The St. Luke’s Support Group met on Saturday, January 5th at 10:30 AM, when Dr. Mark Hallett spoke to us via video conferencing. Dr. Hallett gave us a good description of essential tremor confirming the idea that it is probably a group of disorders. It affects different people in different ways as do the treatments. We learned that there is a very real difference in how the medications and treatments affect (or don’t affect) each individual.
Due to the nature of the condition, there is no reason to give up and not try another treatment just because the first does not work.
Dr. Hallett also told us of some of the research that is being done, including their ongoing attempts to get a pharmaceutical firm to make a prescription drug of Octanoic Acid.
He answered many questions and very graciously agreed to speak to us again in the future.
My own personal note at the end of the meeting was to remind everyone that the purpose of HopeNET is two-fold: To create awareness of ET and to fund research.
Despite snow flurries, the meeting was well attended.
Mary Fitzpatrick
St. Louis Support Group Leader
