Chell Moir, 37, was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) in March 2024, after collapsing at work and displaying symptoms similar to a stroke
A woman battling a rare neurological condition claims emergency responders dismissed her seizure as "all for attention."
Chell Moir, 37, received a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder (FND) in March 2024, following a collapse at her workplace where she exhibited stroke-like symptoms.
The mum-of-one from Leven endured several days in hospital undergoing various examinations before receiving her FND diagnosis, which she describes as having robbed her of her independence.
Chell's condition fluctuates daily in severity, leaving her with difficulties walking, experiencing fits, memory problems, and both physical and vocal tics.
FND is an uncommon condition that impacts the nervous system and disrupts the brain's capacity to transmit and receive signals, leading to diverse symptoms of varying intensity.
Chell reports that numerous healthcare workers she has met possess limited knowledge of the disorder - with paramedics even suggesting during one of her seizures that it was "all for attention."
She explained: "As I was having quite violent seizures, paramedics sat and went 'it's all in her head, it's just for attention'.
"I'm hearing all of this, and I can't control this.
"I'm not a child - I'm a 37-year-old woman who was very healthy and very active, who is now lying here asking for help.
"Having loved ones watch you go through that while paramedics are dismissing it - it's not reassuring to them and it's not reassuring for the person who's going through it."
Her diagnosis arrived following three days of testing, and she claims she was discharged from hospital with just a single website for information about her condition.
Chell explained: "I had fainted at work in March 2024.
"I felt really clammy, but it wasn't a warm day. I felt light-headed, and thought it might be low blood sugar.
"I told my colleague I didn't feel well, and then fell to the floor and blacked out.
"They reckon I was out for about a minute or so, and when I came round, I couldn't communicate.
"They were asking if I was okay and what had happened, and no words were coming out.
"They called for first aid. I couldn't stand up to get into the wheelchair they'd brought. I was very shaky and unstable.
"My dad took me to A&E. Initially, they thought it was a stroke.
"I had no sensation on my left side, and my speech was very slurry and broken.
"I had an MRI scan, a CT scan, an ECG of the heart, and lots of bloods. Nothing showed up in the tests at all.
"On 22 March, a neurologist came and got me to do a few movement tests.
"He said I had something called FND.
"He said my body and brain are like a computer - the hardware is fine, but the software isn't functioning properly.
"He gave me a website to visit and sent us home."
Chell found it difficult to come to terms with her diagnosis and the accompanying symptoms, feeling let down by the shortage of information and support available to her.
"It was something I'd never heard of," she said. "None of my family had heard of it, friends hadn't either - it was a totally new term.
"It was terrifying. It was so confusing. I had been driving since I was 17, living on my own since I was 18 - I was so independent.
"I went from independent to having someone have to help me get dressed, to hold a cup.
"It completely turned life upside down and I didn't know where to turn or what to read.
"I have functional seizures, so I still have body jerks, a bit like an epileptic seizure, but they last longer and I'm aware of people around me.
"I have walking problems. There are days where I can't walk to the bathroom on my own, and my daughter has to help me.
"I don't leave the house alone in case I get confused. I've lost a lot of power in my lifting and grip.
"I get fatigue - even everyday tasks like making a cup of tea makes me really tired.
"Things we take for granted are so challenging now. I have to have post-its with processes around the house in case I forget things.
"It's impacted my day-to-day life. I can have days where I'm remembering everything, and the next day I can wake up and not even remember how to hold a pen."
Exasperated by the shortage of resources accessible to people living with FND, Chell established her own support network, FND Fife and Beyond, which now boasts more than 200 members on Facebook. She expressed that the group has provided much-needed solace, as those suffering from FND, their families and carers, can share experiences about how the condition impacts them.
"Meeting people face-to-face is giving us reassurance that we're not alone," Chell shared.
"We're not feeling heard from doctors or paramedics - we're not a community that's spoken about, there's no leaflets about FND.
"At diagnosis, when you're given the website and then sent away, you don't know where or who to turn to.
"Hospital staff and A&E staff, as kind and compassionate as they are, if they don't understand it, you feel like you have no one.
"I think it's something that not just Fife needs, but we need these support groups everywhere.
"At the very beginning, I felt so alone.
"That loneliness can take you into a really dark place with your mental health, and that stress and anxiety also impacts your health and triggers symptoms.
"I want to make at least one person feel less alone, and feel valued and heard."
The ambulance service has been contacted for comment.