from nasal tissue, even in older patients, which adds to their attraction as a potential therapeutic tool.” What are stem cells? Stem cells are a renewable source of tissue that can be coaxed to become different cell types of the body. The best-known examples are the embryonic stem (ES) cells found within an early-stage embryo. These cells can generate all the major cell types of the body (they are “pluripotent”). Stem cells have also been isolated from various other tissues, including bone marrow, muscle, heart, gut and even the brain. These “adult” stem cells help with maintenance and repair by becoming specialized cells types of the tissue or organ where they originate. For example, special stem cells in the bone marrow give rise to all the various types of blood cells (similar blood cell-forming stem cells have also been isolated from umbilical cord blood). Adult vs. embryonic stem cells Because adult stem cells become more committed to a particular tissue type during development, unlike embryonic stem cells, they appear to only develop into a limited number of cell types (they are “multipotent”). What are induced pluripotent stem cells? In addition to ES cells, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, discovered in 2007, represent an important development in stem cell research to treat diseases like Parkinson’s disease. Essentially, iPS cells are ”man-made” stem cells that share ES cells' ability to become other cell types. IPS cells are created when scientists convert or "reprogram" a mature cell, such as a skin cell, into an embryonic-like state. These cells may have potential both for cell replacement treatment approaches in patients and as disease models that scientists could use in screening new drugs. IPS cell technology is somewhat related to a previous method called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) or “therapeutic cloning” (the technology that gave us Dolly the Sheep). Unlike the iPS cell approach, which converts adult cells directly into stem cells, SCNT involves transferring the genetic material of an adult cell into an unfertilized human egg cell, allowing the egg cell to form an early-stage embryo and then collecting its ES cells (which are now genetic “clones” of the person who donated the adult cell). To date, however, this has not been successfully demonstrated with human cells and iPS cell methods may be replacing SCNT as a more viable option. A potentially exciting use for iPS cells is the development of cell models of Parkinson’s disease. In theory, scientists could use cells from people living with Parkinson’s disease to create iPS cell models of the disease that have the same intrinsic cellular machinery of a Parkinson’s patient. Researchers could use these cell models to evaluate genetic and environmental factors implicated in Parkinson’s disease. Stem cells: What they are and what they do. Stem cells and derived products offer great promise for new medical treatments. Learn about stem cell types, current and possible uses, ethical issues, and the state of research and practice. You've heard about stem cells in the news, and perhaps you've wondered if they might help you or a loved one with a serious disease. You may wonder what stem cells are, how they're being used to treat disease and injury, and why they're the subject of such vigorous debate. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about stem cells. Why is there such an interest in stem cells? Researchers and doctors hope stem cell studies can help to:
What are stem cells? Stem cells are the body's raw materials — cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. Under the right conditions in the body or a laboratory, stem cells divide to form more cells called daughter cells. These daughter cells either become new stem cells (self-renewal) or become specialized cells (differentiation) with a more specific function, such as blood cells, brain cells, heart muscle or bone. No other cell in the body has the natural ability to generate new cell types. Where do stem cells come from? Researchers have discovered several sources of stem cells:
Embryonic stem cells are obtained from early-stage embryos — a group of cells that forms when a woman's egg is fertilized with a man's sperm in an in vitro fertilization clinic. Because human embryonic stem cells are extracted from human embryos, several questions and issues have been raised about the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. The National Institutes of Health created guidelines for human stem cell research in 2009. Guidelines included defining embryonic stem cells and how they may be used in research and donation guidelines for embryonic stem cells. Also, guidelines stated embryonic stem cells may only be used from embryos created by in vitro fertilization when the embryo is no longer needed. Where do these embryos come from? The embryos being used in embryonic stem cell research come from eggs that were fertilized at in vitro fertilization clinics but never implanted in a woman's uterus. The stem cells are donated with informed consent from donors. The stem cells can live and grow in special solutions in test tubes or petri dishes in laboratories. Why can't researchers use adult stem cells instead? Although research into adult stem