Linda Hallberg, a 50-year-old resident of Bålsta, has been living with functional neurological symptom disorder (FNS) for 13 years, according to a report from SVT Uppland. Her condition began with a seizure that lasted for hours while she was eating lemon pie in front of the television, prompting her family to call an ambulance. The seizure continued for two hours, marking the start of what would become a long-term health struggle.
Hallberg reportedly waited two years before receiving her FNS diagnosis, which she describes as an 'invisible' condition that continues to cause seizures, pain, and sleep problems. ' Dag Nyholm, an överläkare at Akademiska sjukhuset, describes FNS as often being compared to a 'software error' in the nervous system. The disorder can produce symptoms resembling epilepsy or cause paralysis, though these manifestations are not visible through standard medical imaging.
I had wished for more empathy from the healthcare system.
Hallberg's case highlights the challenges faced by patients with neurological conditions that lack visible physical markers, as she reports being 'bounced around' within the healthcare system without finding a solution to her ongoing symptoms.
often being compared to a 'software error' in the nervous system