‘People mistake my tremor for Parkinsons’

A woman who set up a support group for people with tremors says there needs to be more awareness of the condition.

After being diagnosed with essential tremor – a neurological condition causing involuntary hand shaking – in her 40s, Sheelagh Wurr co-founded Salisbury Shakers in Wiltshire to support others.

She is sharing her experience after Oscar winning and Downtown Abbey creator Lord Julian Fellowes’ diagnosis and treatment was depicted on film by the National Tremor Foundation (NTF).

“It’s being open about it [your diagnosis]. Everyone thinks you have Parkinson’s and actually, this condition is more common but nobody has heard of it,” Ms Wurr said.

In the film, Lord Julian Fellowes said he was “in denial” when he first noticed his tremor in his mid 60s.

The condition has many side-effects including making him more anti-social and losing the ability to write with his hands.

Ms Wurr said that having such a high-profile figure speak out about his experience could only benefit others living with the condition – which she first noticed when she attempted to learn the clarinet.

“The teacher got very cross with me because I couldn’t play the lower notes, because I couldn’t hold it still enough,” she said.

Told to “get it sorted” by her teacher, Ms Wurr visited her doctor, before being referred to a neurologist.

She was later diagnosed with a central tremor, which she said was inherited from her mother.

Ms Wurr said at first, apart from not being able to play the clarinet, it “didn’t really affect”, but just like her mum, her condition worsened with age.

She now struggles to drink out of a cup and instead has to use straws and mugs with lids.

Being nervous or “tense in anyway” exacerbates symptoms. However, Ms Wurr said she manages by not being afraid to ask for help.

“I’ve got quite a good sense of humour – and I’ve found as long as I can laugh about it, which makes people feel less uneasy, people will always help,” she explained.

One of her group’s main priorities is raising awareness about the condition.

Ms Wurr said people travel from all over the south west to attend her group.

“It’s really taken off. They just want to talk and be with other people who have the same problems.

“We talk about things we’ve discovered that make life easier. It seems to be very valued,” she added.

An essential tremor is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary shaking of parts of the body.

It is not believed essential tremor shortens your life or increases your risk of other brain disorders.

Symptoms include:

There is currently no cure.

Source: NHS

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