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Introduction –

Just a quick post to say hello. I’m still getting used to WordPress and figuring out how to use it, so there might be a few changes coming to my brand new blog. Apologies if it’s confusing, I will get there, I promise.

Please check out my story if you are interested, and I’m sorry if there are any typos. I did skim through it but I have undoubtedly missed one or two… maybe more.

If you have any comments, please feel free to write them, and you are more than welcome to get in touch with me via e-mail or Instagram message. I’m happy to answer questions and would love to hear from any of my readers. The link to Instagram is on the right hand side (I will let you know if they move in the future), and you can contact me at the following e-mail address:

fndautology@gmail.com

Thank you for coming to my humble little blog; I hope to be posting regularly with all sorts of content, mostly sharing my experiences and trying to raise awareness for FND. If you have any requests or FND topics you’d like to discuss, don’t hesitate to let me know.

Speak to you very soon!

What A Year So Far –

So I have not posted for a long time, and I feel kind of guilty about that. Blogging has helped me a lot in the past, and it makes me feel wonderful if I can help out just one person who is struggling or make them feel somewhat normal in this crazy world of FND.

I keep having complete mental blocks, and I’ve been putting off writing for a long time. Now I’m running out of stuff to do in lockdown, I feel the need to post an update of sorts.

This year started out so positive. It was the longest I’d ever gone without having a seizure, I felt confident in myself, and I have booked myself into a nail technician course so I can start to think about getting back into a career doing something I love. Childcare is no longer an option, nursing is definitely out of the question. Life now is thinking about what I want and the practicality of that. There’s no point in having unrealistic expectations because I’ll just be disappointed. So a career in something that I enjoy doing and that calms me, one in which I can do from home… sounds pretty good to me.

And then COVID 19 happened. *facepalm*

I don’t feel all that stressed, but clearly there is something going on in my brain that I’m not aware of. As soon as we went into lockdown, my legs stopped working. It will be 6 weeks on Sunday. My right leg is a hell of a lot better; I’d go as far to say it’s almost normal. But my left leg, as always, absolutely hates me.

I’m still using my wheelchair and relying on my family a lot to help me out with Buddy. It’s almost a good thing that they’re trapped in the house with me. There’s nothing I hate more than relying on other people and not being able to be independent and walk my own dog, but at the moment, I physically can’t.

The fact that I can’t get to the chiropractic is playing a huge part in my decision to rely on my wheelchair rather than push myself and use my crutches like I normally would. If I twist, twinge or pull my back, things are going to get a hell of a lot worse for me. Rosie the wheelchair isn’t ideal, but she’s a damn site better than being bed-bound and in agony with back spasms and not enough medication to keep them at bay. I don’t even want to think about what it would take to get enough co-codomol, naproxen and diazepam to get me through. Potentially the sacrifice of a limb, the blood of a virgin or my first born with the rate things are going.

I’m joking of course, that’s a bit sinister… but it would be an ordeal to say the least.

The thing that’s really got me down, is the fact that I’ve put on half the weight I managed to lose last year. It shouldn’t be a bad thing, it shouldn’t be depressing me more than the current state of the world, but selfishly, it is.

I worked hard to lose that weight. Admittedly a little of it is from Christmas, but who doesn’t put on weight over Christmas? Part of it is the fact that the muscle I built up from walking has just wasted away or turned to fat in the 6 weeks I’ve had very limited mobility.

Basically it’s got me looking up exercises I can do to keep up what strength I build up while I’m not as mobile as usual. And then that got me depressed too, because the vast majority of Youtube channels or fitness apps don’t take into account the fact that not everyone has full use of all their limbs. My friends have therefore been tasked in helping me to find exercises that would work, or ones that could be adapted to work for me. At least it’s keeping them busy in lockdown, right?

Anyway, I’ll update you on my limited mobility exercises when I manage to get some sort of routine down. Or in 6 months time when I finally have the inclination to write a post.

I’m going to end it there before I ramble on too much and bore you all to death. Hope this reaches everyone in good health, or relatively good health at least. Stay home, stay safe and stay positive. And please feel free to share you exercise experiences with me. Would love some pointers from fellow FND sufferers and Spoonies. For now, enjoy a photo of Buddy having a snooze on Rosie. He looked too cute to move so I was trapped in the lounge for a solid 45 minutes.