cells is promising, adult stem cells may not be as versatile and durable as are embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells may not be able to be manipulated to produce all cell types, which limits how adult stem cells can be used to treat diseases. Adult stem cells also are more likely to contain abnormalities due to environmental hazards, such as toxins, or from errors acquired by the cells during replication. However, researchers have found that adult stem cells are more adaptable than was initially suspected. What are stem cell lines and why do researchers want to use them? A stem cell line is a group of cells that all descend from a single original stem cell and is grown in a lab. Cells in a stem cell line keep growing but don't differentiate into specialized cells. Ideally, they remain free of genetic defects and continue to create more stem cells. Clusters of cells can be taken from a stem cell line and frozen for storage or shared with other researchers. What is stem cell therapy (regenerative medicine), and how does it work? Stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative medicine, promotes the reparative response of diseased, dysfunctional or injured tissue using stem cells or their derivatives. It is the next chapter of organ transplantation and uses cells instead of donor organs, which are limited in supply. Researchers grow stem cells in a lab. These stem cells are manipulated to specialize into specific types of cells, such as heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells. The specialized cells can then be implanted into a person. For example, if the person has heart disease, the cells could be injected into the heart muscle. The healthy transplanted heart cells could then contribute to repairing defective heart muscle. Researchers have already shown that adult bone marrow cells guided to become heart-like cells can repair heart tissue in people, and more research is ongoing. Have stem cells already been used to treat diseases? Yes, doctors have performed stem cell transplants, also known as bone marrow transplants. In stem cell transplants, stem cells replace cells damaged by chemotherapy or disease or as a way for the donor's immune system to fight some types of cancer and blood-related diseases, such as leukemia. These transplants use adult stem cells or umbilical cord blood. Researchers are testing adult stem cells to treat other conditions, including a number of degenerative diseases such as heart failure. What are the potential problems with using embryonic stem cells in humans? To be useful in people, researchers must be certain that stem cells will differentiate into the specific cell types desired. “Durham, NC (PRWEB) December 05, 2014 By Mayo Clinic Staff 
 Book signing, concert part of Aiken Wine & Sign event Stephanie Turner Apr 13 2016 6:20 pm Aiken Standard  STAFF File PHOTO BY DEDE BILES Diann Shaddox is an author who founded the Diann has essential tremor and will have her books available at the During the upcoming Aiken Wine & Sign, guests will be able to mingle with authors during the day and enjoy live music during the evening. The Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor is based in Aiken and was founded by Diann Shaddox, who has essential tremor. Book signing More than 30 authors will be scattered around the center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to authors from Aiken and other parts of South Carolina, there will be writers coming from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. Various genres from children’s books and romances to thrillers and mysteries will be represented.  Submitted Photo by Jay Armitage Brad Carter is an actor and singer who has essential tremor. He will perform as part of the upcoming Aiken Wine & Sign event. Shaddox’s books will be among those available. Admission is free. Food, wine and craft beer will be sold. The Diann Shaddox Foundation has held similar events before, but this will be its first in Aiken. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Randy Miles, executive director of the Diann Shaddox Foundation. Evening concert  Submitted Photo Performer Brad Carter recently opened for Wynonna Judd and the Big Noise at its concert in Los Angeles. That night’s happenings will start at 7 p.m. and run to at least 9:30 p.m. Brad Carter, an actor and singer with essential tremor, will perform. Carter grew up around Macon, Georgia, and lives in Los Angeles. In addition to his music career, Carter has appeared in TV shows such as “Sons of Anarchy,” “True Detective,” “House,” “Dexter” and “Bones.” He also has been in movies such as “Black Mass,” which starred Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch. “But his first love will always be music,” states on his website. “After a debilitating disease threatened to rob Brad of his ability to play guitar, he made world news by playing his guitar during a brain surgery designed to give some relief to his condition known as essential tremor.”  Submitted Photo One of Brad Carter’s acting roles was Charlie Lange in “True Detective,” which features Matthew McConaughey as Detective Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Detective Marty Hart. Carter will be in Aiken later this month during the Aiken Wine & Sign event.
