Tremors, a follow-up

[joshwriting]

Almost 5 months ago, I wrote http://joshwriting.livejournal.com/105442.html about the palsy, the tremor in my hands at times.

Last night, I finally talked directly to my father about it - about his.

Josh: Have you ever gotten a diagnosis for your tremor?
Dad: No. Why would I? It does no harm.
Mom: That's not a very helpful response.
Dad: Maybe Fred did (his older brother), but if he did, he never told me about it.
Josh: No, I am pretty sure that he hasn't.
Dad: Well, it is not as if his tremor is any worse than it was.
Josh and Mom: Yes it is.
Dad: Well, then, mine isn't!
Josh: Yes, it is.

The conversation continued. He did not know/had not noticed that I have it, too. Nor had my mother. (who does not seem to have it - and yes, it is relevant. Her great-grandparents (mother's father's parents) are the same people as his paternal grandparents.)

I noted that I test myself a few times a year by threading a needle (as mentioned in the earlier post). He replied that every morning, when he tears open his sugar-substitute, he tried to put the small corner back inside the sugar packet.

It's the same testing behavior. What can I do? Can I still do this?

I am mostly amused. Though, it might have been nice if he had talked to a doctor about this - now, I think I really ought to... even if I am fairly certain that the benign essential tremor notion is on target.

Comments

[malkaesther.livejournal.com]

I can picture that conversion between you and your parents.

Talking to a doctor is probably a good idea. Probably will be a pain too with a bunch of tests but still a good idea.

[camlina.livejournal.com]

>Talking to a doctor is probably a good idea. Probably will be a
>pain too with a bunch of tests but still a good idea.

I second that.

[erowen.livejournal.com]

I third.

Oh, also, *hugs* and I miss you (yes, I know we talk all the time - I still miss you!).

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

Tremor is never benign.

It most often signals Parkinson's, which is highly treatable in the early stages. The more advanced it gets, the harder it is to treat. This presumes, of course, that you are otherwise healthy. (My hands shake when I'm exhausted.)

Untreated, Parkinson's can become serious, even fatal.

[superfinemind.livejournal.com]

I never knew anybody with a family tree twist like that before. ^_^ 'S neat. I've read about them and so forth-- used to living-history at a house whose presiding family had several funny twists, like double first cousins.

"Testing behavior" is neat-- I wonder how many people do things like that and don't even realize, how many of them would recognize it as holding themselves to a measure.

--My father and I both, when we feed the cat, open the medicine capsule, pour it onto the food, and put the capsule back together before we throw it away. My mother throws away the separate pieces and is confused by our behavior, sometimes having to pull the capsule out and open it to see it's empty.

I find needle-threading sort of amusing as a test for shaking hands, though-- the way I thread a needle, my hands would have to be shaking pretty violently for it to not work.