In this episode, I am joined by Franziska Thomas to explore her almost life-long history of experiencing epilepsy. She traces the onset of her epilepsy and the daily seizures she experiences since her first seizure in 1992, when she said her whole world literally turned upside down.
Franziska describes ‘Fits and Starts’ as a story, not just of her fits, but also of injuries and of memory loss. She also sees the book as a compelling personal description of living with epilepsy, an illness she said is shrouded in secrecy and antiquated myths. She also intended it to be a memoir which is set inside the wider story of epilepsy and society.
Franziska describes a vivid picture of how her illness has influenced her career choices and continues to define her daily life. We also discuss her depiction of epilepsy as a messy illness, and her concepts and experience of stigma. Laden with self-deprecating humour, it is also a story of her own coming of age as someone with epilepsy, a teacher, and ultimately, a mother.
Franziska Thomas has previously worked as a journalist and history teacher, and she is currently working as an author and GCSE English tutor. She lives in London with her husband Tim, their children Oskar and Kurt, two misbehaving Maine Coones and a Labrador called Magnus who never stops eating.
Watch it on YouTube:https://youtu.be/EjeaBEVWwUk
Listen to it on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dpTtDwGmcS4Q173nI8dub
Listen to it on RSS feedhttps://rss.com/podcasts/theneurologylounge/1711308/
Listen to it on Apple podcastshttps://tinyurl.com/3j7bzku6
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The Neurology Lounge 