In February, Carter opened for Wynonna Judd and The Big Noise at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. During his Aiken appearance, he will be joined by a couple singers and a keyboardist and will play songs from his debut EP, “FieldHand,” and from his full-length CD that’s scheduled to be released later this year. “I’m excited that (Diann) and Randy have taken on their own movement to raise (awareness),” Carter said. “I would love to see her foundation grow. ... I truly believe she wants to help people.” Jay Jefferies will emcee for the night portion of the Wine & Sign event. Admission is $75 for one ticket or $130 for two tickets. Each price level includes food, wine, craft beer and one signed copy of Carter’s EP. For more information on Carter, visit www.thebradcarter.com. Raffle A basket of items will be raffled off throughout the full event. One of those items is a flour sifter signed by Carter, who has utilized the appliance as an instrument. Each raffle ticket will be $5 or five tickets for $20. The winner will be revealed during the evening and doesn’t need to be present to win, according to Miles. Stephanie Turner graduated from Valdosta State University in 2012. She then signed on with the Aiken Standard, where she is now the features reporter. She primarily covers health topics, arts and entertainment, authors and restaurants.  PHOTO CAPTION: The Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor (DSF) is the recipient of the Holley Heating & Air's monthly Holley Community Fund donation for January. Pictured (left to right) are DSF executive director, Randy Miles; founder, Diann Shaddox; and Holley Heating & Air president, Lee Boylston. The Holley Community Fund is an ongoing program that donates to a different local nonprofit organization each month and is underwritten by Holley Heating & Air Conditioning, Aiken's leading provider of heating and air conditioning products. Millions of children and adults live each day with uncontrollable shakes from essential tremor (ET), the largest movement disorder in the world. It can begin at any age, from 1 to 100. DSF's mission is to educate and increase awareness about the people afflicted with ET — especially children — and provide medical research grants to find the cause and a cure for ET. If you use H&R Block please download this form and take it in with you. The Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor earns $20.00 for every new client we refer to H&R Block.  Former residents team up for book to benefit tremor disorder research       Essential tremor: Aiken resident lives with, raises awareness of disease Stephanie Turner Email stephaniedturnerAS Oct 11 2015 3:47 pm  Staff Photo by Stephanie Turner Diann Shaddox was diagnosed with essential tremor in her early 20s. Today, she is the founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation, which raises money and awareness of essential tremor, and is an author, with her first book “A Faded Cottage” also featuring the main character with the disease. You’re out enjoying a meal with your friends, when you hear a clattering behind you. Curious, you look over your shoulder to see another patron trying to grasp his fork with a trembling hand.
“Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological condition that causes a rhythmic trembling of the hands, head, voice, legs or trunk." It is said to affect at least seven million Americans, according to a 2014 “Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements” journal article. “Everyone has some ... tremor. But these movements usually can’t be seen or felt. It’s Hopkins Medicine. Diann Shaddox, an Aiken resident in her late 50s, discovered she had ET in her early 20s. Her hands would start to shake while she was just doing normal tasks, she said in her biography. “In the beginning, doctors told me to go home, (that) I was nervous,” she said. Shaddox knew that wasn’t true, so she bypassed the doctors and went straight to a neurologist, who immediately knew she had ET. Last year, Shaddox began the Diann Shaddox Foundation with Randy Miles as the executive director; Quaid Witherspoon, the protagonist of her 2013, debut book, “A Faded Cottage: A South Carolina Love Story,” also has ET.  Getting ET “Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder. It is a progressive, often inherited disorder that usually begins in later adulthood,” according to John Hopkins. “Essential tremor is thought to be caused by electrical fluctuations in the brain that send abnormal signals out to the muscles.” The gene that causes ET has not been identified, and how it’s inherited, if the person does inherit it, differs among patients, according the National Library of Medicine’s Genetics Home Reference. In some causes, “they almost know it’s coming, because generation after generation have a pretty pronounced tremor,” said Dr. Michelle Lyon, Carolina Musculoskeletal Institute’s neurologist. Staff Photo by Stephanie Turner Dr. Michelle Lyon is the neurologist at Carolina Musculoskeletal Institute Since Shaddox’s father passed away before she was born and her mother died when Shaddox was a toddler, she isn’t completely sure how she got her ET, though she suspects it’s from a great aunt whose hands would shake. “In most