Buddy getting Rosie the wheelchair all hairy… Good job he’s cute.

Speak to you soon.

Today’s Rant: Independence –

Today I want to talk about something has been getting to me for a while now, but a lot more lately; and that something is my independence – or lack of it thanks to FND.

If you’ve read my blog before or if you know me, you know that I used to be the absolute definition of independent. I had a job from 14, helping my dance teacher with classes, demonstrating for the younger kids after she’d had her hip operation. I loved every second of it, and though I got less than £5 an hour, I was earning a wage and I was thrilled. As soon as I turned 16 I got a weekend job at a retail store in town, and when I did work experience, I stayed on at the nursery as bank staff. I did shifts after 6th form and college, then ended up working there full time when I dropped out of both.

Obviously at that age I couldn’t drive, so walked everywhere. Come wind, rain or scorching sunshine, I walked there, did my shift and walked home. I was adamant that I would support myself with my jobs, taking on my phone bill my dad had preciously paid the second I got my first month’s wages from the retail store. I didn’t want to rely on my mum for my toiletries or anything, I got them myself. If I wanted clothes, I saved up and bought them.

What I’m trying to say is, I was very independent from a young age, and I absolutely loved it. Then came FND.

It’s hit me hard this month especially; with being seizure free for almost 12 weeks I got excited about the opportunity of getting myself an adapted car so I wouldn’t have to rely on my parents, sister or grandad for lifts. I could go out and do what I want, when I want… wouldn’t have to wait around or fit into anyone else’s schedule. And obviously if you have seen my previous posts you will know I have a puppy. For those who haven’t I have a puppy, he’s 20 weeks old and a little devil for the majority of the time. But he’s a distraction and a responsibility and I love him no matter how many times he wees on the carpet or nibbles my hand instead of his toys.

I had a seizure the other day, almost went 12 weeks, so 11 weeks and 4 days is currently my record. It was a nasty one, caught me off guard and has left me feeling like complete and utter crap. I’m still a leg down, and have really been struggling with that.

It happens a lot, and I can’t move my legs properly anyway; so why does it hit me so hard every single time?

I feel like I’ve been up and down on a roller-coaster ride over the last few days. I keep telling myself that it’s not permanent, it will get better and I’ve done it a hundred times before so this is just one more set back to add to the list. I think with having Buddy it’s hit me harder, because I want to take him out for a good walk like I have been daily since he’s had all his jabs (minus a few days from my last set back). But I can’t do that right now. He’s been off the lead in the garden doing recall and some training, but even that isn’t enough stimulation for him, so he’s been an absolute nightmare being penned up in the house with me and by bad leg.

Guess it’s guilt that I’m feeling there, that I can’t give him everything he needs during this relapse. I’m having to rely on my mum and grandad to take him out in the garden and I hate having to rely on anyone. At a certain point I know you need to, you can’t do everything yourself… especially when you have a brain that doesn’t know whether it’s coming or going.

So basically this post has been a long rant. I know that a lot of people suffer with the loss of their independence; it’s not just those with FND. It’s anyone with any kind of chronic illness, and it sucks.

The things that I have been doing independently have been stripped away from me the last few days; my dog walks being the main thing, but it’s also little things as well. When you’re on 2 crutches around the house all the time, it’s stupid things like, getting someone to bring a drink to you or asking them for a snack or some paracetamol. It’s little niggly things that make you feel like a complete and utter burden. It probably sounds pathetic, but I’m sure those of you who are in the same position as me understand what I mean. Like, I want to be doing these things for myself. I don’t get any joy out of sitting around and asking other people for stuff; it makes me feel the opposite of joyful, it makes me feel like s**t.

These days, independence for me is taking my dog for a walk on my own. It’s washing my hair all by myself. It’s cooking a meal without any help, even if all I do is bung a load of ingredients into a slow cooker.

My idea of independence has changed a lot over the last 6 years. Although it feels like a bad thing right now, it’s not. I just have to alter my perception of the world, celebrate the small achievements and not put so much pressure on myself. Today I’m down to 1 crutch around the house and taking my own dog out into the garden; and that’s great. Remembering to celebrate the little things and not to dwell on the bad things is hard, and it isn’t easy; but it’s so important, for any chronic illness I think.

