Frustrated!!

[Aggie_Ama]

A few years ago I lost 40 lbs and along the way developed a tremor. They technically call it a Benign Essential Tremor but benign it is not. At the height of it I couldn't write or eat anything with sauce or soup.

First the doctor did a battery of blood tests, I seriously had multiple blood panels, EEG, wore a heart monitor and then sent me to a neurologist for evaluation. The first neurologist was terrible and but me on an equally terrible medicine. At one point I was taking 250 mg 3x a day of Neurontin. I was dispressed, irritable and stupid (it made me feel foggy).

I finally gave the doctor the bird (not literally) and went to the Parkinson's clinic at Baylor College of Medicine. They are also a premier movement disorder clinic. There I got put on Primidone and went on with my life feeling less depressed and a little sharper. I moved here and found an amazing neurologist and gained 30 lbs where I was back at my pre-weight loss level. The neurologist became convinced last summer my tremor had done the rare thing of going into remission and took me off the meds.

Okay, now here we are. In the last month I have been back on Weight Watchers and lost about 10 lbs to date. The tremor is back. It is faint but it is here, the wobbly handwriting is the first sign and I know it will get worse if it follows last time's path. I am so frustrated. Every doctor says there is no weight correlation, my blood work looks normal everytime but something is up. I am going to my GP next week for a blood panel but I am so frustrated. I don't want to go back on meds but the alternative of throwing dressing, salsa, food everywhere and having handwriting I cannot read isn't an option for me either. I know we have worse health conditions on here, heck my husband has a worse one but dang it. Can I not be thin and shake free?

Sorry, reservation for a pity party of one.

[maillotpois]

How incredibly frustrating that must be!! Congrats on the 10 lbs - but GRR!!!

Can you go back to that good neurologist?

[SadieKate]

How frustrating! Have they done any MRIs or scans for anything that might not show up on blood panels?

Maybe 10 lbs in one month is a bit fast for your metabolism. If I tried that I'd be shaking all the time from hypoglycemia.

[redrhodie]

Oh, I'm so sorry! That is frustrating! Are you on the same diet you were on when you originally lost the 40lbs?

[Aggie_Ama]

Maillotpois- I am still a patient of the neurologist here, so I can see him if necessary. Probably can get in pretty quick too as opposed to a new patient. He is still on my insurance and I would pay out of pocket after my experience with Dr. Neurontin pusher.

Sadie- Well it has been less than 2 lbs per week, I guess I am at closer to 6-7 weeks. This is via Weight Watchers so I am still eating fruits, veggies and even candy but less calories and I wonder if there is a correlation. I am still thinking I might have cut out too much of something unbeknownst to me and my body is revoluting? That is why I wanted to start at the GP with a blood panel. But no MRIs or anything past the EEG, heart monitor which were actually more for some vision issues that arose at same time.

Red- Yup, Weight Watchers both time. Basically I have really cut down on the junk food but otherwise my diet is business as usual. I am just eating less total and less fast food.

[OakLeaf]

(((((Amanda)))))

My dad's had a tremor for years, so I can definitely empathize with how tough that is. Sending good thoughts and prayers that yours stays away.


ETA: I am not a dr. etc. etc... and I'm only superficially familiar with the various diet plans... but IIRC Weight Watchers is low fat? Good fats are definitely implicated in neurological health. (As well as being important for weight loss... you may find that you actually lose more weight on a diet that's rich in good fats.) Maybe try an Omega-3 supplement like Udo's Choice or freshly ground flax seeds, or just try to get more good fats in your diet - cut out something else if you want to keep the same total calories?

[Miranda]

Aggie_Ama... I'm so sorry hun, that just plain ole sux.

I have several things that have weirdly fell apart with my 30-something body in the last 10yrs. One being an autoimmune/neurological disorder as well. It can be so frustrating indeed. The neuro docs are smart fellows, but none of them really knows what causes most of this junk, or what the miracle cure is.

For ME, just my lil humble op fwiw, I know that my symptoms increase, or come out of remission, with any stress to my body. Emotional/mental stress overduely, lack of sleep, getting my immune sys activated even with the common cold, etc.

With that being said, I know this is not what you want to hear, but losing weight is sorta a stress on your body. It kinda goes into a fast I think is one way to put it... aka a stress. Now, WW is a very healthy program. I've been on it before. I have also lost a significant amount of weight before at one time. I think I remember my symptoms flaring too. But, they cycled out. I dont' have the tremor issue... but other things.

Losing weight is a very good thing overall for your health. For some of my other issues, less weight is best. So, it's the balance of the evils. I have no real clue if this could be a possilbe theory. I hope your family doc can help with the blood work. The chemical imbalance might be a starting point too. ((((hugs))) Miranda