affected families, essential tremor appears to be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of an altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder, although no genes that cause essential tremor have been identified,” according to the National Library. “Essential tremor may also appear in people with no history of the disorder in their family.” There is no genetic test to detect whether or not you will get ET, Lyon said. “Your health care provider will ask you questions about your health history and family history. He or she will also look at your trembling symptoms. Your provider will probably need to rule out other conditions that could cause the shaking or trembling,” according to John Hopkins. ET is often confused with Parkinson’s disease, which affects less people and is more detailed in its symptoms than ET, according to Lyon. Parkinson’s, for example, “generally involves slow movements (bradykinesia), rigidity (stiffness) and problems with walking or balance,” whereas those symptoms are abnormal in people with ET, according to the International Essential Tremor Foundation.  Living with ET
“This (condition) affects all nationalities, all sexes, all ages – all everybody,” Shaddox said. In addition to running the Diann Shaddox Foundation and publishing “A Faded Cottage,” Shaddox has written time-traveling romance “Whispering Fog” and the historical “Miranda: Her Life’s Story,” with proceeds from her books benefiting her foundation. The condition first affected her right hand before progressing to her left. Shaddox can no longer write for extended periods; when she does write, the words are often scribbled. “If you are right handed, don’t use your right hand; (then) write your name when you are tired, and just keep writing your name, until your hand gets tired. That’s kind of like ET,” she said. “Really simple acts can be horrifying.” Trouble with writing and eating are often when people come in to get examined, according to Lyon. “They are embarrassed to go out to eat at a restaurant because they are unable to hold the fork and cut the food,” she said. “I think a lot of people ignore it, until they get to that social situation.” Shaddox often has to use her opposite hand to steady the one cutting food or putting on make-up and can no longer cross-stitch or play the piano. Though her hands trembling are the more noticeable symptom, Shaddox’s head shakes back and forth, and she can feel her voice starting to tremor. “I’ll take two (words) and make up a whole new word while I’m talking,” she said, adding that she also mixes up and forgets words. The tremors tire her hands but do settle when the limbs are resting, and Shaddox can drive. “My case is mild,” she said. Stress, hunger, fatigue and anger can aggravate the tremors, according to the National Institute. “My hands look like a bird’s wings flapping, when I get stressed,” Shaddox said. “It’s so embarrassing when you are sitting there, and people are staring at you when you are trying to write. You want to scream, walk out, because it’s embarrassing.” Treatment ET has no cure but can be treated, according to Lyon. Medicines prescribed can include tranquilizers, ones that “affect how brain nerves work” or are anti-seizure, according to John Hopkins. When the condition is so severe and medicine doesn’t help, there are surgical options, Lyon added. Two are deep brain stimulation and thalamotomy, with the main difference is thalamotomy, which, according to the American Academy of Neurology, actor Micheal J. Fox underwent for his Parkinson’s, involves destroying a piece of the brain while deep brain stimulation does not, according to the International Essential Tremor Foundation. MCT Graphic/”Minneapolis Star Tribune,” 2009 This graphic explains how deep brain stimulation, using a device similar to a heart pacemaker, can improve the quality of life for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The procedure is also used in more severe cases of essential tremor. Shaddox no longer takes medication but does lift weights and tries to stay healthy. When she does her public appearances, she might have some wine nearby, as the drink temporarily calms her, she said. Shaddox has 16 more books she wants to publish and would like to see her foundation match the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research’s scale. Shaddox said the foundation’s An Evening in the 1800s with Kim Peevy that was scheduled for Saturday has been postponed but she will have a book signing in April. “The foundation’s mission is to bring awareness, to educate,” Miles said. If you are experiencing abnormal tremors, consult with a physician. For more information on ET, visit www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org, www.aan.com, andwww.essential tremor.org. Stephanie Turner graduated from Valdosta State University in 2012. She then signed on with the Aiken Standard, where she is now the arts and entertainment reporter. This weekend was packed full of drama. We, the authors/artist at the Folly Beach Wine & Sign, a fundraiser for the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor, knew the forecast was for rain, but being diehards we decided to give Saturday a chance. Little did we know that we would be in the Perfect Storm.