Sorry for the rant, but I really do want to know, what does independence mean to you?

Speak to you soon x

Long Time No See –

It feels like forever since my last post. I’ve been absolutely terrible at keeping a regular thing going and I apologise for that, but life gets in the way. If you’re not having a flare up then you’re caring for a new puppy… you know how it is.

I was thinking about maybe doing a vlog type thing on my Instagram story; just letting you all know how I’m getting on with the puppy and managing my FND. It has been a bit of a challenge at times – a couple of weeks ago especially. But as always I have my wonderful family to help me out.

Over the last month or so I have definitely been pushing myself to the max, and have really been teetering on the edge of a seizure as a result on more than one occasion. I’m 7 weeks seizure free, which at the moment is my all time record so we will have to wait and see how the next few weeks pan out.

Buddy and I have just about got into a routine of sorts; and this morning I’d be feeling a lot better if I didn’t have disturbed sleep and an abundance of vivid nightmares. He’s just waking up and is ready for a walk and I really need a nap; but it will have to wait. If I really tired him out I’ll get at least 2 hours of down time when we get home… the only thing is, after a walk I desperately need the down time! The best thing is to take him somewhere new – lots of new sights, people and smells – and then we don’t even have to walk fast or far to tire him out.

As for the FND side of things, like I say, I’ve been pushing it… big time. I’ve been pacing myself when I know I’ve done too much when normally I would just stop, and then I’ve pushed on right through until I urgently need to nap or sleep. Not the best thing to do, and my Neuro-Psychiatrist would be shouting ‘REMEMBER THE BOOM AND BUST’ at me right now, but it’s only temporary and I’m making it work.

For all those who haven’t had the opportunity, or are on a waiting list for CBT, the boom and bust theory is essentially this expertly drawn image >

Can’t tell you how long it took me to figure out how to present ‘Boom and Bust’.

Essentially the upwards slope is the ‘Boom’ where you do a lot, pushing your body when it may not be capable of coping. The downwards slope is the ‘Bust’ where you make yourself ill from doing too much. The more you manage your symptoms, the slopes become less inclined and levels out much more. You don’t push yourself too much, and your body doesn’t suffer for it.

Obviously, as with a lot of things, this is easier said than done. One week you might have an unusual amount of plans for some reason, or a few social functions to attend, and of course you want to do them all. But when trying to regulate your activity levels to avoid a major ‘Bust’, you might find yourself having to say no to certain things. Please know that this is not a bad thing. You may feel guilty for cancelling plans or wish you were there, but in the long run, you are able to keep on top of your symptoms. This is not a guarantee, though, as FND has a habit of catching you off guard and throwing you in the deep end. In theory – and most of the time in practice – you can manage your symptoms through your activity.

There’s a helpful website that talks about ‘The Downward Spiral of Boom and Bust’ and ‘The 4 P’s’ to help a person manage their activity so you don’t push past your limit and suffer because of it. It is probably far better at explaining the whole concept than I am.

Moving Into Balance Website

I hope you are all doing well, and I really am going to try to get a post up every week. As always, message or email me if you have any topics you would like to be covered, my Instagram account and e-mail are linked on the right hand side of the page (if you’re not on a phone).

Speak to you all soon! x

Buddy The Beagle –

Last week I mentioned that I had taken a leap and done something for myself that would potentially push me to my limits, but ultimately make me feel like I had a purpose, one that FND took away from me some years back.

Buddy on his slip lead, sheltering in the shade from the hot weather last week.

I picked Buddy up on the 22nd of July, and life since has been full of joy, laughter, cuddles, stress, very early mornings and more stress.

He is 10 weeks old now, and he is a little angel. Other than a few accidents here and there, some tantrum wees (as I’ve come to call them), some nibbled limbs and a lot of lost sleep, Buddy is such a good little man.

He’s started to come out of his shell now he’s settled, and loves our two other dogs. They are much bigger than him, though he is growing fast. He tries to play with them despite the fact they can flatten him with one paw and by accident, but it doesn’t stop him.

Buddy is a real people person. He loves company and meeting new people; everyone is an instant friend to him. I can’t wait until he’s had his second vaccination, and the week following that I can take him everywhere I go.

