So, I developed seizures after my car wreck in 2007.  The neuro residents at my local ACC University teaching hospital, with no proof thereof, looked at my near 30 year psych history, the lithium I was on at the time (and asked why?), and the fact that I had been on nearly every sort of med out there with mostly adverse reactions... and decided that they were "psycho-somatic".

That's right... the Partial Complex seizures I have, and have had, for nearly 4.5 years... to them... are "all in my head" and are "deeply rooted and psychologically generated but not through any fault of your own.  You have no control over them but, they are not neuro based on the 3 EEGs we've given you because we've found no seizure activity during those applications.  However, you do have an abnormal MRI but no matter.. they are just psychosomatic and you need to see a psychiatrist and therapist who are specialized in psychosomatic seizures."

See.. supposedly, my seizures are triggered by some deeply held anxiety ridden conjured up manifestation that I have no conscious thought of.  Uh huh and this is diagnosed by a Resident of Neurology at a teaching hospital cause I'm poor and can't afford a "real" epileptic specialist.

What is really really alarming, and yet - ironically hilarious is:  early in my supposed treatment (they are indifferent and treating me as a "nut case") the head of the Neurology Department spoke to me by telephone one afternoon.  I had sent a letter to him and the head CEO of the hospital system itself.

See.. I had asked for a different Neurologist, having been given a Doctor of Osteopathy who upon the 3rd visit told me that I was a psychiatric case and needed a psychiatrist (which I had one, at that time, who was treating me for the Bipolar, by the way.. and he believed I was having actual seizures).  She argued every thing... gave me a medication that I was allergic to and was noted on my chart as being such... and then threw up both hands and told me that she'd have to remove a portion of my brain or implant a VNS if we kept going with this.  This WAS TO SCARE ME... I wasn't scared.

So, I exercised my right to another physician and asked to have one.  The clinic manager told me I'd have to go on their waiting list.  The waiting list had 500+ patients and this DO was the only doctor who was to see me.

So, I sent a letter.  I described how they had 43 neurologists and yet, they had a 500+ patient waiting list?  I also explained WHY I wanted another doctor.

So, the head Neurologist called me one day, while I was working, to explain that he "has looked over your case and I concur with Dr (name) as to what she has done so far."  Of course, didn't expect anything different there.

What floored me was "Really, if you are not truly having seizures Ms (name) these meds that we prescribe will actually harm you more than help you.  They are highly potent and they will potentially cause you serious harm.  We do not want to see this happen if you are not actually having epilogical seizures.  So, we'd really like for you to see a psychiatrist because though we have no proof that they are psychosomatic in nature.. it is our belief that you'd be best served by a psychiatrist and a therapist."