The slow rain began and all was well… for about fifteen minutes, then the storm hit. Strong winds & heavy rain began and started lifting tents, which were strapped down pulling them loose, making them dance twirling like ballerinas. Everyone rushed outside to save the tents. We looked like a crew on a ship battening down the hatches with gust of wind and rain beating down on us. The wind did win taking a few large boards off the arbor of the SC Parks & Recreation & Locklear’s Beach City Grill, but we were able to save the tents. Since we had won the battle with the storm we decided to extend the Folly Beach Wine & Sign for a second day. The next day, Sunday, was a beautiful day with blue skies and temperatures in the low 70’s. The winds were still gusty but the day was a perfect day. I had the best time and want to say thank you to the SC Parks & Recreation, Locklear’s Beach City Grill, all our authors/artists, (who had a wonderful sense of humor), and everyone that came out to support our event and help raise money for the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor. I met so many great people, Linda, Jeff, Elaine, Matthew, Peggy, Bill, Trudy, Mandy, Kirtland, Frank, Kathy, Lourie, and so many more. We had so much fun that we have decided the next Folly Beach Wine & Sign will be held on Saturday & Sunday. I have had familiar tremors since 2008 and was on primidone and propractinol but propractinol made me to drowsy to drive so was taken off.My general Manager at a optical chain first noticed my tremor when I was making glasses he noticed head motion in yes motion and hands shaking.this made it harder to make glasses and my performance suffered which resulted in many disciplinary's verbal and written.after about 2 years I finally had enough and filed a disability discrimination lawsuit but did not know the time limits and I was to late.But because of the lawsuit I have been basically been blacklisted in the optical field by this large optical company.So since then I got accepted into the operating engineers. 2 years ago but have noticed that with stress and the cold my tremors have gotten worse even with primidone.my family doctor tripled my dosage of primidone until I can see my neurologist in 2 weeks and she also limited my work abilities to being not able to climb ladders and scaffolding in addition to not running heavy equipment which is a primary job function of a heavy equipment operator.So now don't know what to do .If I should file disability if the neurologist says I cant run heavy equipment any more or at age 47 start all over again trying something different even if my tremors get worse again and I start getting disciplinary's at a new job again?Also I would like to go to a support group but there is none around the Champaign/Urbana ILL area.
 The Things of Life
Familial or Essential Tremors: You Are Not Alone by Nancy Carol Brown Hardin I don't dare carry a cup of coffee from the kitchen to my computer desk. It's impossible for me to take photographs with any kind of camera. Turning the pages of a book is difficult and sometimes I turn two or three. When I eat, it's almost like playing a game of "catch the fork," or the other fun game of "How much of this food can I wear?" I'm no longer able to hand write anything, and barely able to sign "Love, Mom" or "Love, Granny" to birthday and Christmas cards. I use a label program on my computer for addressing envelopes. As for other relatives or friends, they get cards from me only online. I'm Sure You're Wondering.... If you're wondering "What on earth is this woman talking about?" here's the answer. I have a condition that is known as Familial Tremors orEssential Tremors. My family knows this, but few of my online writing colleagues do, so this may be a revelation to some. I've Lived With This For Years That's right, it's nothing new for me. I've had this condtion for several years, but it's worsened as I've aged. Oddly enough, it seems to affect my right hand more than my left, and since I'm right handed that's not a good thing. In my young years, I was able to partially control it or mask it, but now that's no longer possible. The simple task of bringing a cup of coffee with me to my office is a cautious task at best, and a total mess at worst. Some days I can manage to actually have coffee in my cup when I get to my desk. HA! But the solution of course, is to use acovered carafe, or a thermal cup with a no leak top. I prefer the cup, because the coffee stays hot longer. There Are Medications For Tremor A few years back my doctor put me on a medication originally designed to help with convulsions, but which is also used to aid the lessening of tremors. After about a year, the strength of the dosage was increased. This medication is only taken at night when I'm going to bed, because it does tend to put me to sleep. It has an accumulative effect, providing better results over a regular period of taking the drug. However, there are those who prefer not to take a medication for the problem. Other Diseases and Conditions That Mimic If I miss my meds for any reason, and I do my best not to, my entire body shakes as though I have what the old folks in my childhood home called "St. Vitus Dance," which is actually Sydenham's Chorea, another movement disorder. As far as I know, there has never been a connection between the two. Parkinson's Disease, is another ailment that causes uncontrollable movement, caused by a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Again, there has never been a connection between Parkinson's and Familial or Essential