[January]

Today I was dx'd with Essential Tremor Syndrome. Right now, it's nothing but a nuisance, and I can live with it. I've been reading about it and am very thankful it's not life threatening although it can progress so that it makes life difficult.

I had not mentioned this to my family and received a call from my son today. He had been to the Dr. today for the very same thing. This can really impact my son's job and he can't take the meds commonly used for it, except a blood pressure pill.

I worry all the time about my son inheriting my mental health problems, but I had no idea I had this and now I've passed it down to him. I feel horrible, frightened and so very guilty.

[Perna]

So, would you rather you hadn't had your son? :-)

We all are a mixed bag of inherited bad stuff AND good stuff. Why is inheriting this from you any different from maybe inheriting a heart problems or eye or hearing problems, etc.? It's not like you deliberately decided you'd get this (you didn't even know you had it!) or did anything to "cause" it (heck, are you mad at your parents/grandparents/other blood relatives because you have it?).

My maternal grandmother died from emphysema, she was a 3 pack of cigarettes a day smoker (back in the first half of the 20th century). I have adult-onset asthma, obviously my lungs being a bit "weaker" is inherited. It's a mixed bag though; my asthma was probably triggered from too many antibiotics when I had a life-threatening infection for five months, was hospitalized, etc. But it's not the antibiotics fault that it played out involving my lungs and it's not my genetics fault that I needed massive doses of antibiotics. These things happen.

We all have something or another that is weaker than something or another :-) and that's just the way it is. It's not true communicable disease sorts of things; not everyone who has X in their family genes gets it. I use to have a zillion cavities and my middle brother (six years older than I am) has never had one.

It's very unfortunate that this will make your son's job harder or impossible to perform; but who knew? If we could tell the future, he'd probably pick another job? I don't think he'd pick another mother :-)

[January]

(((((((((((( Perna ))))))))))))

You are a veritable font of wisdom. Do you know that?

Thank you for snapping me back to reality. I was running on emotions instead of using my brain and that's never a good thing.

I know he wouldn't trade me in for another mother right now, but there were times when he was younger that I'm sure he wished he could.

Thank you again!

[lynn P.]

((January)) - I don't have any great wisdom to add. I don't know anything about your recent diagnosis. I just wanted to stop by and give you a supportive hug.

[January]

((((((((((((( Lynn ))))))))))))

Thank you so very much. It means a lot to me.

[notz]

January,

I'm sorry to hear you have an added burden in your life. I don't know much, strike that...I know nothing at all about Essential Tremor Syndrome. I trust you will follow your physicians advice, take your meds properly and learn more about this malady and adjust accordingly.

I bet your son will do the same thing. He is a chip off the old block, right?

No shame, no guilt for the things beyond your control.

[_embrace]

I also have essential tremor in my hands (particularly my left, but also in my right.) SSRIs seem to make it quite a bit worse, but I'm sort of in the same boat as you in that it's mostly annoying right now. Sorry to hear about your son having it, too...but of course, I agree with Perna.