The Orthostatic Tremor Forum (archive)

Hello my friends: Maybe 9 years ago when this web site was started it would not have entered my mind that perhaps there would be enough people within reasonable travel distance to meet with another OT person. Recently I had the pleasure of having three OT friends at my house for lunch, Harriet,Rita and Kaylie! Rita and Kaylie live about 40 minutes from my house and Harriet over an hour. We all hope that more people will join us so we can form a support group here in central New Jersey. If there are other OT members who wish to join us send me an email and I will include you the next time we meet. Gloria

Hi Everyone.
It is some time since I visited this site. Since my last visit I have contracted essential tremor as well and now take medications to control shaking legs - clonazepam, shaking hands - inderal and diabetes - metformin. Apart from this I am very happy with much to be thankful for. I am 58 and live in a beautiful coastal town in South Australia. As a full time university student at Flinders University in Adelaide studying a Behavioural Science Course I have limited spare time to use the internet to download personally applicable information and seem to be always searching for research journals for my study. In my second year now with plenty of work to keep me busy! Although I travel sometimes 4 hours a day to and from uni by bus, I usually keep up my exercise and walking programme as I have got the feeling that without exercise the tremors will progress more rapidly. One consolation is that although my feet are unpredictable my brain will hopefully not be affected although the medications appear to slow down my memory a little. I now have to wear flat soft soled rubber shoes with orthotics to keep my grip and gait as stable as possible. Have found the orthotics to be a great help and thoroughly recommend them. I use the ones that can be easily purchased in a pharmacy I think 4 degrees with 3/4 length heel placement. One problem that I do have is forgetting to take my medication or leaving it home. I usually remember when I go to take money out of my purse and my hands are so shaky I can barely achieve the task. Think I need a tablet box around my neck or an alarm

Kind Regards to all you shaky people who may read this.