Photo by Rollz International via Pexels
I knew something was “off”.
I’d temporarily lost the vision in my left eye on a June morning in 2025. The episode also brought on one of the worst headaches I’d experienced in my life. I went to the ER, and when the imaging came back clear, I was thankful, but totally stumped. The Emergency Room intake nurse had even expedited my care, fearing I was suffering a stroke.
The months that followed were filled with a whole list of new symptoms. The entire left side of my body (especially my left arm) never regained a normal sensation. It was pins and needles constantly. I visited a dismissive and unprofessional neurologist nine times because I was desperate for answers. Not only was my body showing me clear signs that something was off, but my gut instinct was persistent, which kept guiding me back to his office. After leaving his office in tears with my medical records in hand, I chose to apply to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona.
Thankfully, I was accepted immediately, but I was a few months out from my trip. In the months leading up to my time at Mayo Clinic, I began having seizures. They were absolutely terrifying and something I had never experienced before. My body would convulse while I was completely aware of what was happening around me, but unable to speak or communicate with my husband. I simply had to wait for the muscles to stop contracting, which lasted anywhere between 3 and 20 minutes. The seizures left me absolutely exhausted, scared, and in a lot of pain.
My trip to Mayo Clinic in March 2026 gave me three diagnoses, one of them being Functional Neurological Disorder. I will be doing an entire series on my experience at Mayo Clinic (Scottsdale/Phoenix) because I want to help others who have been dealing with chronic health issues, with little to no help from providers in their immediate coverage area. I’m really going to get into all the details, so keep an eye out for that.
I’m newly diagnosed with FND, so I’m learning as I go, but I want to share what I can.
Disclaimer: Hey there, friend! Just a quick reminder—I’m not a doctor, and this blog post isn’t medical advice (as much as I wish my Google searches made me a certified expert). This blog is all about sharing personal experiences and insights, not diagnosing or curing anything—so take what resonates, do your own research, and always prioritize your health. 💛
What Is FND?
I’ll leave it to the experts and the care team that diagnosed me with FND. Here’s how Mayo Clinic defines Functional Neurological Disorder:
Functional neurologic disorder — a newer and broader term that includes what some people call conversion disorder — features nervous system (neurological) symptoms that can’t be explained by a neurological disease or other medical condition. However, the symptoms are real and cause significant distress or problems functioning.
Symptoms of Functional Neurological Disorder
The symptoms of FND are pretty varied and are as unique as the patient presenting with them. Some symptoms of Functional Neurological Disorder may present at times, but not be consistently present. For example, in my case, I had occasional vision disruption in my left eye, but the pins/needles sensation and gait/balance issues were constant.
Mayo Clinic lists some common signs and symptoms of FND:
- Weakness or paralysis
- Abnormal movement, such as tremors or difficulty walking
- Loss of balance
- Difficulty swallowing or feeling “a lump in the throat”
- Seizures or episodes of shaking and apparent loss of consciousness (nonepileptic seizures)
- Episodes of unresponsiveness
Signs and symptoms that affect the senses may include:
- Numbness or loss of the sense of touch
- Speech problems, such as the inability to speak or slurred speech
- Vision problems, such as double vision or blindness
- Hearing problems or deafness
- Cognitive difficulties involving memory and concentration
I just want to take a moment to say that if you’re experiencing any or several of these symptoms, I understand how scary it can feel. You aren’t weak, and there’s nothing you’re doing to “cause” these things to happen. Sometimes, you just need to be reminded that it’s not “all in your head” and that what you’re dealing with is objectively worrying! 💛
How is FND Diagnosed?
When I was at Mayo Clinic for six days, I had a massive list of tests to rule out that my symptoms were not:
- Nerve or muscle damage (mainly for the sensation in my left arm)
- Anatomical defects (brain or spinal cord damage)
- Electrical (brain misfiring a.k.a., epeleptic seizures)
Thankfully, I had a functional seizure during my EEG test, which showed it was not a connection issue with my brain misfiring.
All of the “hardware” issues of the body are typically checked first to rule out other diseases that have prominent physical findings (Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, and degenerative disorders like ALS). Then, a care team of neurologists will look more at the “software”- how the body is receiving communication from the brain (The Central Nervous System).
FND is a clinical diagnosis, which means it’s based on a physical examination, or, in the case of functional seizures like I have, on my detailed description of the events, along with brain wave (EEG) data sometimes.
Treatment for Functional Neurological Disorder
FND treatment includes many moving parts, like medication, physical therapy, rehabilitation therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The hopeful outcome of FND treatment is that the brain can be “retrained” and the Central Nervous System can become regulated again. Of course, this takes time and should be met with patience and self-care.
The fact that the healing process can take a long time feels discouraging to me, but I’m allowing myself to experience the complex emotions that come with chronic illness. I share more intimately on my Substack, linked here.
Before You Go
The suffering with FND is real. It isn’t imagined, faked, or a sign of weakness.
If you believe you may have FND, find a neurologist in your area who has a clear understanding of the disorder. Use this Referral Directory to search for a care team.
Here are some FND resources I’ve found helpful:
- FND Hope International
- This TedTalk on FND
- FND Society
- My Substack, where I share more of my personal experience living with chronic illness
Until next time, remember that you matter. x
Little Hope Notes 
Leave a comment