Through the Reader Survey on Living Well With Epilepsy, readers asked for more information on the Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS). I've asked Meghan O'Neil, who has used the device to treat her epilepsy since 2008, to talk to Living Well about her experience with VNS.

What is VNS?
According to Epilepsy.com, "VNS is designed to prevent seizures by sending regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via the vagus nerve. These pulses are supplied by a device something like a pacemaker. The VNS device is sometimes referred to as a 'pacemaker for the brain.' It is placed under the skin on the chest wall and a wire runs from it to the vagus nerve in the neck."

An Interview with Meghan O'Neil
Tell us a bit about yourself and your epilepsy.

Meghan O'Neil

I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 21 after having a brain virus that infected a certain part of my brain. I guess it's pretty rare. I was studying in England and living with 7 other people, so lord knows there were probably all sorts of germs flying around that flat at the time. I had a really high fever one night and a few days later I had my first seizure while sitting in a library watching a Japanese film, which was easily the scariest moment of my life. The next few days I continued to have them but didn't know what they were so I didn't what was happening to me.

Read more