Over these last couple of weeks, I have been walking more without my crutch around the garden; I’ve had the motivation to do it for Buddy, to house train and exercise him. It’s such a small thing, but I feel like I’ve got some of my confidence back. If it wasn’t for my regular chiropractic appointments, my back would be suffering, I’m not going to lie.

So right now I’m snuggled up on the sofa with Buddy, he’s been a bit naughty this afternoon, and he turns into a bit of a diva when he’s tired. I wore him out a little more with some training (he has learned sit, down, wait and this way so far. We are working on leave, very hard seeing as he eats literally anything).

I’m looking forwards to pushing my boundaries and training Buddy. Our other two dogs are adapting slowly, it’s all very new and different for them. We will get there though, just got to take it a day at a time; something FND has made me very familiar with.

Buddy having a photo shoot and being a bit of a poser.

Where I’m At –

As I’ve mentioned before, I am so fed up with not doing anything with my life. I’m managing my symptoms well, have my seizures down to every 2 months or so (the one yesterday being a bit of an exception; I discovered overheating can trigger them too). I generally know my limits and I know when I can and can’t push them.

Sometimes I weigh up whether or not doing something is worth the backlash my brain is going to give. I’ve been doing that a lot more recently, pushing right to the edge because I’m going out of my mind being kind of well but not able to do anything to threaten that.

I also mentioned in my last quick post that I was looking at jobs. I wanted to see if I could find something that was maybe 10 hours a week, a couple of 5 hour days in an office or something like that. I soon came to realise that jobs like that rarely come up. An employer wants someone who can do overtime and cover for people if they’re sick. They want someone reliable, and that’s not me.

When I thought about maybe committing to more hours, I remember working when FND first appeared in my life. The thought of letting people down at short notice makes me feel sick; it happened a lot before I handed in my notice for the 3 jobs I was holding down and loving… I just couldn’t do them any more.

I want to get back to work, and I will eventually; but maybe now isn’t the right time. I don’t want to push myself too much, end up back in the downwards spiral that I’ve somehow managed to redirect upwards of the last year or so. I can manage at the moment, and I will get there. I just need to take it slow, think things through and be realistic.

Speaking about thinking things through… I’ve wanted to get a dog to add to our family for some time. Initially I was set on a dachshund, but being the owner of a wire-haired pointer and a griffon korthal, it really isn’t a very good idea, as a dachshund is about the size of their heads. The poor thing would be trampled as our dogs like to play rough.

I started looking into smaller breeds than Mina and Galaxy, but big enough that he could easily join in with their boisterous play. And he would have to be a he. Although Mina has taken a back seat since we adopted Gally, they are both dominant bitches and adding another girl to the equation would be a disaster waiting to happen.

The beagle stood out to me: friendly nature with other pets and humans, energetic, not too big and not too small. I got researching and fell in love with the kind nature and inquisitive mind of the beagle, and so I looked for a local kennel club breeder. There were a couple, but there was one just around the corner. I e-mailed to see if she was planning on having a litter at the end of this year. It turned out that she’d just sold the last pup of the current litter, and was due another one from one of her other dogs in 5 weeks time; she said she’d put me on a waiting list and let me know if she had any dogs in 5 weeks.

The next day she messages to tell me that someone has messed her about and she has a dog available. Slightly shocked and excited at the same time, my Mum, Grandma and I went to go and see the pup and talk to the breeder.

She was extremely helpful, bred show dogs for herself and sold off the ones she wasn’t keeping as pets. We met the mum and the dad, and had snuggles with the little boy which was absolutely fatal.

I picked him up on Monday.

I know owning a puppy is going to be challenging. I’ve got a lot of help at home, and so far I’ve been doing good making sure I’m managing my sleep and how much I’m doing. I did have a seizure after a trip to the vets yesterday, but I’m almost certain that’s because I overheated. I have never been so hot in my life. I’ve been drinking plenty, making sure I eat small amounts as I can’t eat a lot when it’s this hot without feeling ill. It was a little set back, and I bounced back pretty well… better than I was expecting to.

I’m going to make the most of puppy nap time, get another post out soon and introduce you to the little man. Speak to you soon.

Been Gone for a While –

So I have been gone for a while, over a month. Haven’t been active on my Instagram account either other than replying to messages.