Tremors. Why Is This Called "Familial" or Essential Tremors? These tremors are often referred to as Familial or Essential Tremors because they usually run in families. It's thought to be a genetic mutation and is dominant, meaning if only one of the parents has it, the children are more likely to have it. I can remember my mother as she aged, and I watched her hands shaking. I didn't realize it wasn't due to her age, but to this disorder. Now I see the signs of tremor in two of my children, a son and a daughter. They didn't show the symptoms when they were little, but developed them in their young adult years, just as I have. I'm sure as they grow older, they will have the same problems I do. There are young children who have Essential Tremor, and you can find more about it at the links I've provided below. www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org http://nancywriteseverything.blogspot.com/2015/01/familial-or-essential-tremors-you-are.html  Migraines with aura in middle age linked to Parkinson's disease By Trisha Henry, CNN updated 5:06 PM EDT, Wed September 17, 2014 Researchers don't yet understand why migraines might be linked to Parkinson's disease. (CNN) -- People who suffer from migraines with aura during middle age have double the risk of developing Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders later in life than those who do not, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology. Migraines are the most common brain disorder in both men and women, according to the World Health Organization, and one of the top 10 most debilitating conditions. Aura is the term used to describe the feelings and symptoms that happen shortly before and during a migraine. "Roughly one-third of affected individuals can predict the onset of a migraine because it is preceded by an 'aura,' visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or a temporary loss of vision," according to the National Institutes of Health. Researchers followed more than 5,000 people between the ages of 33 and 65 for 25 years, who were originally enrolled in a clinical trial designed to study heart disease in Iceland. The participants were interviewed about migraine symptoms in middle age and then, about 25 years later, asked about Parkinson's disease symptoms. They were also asked about symptoms for a related disorder called Restless Legs Syndrome. The results were based on the study participants' self-reported diagnoses, though in the majority of the cases researchers confirmed the diagnoses by looking at medical records and the participants' medication use. Parkinson's disease, depression linked? Former NFL great on concussions Boxing coach opens up about Parkinson's "The patients in this study were not carefully examined and definitely diagnosed with Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Michael S. Okun, national medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation, which is why he believes more research is needed before drawing any conclusion that the two are related. "Head trauma and other neurological issues can manifest with symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease and future studies will need to better control for these factors." Compared to those without headaches, people in the study who suffered from migraines with aura in middle age were about twice as likely to have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when the researchers checked back. They were also more likely to report at least four symptoms commonly associated with Parkinson's disease later in life. Parkinson's-like symptoms were also more common in those with migraine without aura, though the link was not as strong, lead study author Ann Scher told CNN in an email. Scher, a professor of epidemiology at Uniformed Services University in Maryland, wants to make sure people understand the actual risk of Parkinson's disease in people with migraine is still very low. Researchers don't yet understand why migraines might be linked to Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders, Scher says. They don't believe that the link is due to medications taken to treat migraines, some of which block dopamine. Nor do they think that the link is due to related brain diseases, "since we controlled for these factors." Possible explanations for the connection, she agrees, might be a previous head injury or a shared genetic risk factor that increases the risk for both migraine and Parkinson's disease. One common link may be abnormalities in dopamine production and dopamine receptors in the brain, said Okun. Some groups suggest the same dopamine treatment that helps Parkinson's patients may also help with migraines. "Another theory is that in migraine sufferers there seems to be a higher deposition of metals, such as iron, in the brain and specifically in areas important to movement," said Okun. "Some experts believe that this metal deposition may place patients at risk for diseases like Parkinson's." For more information on Migraines you may go to the
NINDS www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Migraine-Information-Page Neurology Times http://www.neurologytimes.com/headache-and-migraine/therapies-migraine-prophylaxis?rememberme=1&elq_mid=1781&elq_cid=1821004 Neurology Times http://www.neurologytimes.com/headache-and-migraine/new-hope-migraine-patients?rememberme=1&elq_mid=1781&elq_cid=1821004&GUID=CFAE9BC1-E1FC-489B-8D65-69E03ECFAEB5 Laser Eye Surgery HUB https://www.lasereyesurgeryhub.co.uk/migraine-types-triggers-treatments/ |
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