Chloe-Marie Gallagher, a 33-year-old mother from Rotherham, faced a mystery nobody could explain. Balancing work, parenting, and daily life, she began experiencing strange symptoms that baffled doctors.
“I just knew something wasn’t right,” Chloe recalls. Despite repeated visits to A&E, every test came back normal, leaving her without answers.
Her health deteriorated early in 2025, beginning with intense kidney pain that sent her to the hospital multiple times. Yet, doctors found no cause. Soon after, fainting spells, dizziness, and crippling fatigue took hold—rest offered no relief.
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“I developed light sensitivity, severe brain fog, and exhaustion that sleep couldn’t fix,” she explains. “I even started repeating words unintentionally. I didn’t realize then that it was all connected.”
A devoted beautician, Chloe’s ability to focus waned as symptoms multiplied: internal tremors, muscle weakness, and disturbing changes in her speech emerged. “My body was signaling a serious problem, but I had no diagnosis to hold onto.”
Her worst moment came suddenly: rushed to hospital with stroke-like symptoms, she became paralyzed on her right side; her hand and foot turned blue and swollen. “I was confused and couldn’t speak. It felt like my body just shut down.”
After hospital admission and neurological evaluation, Chloe was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) — a condition she had never heard of.
“That moment was confusing and clarifying all at once,” she says. “I had the answers but realized my life was forever changed.”
Living with FND means grappling daily with symptoms that shift unexpectedly. Tremors flare under overstimulation or concentration, speech may falter or disappear for minutes or hours, and mobility challenges force Chloe to rely on frames and wheelchairs. Painful muscle cramps and spasms often dominate mornings.
She also experiences non-epileptic seizures, leaving her utterly drained. “When one hits, that’s usually the end of my day,” Chloe shares. The unpredictability of FND is among its hardest hurdles.
As a mother of three—her eldest son autistic—Chloe’s condition profoundly impacts family life. “My children are my greatest motivation. Even on my worst days, they keep me going.”
Bad days mean overwhelming fatigue, excruciating muscle tightness, and the need for constant care. Communication becomes exhausting, and sensory input feels magnified—some days are spent entirely in bed.
On good days, symptoms ease enough for Chloe to move more freely, use her aids effectively, and enjoy precious family moments. “Progress doesn’t have to be fast to be real,” she reflects.
Despite growing online awareness, FND remains widely misunderstood. Chloe is passionate about changing that narrative.
“The biggest misconception is that FND isn’t ‘real’ because the brain shows no structural damage,” she says. “But it’s a genuine neurological disorder where brain and body communication breaks down involuntarily. It’s terrifying and beyond our control.”
Her new reality centers on listening to her body, pacing herself, and avoiding exhaustion and overstimulation. “I rest when I need to. That took time and learning.”
Forced to leave her beautician career, Chloe mourned lost independence and confidence. “Accepting help has been one of the hardest lessons,” she admits.
Yet she refuses to let FND define her. “Being a mum, raising awareness, and helping others with FND fuels my purpose.”
Sharing her story on TikTok, where she’s garnered 1.7 million likes, Chloe documents both harrowing lows and hopeful moments of life with FND.
She also serves as a director for FND Together We Rise CIC, advocating for recognition, better care, and support for people living with this complex disorder.
“Far too many face delayed diagnoses, dismissal, and stigma,” she explains. “Our mission is to build understanding and community—not only for patients but their families as well.”
Chloe credits her family’s unwavering support for helping her survive the darkest moments. “They believe in me even when I struggle to believe in myself.”
Determined to be heard, Chloe concludes, “FND has changed my life but hasn’t taken my voice. If sharing my journey helps someone feel seen or understood, it’s worth it.”