Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures [pnes]and Epilepsy

PNES is diagnosed using some of the same technology as epilepsy. Electrodes (tiny discs the size of a dime) glued to the scalp and attached to an EEG (electroencephalogram), are used to confirm any electrical disturbances on the brain, specifically the neurons. Epileptic seizures are a result of misfiring neurons the discharges appear like earthquakes… Continue reading Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures [pnes]and Epilepsy

Foothills Poetry

My time in the seizure unit was filled with tests, seizures, hockey games, Netflix, reading, puzzle books, and poetry. Sitting, or laying in a hospital bed, within a 9×9 cell, 20 or more electrodes crazy-glued to my head, and attached to a cord plugged into a computer mounted on the wall, was almost suffocating. The… Continue reading Foothills Poetry

Anxiety, Fear, and Scared Shitless!

I never thought I was an anxious person and I don’t think I knew the true definition of anxiety until 2015. Or maybe a little before then. We all get those ‘butterflies’ in the stomach sensation, that ‘oh shit’ feeling  from time to time. But, for me, it’s more than that. When it was just… Continue reading Anxiety, Fear, and Scared Shitless!

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures

A whole other kettle of fish. Also known as PNES, psychogenic nonepileptic seizures is a common seizure disorder caused by psychological factors rather than epilepsy. The public has no idea what this is. To be fair, neither did I, until 2017. Trauma of one sort or other manifests itself in a myriad of ways from… Continue reading Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures

Helpful Resources: Websites

The following are my ever growing list of websites I’ve visited in my need to understand and validate my medical conditions. Known as the ‘answer girl’ by old colleagues, I’m like a bulldog at the opposite end of a juicy bone. No matter how long it takes, the urge, and driving need, to learn, and… Continue reading Helpful Resources: Websites

About Me

Born and raised in British Columbia, CanadaResides in Calgary, AlbertaI was officially diagnosed with epilepsy in 2015 at the age of 49, followed by a secondary diagnosis of Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures in 2019.I’m one of the 10-20% that live with both epileptic and non-epileptic seizures. Why this blog?My goal is to share the complexities of… Continue reading About Me