It’s been a strange month, well, slightly more than a month. I’ve been up and down and all over the place. I think I spoke about where I’m at with FND at the moment, being able to manage my symptoms but not being able to do too much. I’ve been bored out of my mind, not sure what to do with myself. I’ve been exhausting PS4 games and sleeping a lot. I even started applying for jobs; my friend vamped up my CV for the occasion. Didn’t have a lot of luck finding so few hours or something local. Applied for a couple but haven’t heard back.

I’ve got some exciting news to share, and I will be sharing more again as of now. Not every day, but certainly once or twice a week. I still have a post waiting in the wings on Mindful Meditation, and a couple others that are still half written in my drafts folder.

Please message me if there is something you would like to see on my blog. There are various links to my e-mail and Instagram on the right hand side of the page. And thank you so much for those who are following. I promise I will be posting more content now I feel like I’m getting out of the rut I’ve been stuck in.

Speak to you all soon!

Motability –

Last week I picked up my second Motability car, and I just wanted to make a post about the scheme to share how much it has helped me.

Motability is a charity that helps disabled people get out and about in lease cars for an affordable price. You must have the enhanced mobility component from PIP in order to qualify. You then pay that portion of your PIP to lease the car you have chosen; some are the full amount, some are less. For a higher spec car you may have to pay some money in advance, but there are cars that do not require a down payment at all. In your lease you get to have 2 names drivers, both of whom are covered by insurance of a company who work with Motability. The car is taxed, serviced and MOT’d by Motability, so you don’t have to worry about anything. You keep your car for 3 years, then choose a new one.

I first heard of the Motability scheme a few years ago, I’m pretty sure my mum is the one that found it and thought it would be a good idea as we were struggling with getting the wheelchair in our car. Not really knowing much about it, we traded in our car for a Seat Alhambra with all the bells and whistles: electric doors electric boot, heated seats, parking sensors and a little camera when in reverse. It was lovely, and has served us well the last 3 years.

There were a couple of things that weren’t quite practical, for example, although the boot is really big, my wheelchair didn’t stand up in it because the roof just wasn’t quite high enough. That meant we had to lie my wheelchair down, and then couldn’t get anything else in the boot. So it was a huge boot, but the space was just wasted.

This time when it came to getting a car, we had an idea of what we were looking for. We went to Motability’s event at the NEC to have a look at the cars that were available (as the list is being updated all the time) and had a short list of cars we liked, and ones that would work with my wheelchair and what-not. The was of course cut down by the down-payments required, with my PIP running out in a couple of years (and me being concerned I won’t get the higher rate for mobility when it’s renewed) we didn’t want to be spending a fortune on a car we may not be able to keep for the full 3 year period.

In the end, the list came down to 2, and once we saw the Jeep Renegade, we were sold. With only one in the country at the time we were ordering, we had that one! The guy at the garage was very helpful, answered all the questions we had and gave us more information on Motability. When you return your car to pick up the new one, the sales person will do a check over, basically make sure the car is in good condition; and if that’s the case, then Motability give you some money to say thank you for keeping the car in good condition. The payment could be anything from £250 to £500! With that in mind, we did get a higher spec model of the Jeep, just because we could use that money back to pay for it, as we were assured the Seat would at least get the lower payment, if not more!

All in all, we are now proud owners of a Jeep Renegade that stores my wheelchair upright in the boot with room to spare for shopping or hold alls and what-not. It’s a fabulous car, and only has a 1 litre engine so my younger sister can be a named driver on it. She has a little go-cart of a car, and it’s always a challenge getting my wheelchair in. When we do, you can only really have 1 other passenger in the car which isn’t ideal. Now we can swap cars with my mum for the day and head out in the jeep with no worries.

From talking to Jeep’s Motability sales person, our concern of me not getting the higher rate for mobility with PIP is less of a concern than it was before. He reassured us that, if the worst should happen and Motability take the car back, they won’t just leave us without a vehicle, they give you some money towards sorting out a car of our own. That was a massive relief for me, as my parents obviously traded in their car for our first Motability car, and I wouldn’t want to be the one responsible for them not having a vehicle to use. It also gives me peace of mind, because although I might not qualify for PIP’s higher rate for mobility (though I can’t see that I wouldn’t, but it is Capita that assesses me so I’m not getting my hopes up. Had a rough time with them before) I’ll still be able to have a vehicle that gets me out and about.

