Living with Functional Neurological Disorder: A Great, Great Day!

I’m typing on a new keyboard. The spacebar on my old one wasn’t working well, and one letter was not working unless I really bashed it, so I’m very happy to have this new accessory. It makes typing far easier.

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We walked with our friends in the morning, and I enjoyed a very fluent chat with them. After our walk, I went to the credit union to renew my car insurance and was unable to talk to Lynn at all, even though I know and like her very much. I make note of all these things because I want to understand my patterns.

It was like Christmas yesterday, because my besides my new keyboard, the new hoodies I ordered arrived. I’m childlike with my enthusiasm over such simple things.

I pondered my happiness yesterday and realized how happy I am, at my advanced age, to be so constantly content. Why, I wondered, and I concluded that it is partially due to my lack of desire for sex or a mate, and my complete disinterest in my ego. I am not trying to ‘be someone.’ I have no interest at all in recognition; I have no ambition at all, and I reckon that is a wonderful thing.

After lunch, I read for a while before Zooming with Aidan at 14:00. I had done a lot of work that he wanted doing, and so I looked forward to hearing his impressions of what my research revealed.

Our talk was a great one. Working on this project, we work as partners, and I feel good about the work that I’m doing. I admire Aidan, and value being of service to him. And I know that he is pleased with my work. My initiative to reach out to the 911 and paramedic organizations has earned me my keep for quite a while.

At the end of the call, Aidan made a suggestion that he’s made before. He proposed that I see a speech language therapist that he knows. She is familiar with neurogenic stuttering. He sent us each and email of introduction and she wrote back and I am on my way to see if I can learn something that helps me communicate.

Yesterday, I briefed him first on working with clinics, an objective of his. I told him why I concluded that we shouldn’t by explaining to him the different governance models and the obstacles for each one. He agreed with me. Then I explained to him, an alternative target: the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office.

The Oversight Office accepts complaints about the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), its regulations, and about the performance and conduct of British Columbia’s (B.C.’s) health professional regulatory colleges. Within the mandate of the HPOA is a commitment to: “Creating safety and identity protection measures and support for complainants who have experienced discrimination, sexual abuse or sexual misconduct.”

I firmly believe that dysfluent people have experienced discrimination that is systemic. We are developing data to prove that we are, and yesterday I asked Aidan to consult with his pro-bono lawyers about language. We ae focused on medical access right now, but next is banks and Aidan likes my strategy.

It was a great day. A long walk through the forest in the morning, Aidan after lunch and then beginning a conversation about speech therapy with an SLP. Jess, the therapist, suggests we have a couple of sessions and then decide on what to do: “To see if you feel it’s a good fit.”

Then I made dinner. See below. I saw a short video on YouTube of a person making pasta with lemon zest. I love all things lemon, so I decided to make the dish last night. It’s pasta in a creamy, lemony mushroom sauce, and oh my God. Fick pesto, this is just as easy and just as delicious, and I can hardly wait to make it for my vegetarian friends, Pete and Ali. It’s the lemon that’s so exciting. I would never have thought to do that. Yum. Yum.

Today I will read, walk with H.H., and have more delicious spaghetti. I’m looking forward to a feet-up, bone spurs a’danglin’ day.