| I noticed I had OT when I was 48years old and have had it for eight years. I noticed I had jelly legs after a bout of the flu, and the leg shakes didn't go away. My doctor sent me to a neurologist who diagnosed it manually, then on to another neurologist who tested the frequency of the tremor and confirmed it was OT. I now sit to shower, to cook dinner and hang on to the shopping trolley for "dear life" in the Supermarket. I, like other OT sufferers feel embarrassed in social settings, sitting while others stand. I get very tired and sometimes have bouts of feeling sorry for myself. However, I have a beautiful 16 yr. old daughter that I keep pace with and have not cut out any activity over the past 8 years. I am determined to keep going as "close to normal" as possible, though there are times at night, I know I am really exhausted. I use a "stick seat" in certain circumstances. I have no trouble sleeping "out like a light". I have finally stopped asking "why me" and after eight years of trying to get doctors to research OT I have not achieved it. I tried to get the Brain Foundation to research OT but they just concentrate on Stroke and Epilepsy. I tried to get an article in the General Practitioners Magazine with the help of my doctor to raise awareness, but it was not published. Now the plan is to concentrate again on myself. I am seeing a naturopath and following an exercising program and trying to keep my weigh down, just trying to stay healthy. Keeping calm really helps because like others OT sufferers, the shakes are worse when I am upset. I tried a drug at first but it affected my head and thinking ability, so my plan is to be drug free. As far as thinking back on possible causes, I can not pinpoint anything but have experienced most of the problems common to many. As I child I had lung problems and took up competitive swimming. I had lower back problems when two vertebrae fused as a teenager. I trained as a physical education teacher and ended resigning as a deputy principal of a high-school, after the birth of my daughter. I had my daughter at close to 40yrs of age, after 6 years of fertility treatment. What that did to my health I have no idea. I had my teeth straightened to get a more correct bite at 42yrs of age. I literally fell apart physically at 48 yrs when I started menopause with severe hot flushes and joint pain. Not long after that, I had a bout of the flu and recovered but had jelly legs. The weakness developed into a tremor and I feared the worst. I have been dealing with OT ever since. I am very appreciative of this site and your stories. When I first found this site, I felt reassured and less isolated. I keep looking for some commonality in our stories to find a clue. I am beginning to suspect it isn't any one thing but a build up over time from trauma and diseases. The body reaches a critical threshold of tolerance, and that my flu episode was just "the straw that broke the camel's back". Never the less I still quietly hope for a cure, like everyone else. Kristene A, South Australia |