Anyway, that’s enough waffling for now. Sorry I haven’t been posting a lot; been quite busy again… got a feeling I’m going to pay for it over the next week or so but I’ll just have to take it easy. I’ve got lots of ideas for posts, just got to get them typed up and onto my blog. Below I will link the Motability website, just in case you want to know more!

https://motability.co.uk

My new Motability car, the Jeep Renegade!

Interview With An FND Carer –

I put up a poll on Instagram yesterday and asked what you guys would like to see on my blog: a post about Motability, or an interview with an FND carer. So today I have sat down with no other than my mum (Moma Jo), who cares for me on a daily basis and has been there for me throughout the toughest years of my life.

Why are you an FND carer?

Because my daughter has FND. She got ill and I care for her, simple as that.

Prior to my diagnosis, had you heard of FND?

No, I had not. I had very little understanding of what a condition like that could be like. To a degree, you had been like it for several years prior to your diagnosis with chronic fatigue and battles with anxiety and depression.

What does your care role involve?

Recognising when something might be happening (ie. a seizure) and trying to make sure you are somewhere safe and as comfortable as possible. That’s when I will administer drugs, now only diazepam, but in the past has been all sorts. Occasionally I’ll make the decision when it’s gone on too long and if I need to call an ambulance. It’s not something I do lightly. If it does affect you moving around, I help you around the house with your wheelchair, help you dress, and help you eat your meals. We have a Motability car so I can take you to appointments and out shopping while easily being able to take the wheelchair. Generally you can’t walk very far, even on a good day, so we usually have the wheelchair as back up.

What is it like caring for someone with FND?

Unpredictable. It can be upsetting sometimes, particularly when you’re having seizures. When it first started it was really scary; not now so much… we never knew what we were going to get everyday, now we are in more of a routine. The other thing is, you can’t explain to anybody what it’s like. When we went away with our family friends, they obviously knew you were poorly, but they had no idea of the extent of how it affected us day to day until spending a week with us.

How has being an FND carer changed your life?

Well, work wise I have reduced my hours dramatically to be around; I am lucky to have a job that is flexible and that has allowed me to do that. It’s changed what I do socially or leisurely because I have to consider whether it’s alright to leave you and even if you are, if I feel comfortable. Having moved house and being all on one level along with you being able to manage your symptoms more means you’re coping better and you’re not relying on me as much, but I’m always about if I need to be. For example, last weekend I stayed at our boat over night for the first time in a few years. I’ve been over lots of an evening, but would normally come back.

What are your coping mechanisms when it’s been a difficult day/week?

Wine. (she asked me not to put that, but it was the first thing she said!) I binge watch a lot of TV, spend time outside gardening. I don’t really know, I just cope… I have to.

What do you find most difficult about caring for a family member?

It’s really lovely when you’re well, I love to see all of you happy and well but particularly you. But when you’re really poorly, it just feels so hopeless. It’s a roller-coaster.

What advice would you give to someone who finds themselves caring for a family member/spouse/friend with FND?

Just try and keep up beat as much as possible. We tend to make fun of things, your symptoms; and it’s not in a horrible way. I suppose that’s one of my coping mechanisms, making fun of it. Most importantly, be there for them. It’s all you can do isn’t it…

My mum, best friend and carer all in one!

Alternative Therapies –

So I haven’t posted for a few days, but been quite busy – for me anyway. This is my down time, so I’m making the most of it by being productive and preparing a few posts for the next few days. I’m going to be covering a variety of topics including Motability, volunteering and today I’d like to talk about alternative/complementary therapies.

I mentioned in another post that doctors seem to dismiss alternative therapies, and I think that is a big mistake. Yes the effects aren’t long term, but if they can even slightly relieve pain or anxiety then surely they’re worth it; in my eyes anyway.

A lot of people with functional symptoms are on waiting lists to see various neuro-psychiatrists and neurologists all over the country… I know I was waiting almost 18 months, and in that time I was stuck in limbo not knowing what to do or how to help myself. It’s a horrible situation to be in, and I wish I would have looked into alternative therapies sooner.

