Hi! I’m Max (short for Maxanne). I’m a wife, mom to 3 grown kids, and grammy to an adorable 3 year old. I love to paint (watercolor and walls), travel, hike, swim, and garden.
Most importantly to readers of this blog, I’ve battled functional neurological disorder for over 20 years. With non-existent treatment protocols, I developed my own and have been managing well with the disorder for the past 5 years. Am I cured? No. I still am aware of my brain quirks every day and live my life in a way that accommodates them. Nevertheless, I live a happy, satisfying life, have ditched my wheelchair, and believe that I will continue to thrive.
Now retired, I am a certified physician assistant with a master’s degree. I took an oath to help patients struggling with disease and though I no longer do that professionally, I take this blog very seriously as a way to honor that oath. My writing will chronicle my own experiences, but I want to also pass along the things that I learn through academic articles and medical conferences to be able to help others attempt to understand and overcome what has gone wrong in our brains.
If you have FND, I hope that you will join me in a journey to live the best lives that we can. Together, we are pioneers on a quest to overcome this strange and neglected disorder.
How did you get your walking back.
I especially love paragraph 3 about you taking your oath seriously. This is great, Max!! I love you!
Thanks for your love and support through all of the years of confusion and disability, dear friend. I wouldn’t have survived without you! I love you, too!
Hello Maxanne! This is Bonnie from WordCamp Denver. Just checking out your site. Hugs from Colorado Springs!
Hi Bonnie, Thanks for taking a look! It was great to meet you!
Max
What a wonderful web page, thank you so much.
Thank you, Vikki! I appreciate the kind comment.
Max
I love this page♥️My daughter was diagnosed in December. I want to take her to the beach she loves the water I’m concerned about her having an episode in the pool or ocean. Any suggestions?
Thank you for reading, Sherry! I love the idea of taking your daughter to the beach. The water is such a wonderful way to soothe an overactivated nervous system! I’m a swimmer too and head to the water whenever I can.
You don’t say how old your daughter is or what her symptoms are, but as a former lifeguard, I’m also concerned that you can keep her safe. In open water, I would highly recommend that she wear a flotation device. It would be best to visit a beach that is protected by lifeguards and to inform them of her condition before entering the water so that they can keep a close eye on her.
All the best to you and your daughter.
Max
Hi. This site is fabulous. I was diagnosed with FND last May and finally as of last week have the underlying cause for the glitch in my software to my legs…GRIEF!!! I am in a wheelchair with a full physio rehab team and now the clinical psychologist to help me unpack this grief and as you say learn how to recognize the conscious and unconscious ways this created the glitch. I am also about help create positive change on the planet and hope that my experience in regaining 100% mobility will help others…so I will joyfully join you Max and others in sharing my journey back into mobility.
tons of love, blessings and gratitude
Thank you, Catherine! I appreciate your encouragement and wish you all the best on your journey back to health.
Max
Hi Max!
I was diagnosed with FND last Dec and I am in the incredibly lucky position that my second neurologist recognized it straight away – he is fantastic. During my stay in hospital things looked very different…..
I spent much time as an in and out patient at a neurological rehab center and now I am significantly better. It was during this time that I decided to train to become a psychotherapist specializing in neurology and help those with FND especially. The country that I live in doesn’t even have a support group so that is on my list to do as well. I know how alone I am sometimes feeling here and if it wasn’t for me coming from an English speaking country it would be far worse. I keep thinking what about all these poor people who can’t speak English! Thank you for your super Homepage. It feels so good to not be so alone! 😁
Thank you for your kind comments, Eli! I’m so glad that you are much better, and thrilled that you have decided to use your experience to serve others with FND. Your future clients will love knowing that you truly understand what they are going through.
All the best,
Max
Love the Points to Ponder section of each post❣️Thank you for your valuable advocacy and peer support for those of us with lived experiences. I’d live to connect as my aims are aligned with your although I’m fairly new to the blogging scene. Jocelyn
#StrongerTogether
Thanks, Jocelyn, and welcome to blogging and advocacy! There’s so much education to be done. Feel free to email me at FNDRecovery@gmail.com. You are welcome to share my posts.
All the best,
Max
Max, I am so very grateful for your wonderful site! I was treated at re+active for FND (with very good results) and just watched the webinar that you did with Julie.
Wonderful and informative.
Thank you so much, Ilana! I’m glad that you were able to access good treatment. Julie is amazing!
All the best,
Max
Hi Max I am a doctor in neurology looking at how I can better treat FND. This is an amazing website. Thank you so much for making it. I think I will incorporate it into my practice with patients for sure. Kate
Hi Kate, Thanks so much for your support! I’m glad to hear that you are looking for better ways to treat FND. There is such a need for neurologists who are familiar with this condition and know how to help. Are you a member of the FND Society? They have many excellent resources. fndsociety
Max