Blog number 2:

Once again, this is for AWARENESS and for allowing myself to speak out. I’m not a talker, but writing down how I am feeling helps me to get my own head around things. Each post will be focused differently to previous ones… #LetsTalkFND

FND: Nope, I hadn’t heard of it either…

FND stands for “Functional Neurological Disorder”. It involves a diverse range of symptoms, just a few including limb weakness, chronic fatigue, seizures, extreme pain, difficulty walking and limited mobility.

Many of the symptoms of FND show similarly to well-known neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Epilepsy. The affects are as debilitating as such conditions however are in this case caused by the Nervous System.

One way I look at it is by comparing the condition to a computer. Sometimes the “hardware” is perfectly fine, however the “software” means that it is just unable to work quite as it should. This is exactly the same as what happens to someone suffering with FND: Our bodies are structured correctly however there is an error with how our Nervous System is functioning due to the brain not sending or receiving the correct signals.

FND has many subtypes and can affect people in many different ways. Personally I suffer daily, an FND with prominent pain & fatigue (Aka. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & Fibromyalgia).

Chronic body pain and fatigue, confusion & forgetfulness, problems with walking and balance take over my life, along with so many other debilitating symptoms which I spoke about within my previous blog not too long ago following my diagnosis.

FND affects people in different ways. Some people are left house or bed bound, wheelchair bound and unable to work. Some are able to function slightly on some days then go plummeting into a relapse and losing all ability for an unknown length of time. You’ll never know whether today is going to be a “good day” or a “bad day”.

FND is a lot to do with learning your own body and listening when it tells you to rest. It’s about taking one step at a time, day by day and realising that it’s okay to take things at your own pace. Trialing treatment with a Neurophysiotherapist, different medications, pain relief and talking therapy with specialists are all options available. They are not cures but they are means of management.

My post tonight is mainly for awareness and recognising the affects FND can have.

Currently, the most important thing helping me to cope with this exhausting disorder is by remembering:

I have FND.

FND doesn’t have me.

#FNDAwareness #LetsTalkFND #M.E. #Fibromyalgia