‘Curled up in a ball': Minister describes struggle for epilepsy diagnosis

Ottoline Spearman

The Arts and Communications Minister has said that he spent years being told he was "grand" by medical professionals, despite suffering from regular seizures, muscle spasms and pain.

Speaking out on International Epilepsy Day, Patrick O'Donovan said that he was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2016 and has spent the last decade managing it.

Speaking on Newstalk, O’Donovan said that no one believed he was suffering: "Every muscle in [my body] was being pulled to a degree that I was being curled up into a ball.

"I was having violent seizures that were lasting maybe 45 minutes longer. Be absolutely exhausted after them.

"I knew there was something wrong with me. My family knew there was something wrong with me. But I was being told that I was perfectly grand."

Over 45,000 people in Ireland are affected by the condition, which is around 1 in 100.

Paddy McGeoghegan, a spokesperson for Epilepsy Ireland said on Newstalk that epilepsy is "one of the most common neurological conditions in the country".

"Unfortunately, [there] is a perception that epilepsy is rare. Nothing can be further from the truth."

International Epilepsy Day, which takes place on the second Monday of February, raises awareness about the condition and how to give first aid.

Speaking on Newstalk, McGeoghegan had the following first aid advice: "We want people to remember three very important words, and they are time, safe and stay.

"You need to time the seizure, you need to keep the person safe, and you need to stay with them."

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