Devon woman unable to speak after falling ill on bus

A Plymouth woman with a long term health condition that causes seizures wants to raise awareness of her condition after becoming unwell on a bus. Victoria Watson was travelling to work and began to feel spaced out, a feeling that she knows often signals an impending seizure.

The 54-year-old is a survivor of brain tumour surgery and has “struggled” with her recovery - and with epilepsy. Seizures were one of the first signs of her tumour and she’s continued to experience them after surgery. Victoria said that she often feels “judged” and like many assume she is “intoxicated”.

She was diagnosed with a benign meningioma brain tumour in 2018 after first experiencing what she thought was just a “funny turn”. Shortly after that first seizure Victoria suffered epilepsy leading to loss of speech and memory loss - after the diagnosis she had surgery to remove most of the tumour, as PlymouthLive reports.

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She said: “There is still a slither of the tumour left in my brain which was too attached to remove. Because of the size and location of the tumour, despite the removal I still have regular seizures. A couple of days ago (Tuesday 19 November) I was waiting for a bus, I was cold, tired and not feeling well.

“When I got on the 34 bus to Derriford at about 10am, I’d lost my speech and I started to cry as I felt frightened to have a seizure in a public place. I felt that some people on the bus were looking at me assuming I was drunk and I couldn't speak.

“Eventually a young woman wearing a yellow coat helped me, she managed to call my partner from my phone and then helped me to get off the bus and into the hospital. I want to say thank you to that lady. If you haven't seen a seizure before it's not always what you would expect and not always someone having a full fit.”

Victoria said that when she arrived at Derriford Hospital (where she was originally heading as she works there) the hospital security guards were “amazing” and stayed with her until Victoria’s partner arrived.

After a seizure Victoria said it takes her three days to fully recover, she also said the “worst thing” is people judging the situation.

She said: “Just because someone looks drunk or drugged they might not be, just asking someone if they are ok could save someone’s life. Stress is a trigger for my seizures or being hungry, thirsty or over tired.”

When Victoria was diagnosed in 2018 she had to give up her job as a travel rep, but she retrained to teach medication to hospital staff. She also took up hypnotherapy and helps others via her therapy business Naturally Calm Therapy.

She said: "I help people with stress, anxiety, anger management and seasonal affective disorder. I tried hypnotherapy 14 years ago to help me give up smoking and it worked - I haven’t touched a cigarette since.”

Victoria said that since her diagnosis she has been “more closetted” and that she used to be “so outgoing”. She said that one of the “meanest things” is that she can no longer travel alone - after years of global solo trips.

But the “cruellest thing” about her condition is “not being able to look after her baby granddaughter alone” due to the risk of epilepsy.

Victoria's main aim now is to raise awareness about epilepsy.

Victoria said: “I would like this to be a potential learning that just because someone looks drunk or drugged, they might not be. If the lady in a yellow coat who helped me get off the bus and into the hospital is reading this, thank you for your kindness and help.

"I also want to thank the security guards for their kindness and care.”

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