Another Success Story and Another NAPS Heroine
23 May 2008
Twenty-three years of suffering but Pat did not give up and now, having been faced with additional health problems, she is still prepared to make a major commitment to NAPS, as a volunteer, to help ensure the well-being of PMS sufferers
Pat Tracey tells how she finally obtained relief
When I was growing up I had a happy childhood and family life was busy as my parents had their own retail business. I was the third of five children and although money was in short supply, we were a contented family. I reached my teens, having already started my periods, and PMT was something I had never heard of. When I reached 14, in the early sixties, I can recall having angry outbursts, tearfulness and depression, which would all happen for a few days at a time and then I would be OK for several weeks. My parents put my behaviour down to teenage tantrums, but they had never experienced these in my older siblings and just thought I was a particularly difficult child.
Eventually my parents became exasperated, and my father suggested to my mother that she should "take her to the doctor's and get her sorted out". The GP was sympathetic but could only offer the explanation that "I just need time to grow up". Things continued much the same at home and the family learnt to live with my mood swings. As time moved on, it was agreed I leave school at 15 (which you could do then) and join the family greengrocery business and would train as a florist. Unfortunately, a month before leaving school, my father died suddenly and as well as his death leaving me immensely upset, a quick decision was taken, that I should stay on at school until I was 16 and take my GCE exams. As the family business had been sold, I had to rethink what direction my career would take. I decided to train as a nursery nurse. This entailed living away from home in a residential children's home and I was only able to get home once a month, and because of my mood swings all through these years, I continued to have angry outbursts, periods of depression and feelings of inadequacy, but no connection was seriously made with my monthly cycle. Within three months of starting the nursery nurse training, it was perceived that my mood swings must be down to homesickness and I consequently left that job to live back at home. I took up clerical work, and although I got by during working hours, when obviously some days my efficiency output was lower, it was really when I was with my loved ones that my "down" days were at their worst. But because no one was really aware why this happened, although it was casually suggested it might be something to do with my "monthlies", it was never investigated and the situation was just put up with.
By now I had a regular boyfriend with whom I was very happy, in time he was to become aware that there were days when I would not be a very nice person, but our love for each other was strong enough for us to make a commitment to each other and we married in 1969. Although I still had outbursts from time to time, I don't remember them being so severe or lasting so many days, but these were explained away by the fact that I was more content and settled and when my moods did get the better of me I managed to satisfy people with a plausible excuse, such as stress related to circumstances. Eventually, when I was in my 20's, the periods of aggression and depression, etc., built up and became quite severe. By this time, despite having lost a baby and being sterilised, which can worsen PMT, we were able to adopt a baby boy at 10 days and we were a very happy family. However, the bad times gradually returned with increased frequency and severity. By now, PMT was beginning to get accepted as a medical condition in its own right. There was, however, a great diversity of opinion amongst doctors as to whether it was a real illness or was "all in the mind". Fortunately my GP at the time (in the early 70's) was sympathetic and tried me on B6 and anti-depressants, and whilst they seemed to work at times, they didn't cure the condition and besides, there was nothing else available then. However, I soldiered on, but my PMT gradually got worse. By this time, we had removed to a remote corner of Scotland, I was not particularly happy as I am more of a"people person" and my GP at the time, suggested my condition worsened because I was lonely "being at home with a toddler and no neighbours and my family living in the south of England. The GP continued to acknowledge the problem as PMT, but this was compounded by the loneliness. It was suggested that we move to a more populated area. When we came to Lancashire, I became friendly with the mother of one of my son's friends, who lent me a book by a consultant writing about PMT. This invited sufferers to contact him, which I duly did. I was tried on Duphaston, known to be particularly helpful for PMT. The first monthI tried it, I felt wonderful and able to conquer the world, but sadly this remarkable transformation was short lived and the following month I was worse than ever. By now, my depression was so bad I had suicidal thoughts and I was violent towards my husband, and all I could think of was if I could be given a sedative for several days a month and wake up when all was OK again.
I was at my worst by the time I was 37. Although we had a very happy marriage, the only blight was the PMT and during my black moments I decided the only thing I could do was to leave home. It was autumn, a very wet dark night and I walked the streets for half an hour feeling thoroughly miserable and no idea what the future held. Fortunately my husband tracked me down and took me back home and cared for me.
At about this time, in the mid-eighties, I came across the details for NAPS and a phone call to them proved to be the turning point. The person listening at the other end advised me on an eating plan to help maintain a stable blood sugar level and, because I appeared to be a severe sufferer, suggested I see my GP and ask if I could be prescribed the hormone treatment marketed as Cyclogest. This suppository contains the hormone progesterone. I must admit that using this medication would, I had hoped, be like waving a magic wand. However, as well as using the suppository, it was necessary to maintain the eating plan and make other lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, cutting back on caffeine and doing relaxation. They all played a part in my rehabilitation and, having got the combination right, I followed this regime for about 15 years until well after the menopause.
I have now been advising PMS sufferers (pre-menstrual tension became known as pre-menstrual syndrome) on various treatments that are now available. A wealth of both herbal and prescribed medicines, as well as lots of self-help ideas are mentioned on the NAPS website - www.pms.org.uk
I would implore any female who is suffering or if you know a female aged from puberty to the menopause who has a group of symptoms that come and go with no reasonable explantion, to make a diary of them and at the same time include details of their periods. If a definite pattern becomes apparent, it is worth investigating to see if PMS is the cause.
I and my family suffered for 23 years until I got the right treatment, so please avoid this and take action before the sufferer's life is ruined and her career and relationships put under too much strain. I have spoken to scores of women who have related similar or worse experiences during the past 20 years, and when actioned much earlier could have saved many a person's sanity.
Unfortunately my health concerns did not end with the correct treatment for PMS or even after the menopause. I was unlucky enough to develop osteoarthritis, which resulted in knee joint replacements and whilst walking on crutches several years later, I broke my ankle and 18 months later fell again (I was not drunk in case you were wondering) which resulted in a broken leg. Six months on and with an infection which could not be controlled, it became necessary to amputate my left leg.
All through this last 10 years I have remained faithful to NAPS, returning after each period of treatment to maintain my position on the helpline.
I would just like to say, that I, along with other NAPS people with many years experience, provide an appropriate and unequalled service for women who suffer as you did, or perhaps still do.
Do you at any point feel that you can make a contribution in any way to promote NAPS - in particular with fundraising? Your skills are much needed by other women who are still suffering. If you can help, please contact NAPS.
I now administer the "Ask the Experts" queries from the NAPS website. Do go on to the NAPS Website and join from just £25 and benefit from the immense range of self-help and advice.
An amusing anecdote to my story is, when my son was 8 he was asked by his Grandmother: "What present shall we get Mummy for Christmas?" His reply was: "Don't buy anything for Mummy with her initials on it, because it would upset her". "Why is that", said Grandma. "Because my Mummy's initials are PMT and my Mummy has got PMT." Children have a wonderful way of coping with these problems.
