February 2009

By describing her experiences, Donna encourages other PMS sufferers

"I have battled with PMS for around the last 10 years, although it has not always been called that. Some of the things it has been called have been stress, depression, anxiety, over anxious mother, irregular periods, and most lately PND. I have known for a long time that it was not as simple as that.

Going back to just before I got married, I was absolutely fine. Then I chose to have the Depo-Provera contraceptive injection, which for me was the start of this battle. It sent my bleeding berserk, I bled, and bled and bled. Eventually I was sent to a gynaecologist who told me that it was all being caused by stress, that I had to relax and have more sex!! Really helpful advice when you have been bleeding for 9 months. The only stress I was suffering was because of the bleeding. I was exhausted, drained and for me the bleeding paired with this really unhelpful doctor let me to feel there was no hope. It must just be me; I’ll have to put up with it. I sunk into a very very deep depression, I literally could not function. I totally relied on my family to pull me through, and without them I don’t think I would be here today.

I went back on the pill, which ‘masked’ the problem, and then I fell pregnant with my first child. Things were great. After the birth I decided that I did not want to put anymore artificial hormones into my body, but the irregular bleeding started again, and this time the other symptoms of PMS were far more obvious. I had always had one or two bad days a month, but this was hell. It followed a very definite cycle. The doctor was convinced I had PND, I knew it was not PND, you are not just depressed 7-10 days out of the month, and the symptoms screamed out PMS. I asked to be referred to a gynae, which I was, but then I fell pregnant again with number two. Again the pregnancy was normal and after the baby was born, the whole pattern started again. It was now starting to affect my relationship. As my husband said, it was like coming home and not knowing who he would meet, Jekyll or Hyde.

Determined to get someone to believe me, I started researching and found the NAPS website, thank God I did. I started filling in the diaries, took them to my GP and asked again to be referred to the gynae. I had taken the anti depressants (Citalopram) which made no difference on the bad weeks; I also had the Mirena coil fitted. Nothing was making a difference. I contacted the NAPS Ask the Expert service; it was wonderful. They provided me with information to take to my appointment with me, which gave me a new confidence. I simply said to the doctor, I am 100% certain this is what I have and I need it treated. I am currently using oestrogen patches combined with the mirena coil. Only time will tell if it works, I have to give it 3 months. If not, the next few steps are drastic and could ultimately result in my ovaries being removed and being on HRT for the rest of my life. Quite a scary thought at 29 years of age, but I simply could not go on for another 10-20 years suffering like this. I’m pretty sure a lot of my friends think it's all in the mind, only my close friends realise how debilitating it can be, they see it first hand every month.

On the positive side, I have been determined not to give in to this condition. I have set up my own business, which I have wanted to do for a long time, and I love the new-found confidence that this is giving me. A condition like PMS knocks your confidence away from you because you are made to feel like it is not a ‘real’ problem. But please, please persevere and be adamant with your doctor that you need treatment, not just palmed off with anti-depressants. What keeps me going, apart from my family, is the fact that I know that I now have the support and back-up of an organisation behind me, and I will not give up until I am able to lead my life just like everyone else and not spend 10 days a month only just getting there. I shouldn’t need to suffer in this way just because of other people's ignorance and lack of understanding.

So let's start spreading the word about NAPS.

Donna, Lanarkshire