Ear Seeds (Auriculartherapy) –

Back when I struggled with anxiety and depression I used ear seeds (a form of auriculartherapy) to help with my anxiety. When the seeds are placed on specific points and massaged, it stimulates the body’s nervous system and helps you to feel calm and bring the body into balance. They worked for me, and I used them a little after my diagnosis, getting me thinking what else there might be out there.

Mindful Meditation –

I discovered mindful meditation in my search of alternative therapies. I was talking with my friends about it for a while, and decided to take a course in mindfulness. I used the book written by Mark Williams and Danny Penman – mindfulness, a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world. It is absolutely fantastic, gives you the building blocks for mindful meditation and comes with a CD full of guided meditations. I’d love to go into more detail about the course and how it has helped me over the last couple of years; so I will be preparing a post in the near future. If that’s something that interests you, watch this space!

Aromatherapy & Reflexology –

Aromatherapy was something else that I came across. I was sceptical to start with, not sure how smells could help relax you or make you feel better, but paired with meditation or even calming music, I found it to be very relaxing. Admittedly it’s not something that I still use, but while I had guided sessions through a form of rehab it was fab experience. I also had some reflexology with the same woman who talked me through aromatherapy, and was surprised by how much of an effect it had on me. Reflexology is the theory that certain points of the feet link with your nervous system, and my releasing pressure through massaging, it helps to balance out your body. Certain points in my feet were always knotted, the area linked to the adrenal glands specifically, along with the sciatic nerve and hips joints.

https://www.powerofpositivity.com/this-is-what-happens-when-you-touch-these-points-on-your-feet/

If you would like any more information on reflexology, it’s benefits and where to receive the non-invasive treatment, then I have put a helpful link below.

https://www.aor.org.uk/home/what-is-reflexology

Chiropractic –

My most recent discovery has been visiting a chiropractic clinic. I mainly go for my back and neck, as I have scoliosis (curvature of the spine). I was born with it, and it has mostly settled now; I used to have a lot of problems when I was having growth spurts through my teenage years. More recently not being very mobile (using a crutch puts a lot of strain on my shoulders and neck) and having episodes of functional dystonia and non-epileptic seizures has really irritated my spine. It causes me tremendous pain, and my GP just had me on a cocktail of pain killers which were just about managing to dull the pain my back was causing me. Fortunately I have a clinic locally, so after no luck with the GP and at the end of my tether with the pain, I decided to book myself in. After all, what harm could it do?

My initial consultation was lengthy as I have quite an extensive medical history. The chiropractic doctor listened to everything intently and made notes throughout. She had never heard of FND, but she was very interested in the physical impact of my neurological condition. She identified the areas that are under the most strain, and we put together a treatment plan. I have been going for about 6 months now, initially every week, and now every month. Honestly, my back has never been this good!

The process of realigning and releasing pressure in your spine and certain points throughout the body might put some people off as it does look painful; but for me it gave the greatest amount of relief. After having a nasty seizure last week and my legs not behaving, my back has held up really well. And I cannot wait for my appointment tomorrow!

To start with my body rebelled quite quickly, which was infuriating and sometimes uncomfortable, but now I don’t know why I didn’t try this sooner. I’m not on a cocktail of naproxen, diazepam and c0-codomol now, and haven’t even had to take paracetamol for the mild back ache I get when I’m due another appointment; I can remedy it with heat packs. Honestly it’s absolutely incredible. Below I will link the NHS page of chiropractic, along with a link to the British Chiropractic Association website if you would like more information or to find a chiropractic near you. I go to a private clinic myself, as I kind of took things into my own hands; but I do believe that you can be referred on the NHS.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chiropractic/

Chiropractic Care

In the future I would like to try some more alternative/complementary therapies such as hypnosis and acupuncture. Surely it’s worth being open minded about the sorts of things that can help our bodies… it’s paid off for me so far. What therapies have you tried or do you want to try?

Speak to you soon.

Fellow FND Sufferer –

Yet another quick post! Just wanted to share the Instagram of a fellow FND sufferer.

https://www.instagram.com/functionalbethanie/

I went to the same school as Bethanie back in the day, and we also went to the same dance school. Only recently found out that she also suffers with NEAD. It’s been so strange but so amazing to catch up with her and hear her story. She now has an Instagram page as she wants to promote awareness for FND and get her story out there. If you’re following me on Instagram, you’ll definitely want to give @functionalbethanie a follow!