My FND Journey | Chapter 1
Sometimes life has a way of changing when you least expect it. Looking back, I never would have imagined that something as simple as eating a meal would eventually lead to a late night phone call, a trip to the hospital, and the discovery of a serious heart condition.
I certainly had no idea that it would be the beginning of a much bigger journey involving Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
I’m getting ahead of myself, so let me start at the beginning.
It Started With A Strange Feeling
In June of 2026, I began noticing something unusual. Every once in a while, when I was eating, I would suddenly feel like I was going to pass out. It didn’t happen every time I ate, and I couldn’t really figure out what was causing it. At first, I thought maybe it had something to do with thicker foods, like bread.
I know that probably sounds strange, but when something happens occasionally and then goes away, it’s easy to convince yourself that there’s a simple explanation. So, like many of us do, I brushed it off. Then one day, it happened while I was driving. The feeling was strong enough that I had to pull over because I was afraid I might pass out behind the wheel.
That was the moment I knew I needed to get to the doctor. I immediately called and made an appointment, but wasn’t able to get in until July. I wasn’t feeling sick all the time. In fact, most of the time I felt fairly normal, otherwise I would have pushed getting in sooner.
I had no idea that my heart could be experiencing something serious without me even knowing it.
A Zebra in a Field of Horses
I was finally off work for the summer, and made it to my appointment near the end of July.
I explained the strange episodes I’d been having, especially how they seemed to happen while I was eating.
My provider initially suspected something other than a heart problem. I remember her telling me that I was like a “zebra in a field of horses“.
That description has stuck with me.
If you’ve never heard that expression, there’s an old saying in medicine that when you hear hoofbeats, you should think of horses, not zebras. In other words, doctors usually look for the most common explanation first, rather than something unusual.
Apparently, I was going to be a little more complicated than that! Thankfully, she decided to have me wear a heart monitor. At the time, I didn’t think much about it. I figured we’d see what it showed and go from there.
Little did I know just how important that decision would turn out to be.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
On August 13, 2026, I was on my seventh day of wearing the heart monitor. At approximately 9:30 that evening, my phone rang. It was a cardiologist who had been monitoring my heart. He asked how I was feeling. Then he told me that what they were seeing on the monitor was serious and that I needed to get to the hospital.
I was experiencing complete heart block. Now, when you hear the words heart block, you might automatically think of clogged arteries. That’s not what was happening. Complete heart block is a problem with the heart’s electrical system. The electrical signals from the upper chambers aren’t properly reaching the lower chambers, which can cause the heart to beat dangerously slow.
I didn’t have blocked arteries. My problem involved the electrical signals that control my heartbeat, and the really unsettling part?
Most of the time, I didn’t even know when it was happening.
I only occasionally had that feeling like I was going to pass out. Suddenly, those strange episodes I’d been brushing off didn’t seem so harmless anymore.
A Long Night at the Hospital
Bill took me to the hospital that night. The cardiologist who called had specifically told me to ask the hospital staff to contact him when I arrived. So that’s exactly what I did. However, the hospital staff declined to call him and told me they would run their own tests.
Wouldn’t you know it, while I was there, my heart decided to behave! Nothing concerning happened with my heart during the time I was being monitored.
After spending most of the night at the hospital, I was discharged at approximately 5:30 the next morning. So, after being told that something serious was happening with my heart, I was now heading home.
Another Phone Call, Just Two and a Half Hours Later
At approximately 8:00 that morning, August 14, the cardiologist that my family doctor referred me to for the heart monitor called. He was angry that I had been sent home. Although nothing had happened during my hospital visit, the heart monitor had already recorded episodes of complete heart block. Just because my heart behaved while I was in the hospital didn’t mean the problem had disappeared.
My cardiologist immediately scheduled me for pacemaker surgery on August 18. Suddenly, what had started as an occasional strange feeling while eating had turned into something much more serious. I was going to need a pacemaker, and it was all happening so quickly.
The Scariest Part Was What I Couldn’t Feel
One of the things that still stands out to me about this experience is that I didn’t always know when my heart was having problems. I wasn’t walking around feeling terrible every minute of the day. I wasn’t constantly dizzy or feeling like I was going to pass out. Although, two days prior I was at an event for work and I felt terribly sick.
Most of the time, I felt fairly normal, and yet, the heart monitor had captured something serious enough that a cardiologist called me at 9:30 at night and told me to go to the hospital. That’s a strange feeling to wrap your head around. How do you know something is wrong when your body doesn’t always give you a warning?
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful that my provider decided to order that heart monitor. Without it, I don’t know how long I might have continued brushing off those occasional symptoms.
Five Days Can Feel Like a Long Time
My surgery was scheduled for August 18, just five days after that late night phone call. Of course, I was nervous., but at that moment, I wasn’t really worried about what life with a pacemaker would look like. I wasn’t thinking about whether I’d be able to ride my bike, travel, or continue doing all the things I enjoyed.
What if I died before I could have the surgery?
I had just learned that I was experiencing complete heart block, and I couldn’t even tell when it was happening most of the time. Knowing that something potentially life threatening could be going on without any obvious warning was frightening.
Five days might not seem like a long time, but when you’re worried about whether your heart is going to keep doing its job, those days take on a whole different meaning.
Little Did I Know What Was Coming Next
At that point, I thought I was dealing with a heart problem. I knew I needed a pacemaker, and I expected that once the surgery was behind me, I could focus on recovering and getting back to my normal life. What I didn’t know was that my journey was about to take another unexpected turn. One that would introduce me to something I’d never imagined experiencing: Functional Neurological Disorder.
That’s where the next chapter of my story begins.
For now, if there’s one thing I hope someone takes away from this experience, it’s the importance of paying attention when your body is telling you something isn’t quite right. Sometimes the symptoms are obvious. Other times, they’re occasional, strange, and easy to explain.
I’m grateful that my provider took my symptoms seriously enough to investigate further, even when the answer wasn’t immediately clear, and I’m especially grateful that someone was watching that heart monitor on August 13.
Coming Next: Chapter 2 | Pacemaker Surgery and the Unexpected Beginning of My FND Journey
This is my personal health journey. I’m sharing my experiences to raise awareness and help others feel less alone. My story is not intended as medical advice. If you’re experiencing fainting, near fainting, or other concerning symptoms, please seek medical attention. I
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