Jitters | Arthritis Information

 

I've mentioned that I get the Jitters and asked in what way.

If I overdo things I get a form of the shakes (like shaky hands) but this starts of internally.
It feels like my legs have the shakes but from within with no visible external signs.

This can continue until I do get external shakes in my hands and a feeling of pressure in the back of my neck and forehead.
At this point I can get very short on tolerance and need to stop or back away from what ever I am doing.

I tell Julie, I'm feeling real Jittery, please don't nag me, not now.

If I rest for thirty minutes I can feel all this drain away.

I think this is a form of stress and anxiety.

Trying to cook dinner and manage three pots on the stove can bring this on over the time it takes to cook and eat.

I know I'm a bloke and we can only handle one thing at a time but I'm also a Gemini and should be able to handle many things at once, just like the women do every day. Bodak39431.0015509259I have had that from time to time. Do not know what it is? Seems like my body is saying not know, later but not now.

Stephen, this almost sounds like a panic attack. I have had them at a couple of points in my life. I am now on Effexor, and  have been on it for a couple of years. But I've been on anti-depressants for a long time. They have just changed them occasionally.

My oldest daughter also got them until she was diagnosed and got on meds. Also, HER daughter, my 17-year old granddaughter gets them, too.

I think it really sounds like you may be having panic attacks or anxiety attacks.(basically the same thing) Medications are very helpful to people with these, and can allow you to live a fairly normal life. Sometimes. the docs will want you to speak to a psychiatrist for a bit, too. Therapy can help, too. But not every doc requires you to see a phychiatrist. They may just rx something for you.

Please let your doc know about these attacks you are having. If it is panic attacks, there are things that can make your life a lot better.

Good luck. Please let me know how you are doing.

Nini 

Hi Stephen, sorry to hear of your jittery shakes, I also get these or should I say used to, my DR prescribed Paxil, (paroxetine hydrochloride), I am much better, don't ever get them now. 

I hope you will approach your DR as in most cases you are controlling yours but there may come a time when you are not in the right place at the right tiime to control them if you get my meaning and they can be really disabling, for example, I had one while driving on a HIghway and I just couldn't go any faster than a crawl, had to wait until I could pull over and let one of my friends drive, it was so scary and the other cars were getting very impatient, best of luck, get them controlled Stephen, you will be all the better in lots of ways for it.  Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy 2008!  Kind regards Janie.   Panic attacks, yes could be..

I have mentioned these things to the doc and the reply was, Stephen you are going to have to get a grip on your self or I will have to put you on anti depression drugs. Go and do some of your photography.

I feel as if I'm in no mans land at the moment with the specialist saying go see the doc because he reckons the RA and the drugs are not causing this and the doc saying get a grip on your self.

Getting a grip on ones self only gives temporary relief and quite frankly is very good for putting me to sleep. Huurrrrmmmmmmm...........


I get this too, but I never accounted for it being anything to do with anxiety? I get that way if I have to do something tedious, too. I'll shake and then sometimes it's so bad, I get a strange sensation all over my body and I HAVE to move around to get it out. Sometimes if I stand too long, I get it in my legs. Maybe I'm not talking about the same thing, but it sounds like it to me.
This may be out in left field, but have you ever had your blood sugar tested?  Sometimes it becomes unbalanced and can cause that very sensation.  Eating protein can help but sometimes just resting temporarily will curb the symptoms as it does for you.  If you have a high starch meal or sugary snack, your blood sugar can rise quickly and then take a nose dive.  This causes internal, then external shakes in many people, including myself.  Just something to think about. 

I don't get the same thing exactly, but I have noticed that my hands shake a lot from time to time. I'm sorry your doc isn't being very compassionate about your concerns. I agree that it might be anxiety or low blood sugar. I hope they're able to figure it out quickly so you get some relief.

::  Don't ever stop taking your wonderful pictures! ::

Hope you have a superfantastic and extra comfortable day!

Best of luck getting it figured out. 

Andrea

Mine feels more mental, or more.....internal ???? ugh I can't explain it, it doesn't feel like a physical problem like blood sugar, it just feels like....every inch of my muscles are crawling, and if I don't stop what I'm doing or sit down for a minute, I might jolt all over and hurt someone. LOLHypoglycemia.

Now that does sound interesting and worth to have checked out although I think the doc has
 checked the blood  sugar levels on two occasion over the past twelve months.

