My very first blog post!
I’ve thought a lot about where we should all start this adventure. I figure we should start at the beginning. If we start there then those of you less familiar will have some good background information.
It was November 2012. I was in my senior year of college at Edgewood College in Madison, WI. From my perspective, I was just hanging out in my dorm room with one of roommates then I came to on the floor. My roommate was sitting on the floor next to me crying. I was very confused about what was going on. My roommate informs me we were talking about where we wanted to go to lunch and I collapsed. Once I started to regain my bearings a security guard from the campus burst into the room. My roommate had called security the minute I hit the floor. I then, for the first time, had a conversation I would end up repeating millions of times over the past 5 years. I felt fine now, no I don’t know what happened, no I don’t think I hurt myself. These answers would change a bit over the years. I’m typically able to say that I’m fine now when someone asks. At this current point, I’m able to tell people what exactly happened, although saying psychogenic non-epileptic seizures to pretty much anyone elicits a look of confusion. Most of the time, thanks to my trusty helmet, I can say that I haven’t hurt myself.
Back on track, sitting on the floor with roommate and security guard standing in doorway. They both try and convince me to go to the hospital immediately. I refuse to go the hospital. Let me explain, at this point I’m terrified, but even more terrified to go to the emergency room. Even before all this fun started I was never a fan of hospitals. I eventually convince my roommate and guard that I’m not going since I felt completely fine at the time. Flash forward to that evening, again come to on the floor of my dorm room. My roommate is once again shaken although, the security guard is clearly freaking out as he arrived before I came to. He then told me I absolutely need to go to the emergency room which I could no longer argue with. I don’t recall the rest of the evening in much detail. I know I did go to the ER and they ended up telling me it was due to a new medication I had just started for my severe headaches. They told me it wouldn’t happen again if I stopped taking the medication. Oh how wrong they were….
Tbh I never expected you to be this good of a writer, I’m really impressed! I can’t wait to read more of these.
Also, the site looks amazing! ?
Dang – it’s cool to hear the origin story. It’s near impossible to imagine what emotions were probably running through your mind that night, before you received that [albeit totally incorrect] diagnosis about the meds being the culprit.
So proud!! To think how far you’ve come from that first day to now is seriously inspiring. Cant wait for more stories.
To read it like this really puts ones imagination to work, scary to have read it but for the person who experienced it, damn is she a tough cookie.
Well written and interesting. Way to go. I’ll definitely be back to read more…..’course, I have to say that….Love, Dad……
Hello, Jackie. My name is Nico, a friend of your Dad. You are so brave to share your frigtetening experience and facing it with positive attitude. Inspiring not only to patients suffering from PNES but to others. Helps to get more understanding about it also.
Hello Jackie,
Thanks for sharing & teaching on a subject that most of us know so little of.
I’m also a close friend of Nico (:-) and have know your dad (and Bob) for over four decades.
Look forward to your future writings and learning more.
Hi Jackie,
I finally had some uninterrupted time to sit down and read your posts! So far so good — I love what you are doing and I hope you continue to write as much as you can. If you ever don’t feel like editing, let me know and I am happy to do a copy edit for you!