I can certainly put a tick beside a lot of the symptoms.
Wow Stephen, that fits me to a Tee!  I have been a little more observant lately and have noticed that when I am doing something that I really don't want to do, i.e., waiting on hubby, the cat, etc. that I have what you call, "The Jitters"  Hmmmmm! I guess that our body is sending us a message.   SnowOwl, my multi-task days have slowed way down and therefore the jitters when I try to do what I used to do, like cook a full course meal for 20 people and enjoy it.  This topic has given me a light bulb moment and I thank everyone for joining in with an opinion.  I am going to print it and show the family.  Wow, I feel better already!  And thanks Stephen for starting it. Dam this disease!! This is also a good description of a Thyroid issue ( jitters ) I've had a brain scan, been on a heart monitor for 24hrs, hooked up to all sorts of gizmos at a cardioligist clinic, had the thyroid checked out and just about every other blood test including the bloods for sugar.

I still get the Jitters and is worse when I can feel a bit of RA on the move.

My conclusion to date and after reading all comments here and else where, is that for some, this is a result of RA in the system and a combination of drugs.

I of coarse will keep monitoring myself and if anything else pops up that may sway me to think other wise then will let you all know.

For the most part I do control it because I can feel it coming on, I just have to back away a take things a little slower.

The Doc has said that I can't go thru life backing away from situations, I don't.
I will step into the devils mouth if necessary, it's just that my time in the devils mouth is limited, and I know when to withdraw before taking the plunge again.

I simply have to adjust to what the body is saying.

Stephen,

It is all well and good for your doc to say you can't keep backing away from situations, but he doesn't have the chronic disabling disease, you have!!  The first 2 or 3 years were the hardest for me, and at that stage I didn't have mtx and I didn't have access to arthritis boards like this (26 years ago).  The disease and some of the medications - which have different effects on different people - meant I have had to learn to work around it and make the most of 'good' days.  MTX I take on a Sat. evening and Sun. and Mon. often I need more rest.  Some folk make sure they take it on a Fri. evening if they are still working and have to front up on a Mon. in a reasonable condition.  When I was on Naprosyn, my head felt as if it were stuffed with cotton wool - not a good thing when trying to cope in a busy office. 

Be kind to yourself, don't hassle too much about not being able to do what you did a few years ago...  that just leads to frustration.  The great thing about boards like this is that we can share experiences and learn from one another.  If the mtx is not working for you, perhaps you can ask if you can access some of the newer drugs such as Enbrel or Rituxan; however the Govt. makes it pretty tough as they are so expensive and I think one has to prove that mtx is not working/has really bad side effects.  Re juggling 3 pots on stove - do what I do - all the vegs.  go into one dish and into the microwave - meat/fish on griller or in frypan.  Have learnt to keep life v. simple. 

Lorraine

I have the jitters/shakes too. It is really noticable and lots of friends and family have made comments about it. It happens when I try to lift a coffee cup, light a candle, or just about anything. I was told it may be anxiety and was put on xanax. I really helped to stop them but it knocks me out. My ra also said it may also be weakness in my muscles. ?????? I only drink one cup of coffee because I thought maybe it was that. Could be many things and when I'm at home is the only time I take the xanax because it makes me nap.

I hope you get it figured out Bodak. Does it happen when you take pictures? I can't hold a camera and take a decent pix cuz' of my shakes. Awful and embarrassing when people notice.

take care

[QUOTE=CinDee]

It happens when I try to lift a coffee cup, light a candle, or just about anything. I was told it may be anxiety and was put on xanax. 

Does it happen when you take pictures? I can't hold a camera and take a decent pix cuz' of my shakes. Awful and embarrassing when people notice.

take care

[/QUOTE]
Hold the old coffee mugs in the morning and yes, the shakes.
I get over that by holding the two mugs together while walking them out to the patio.
This is first thing in the morning then things settle for awhile before becoming noticeable again the more tired (fatigued) I become.

When I first got RA you could not place a sheet of A4 paper on the back of my extended hand, now things have improved to the point where I can keep that peice of paper where it is meant to be.

Was asked to shoot some baby pictures for some friends and got the rattles up, now I know for sure that was anxiety (stress).

I have a mono pod and tripod if I thinks I need them.
Okay I'm not so sure "jitters" is accurate for some of what I get. I've been trying to think of a better term for it, but I can't. Unsteady is close, but still not the right word.

The best way I can think, is it's like slowly sliding off a train track, and then *pop* you do slide off. Over and over and over. Does that make ANY sense?


Anywhos.....This thread has been great. Really makes me want to ask my doctor more about it.

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