Dealing with monthly pain; DON'T SUFFER PMS IN SILENCE. WE SPEAK TO A WOMAN WHO CAN HELP YOU.

Byline: Ellen Arnison

EVERYONE knows about PMS. In fact, to many it's a joke - like man flu. However, there are about 800,000 women in the UK for whom the run-up to their "time of the month" is a nightmare.

They suffer from a condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) which is where symptoms - physical and emotional - are so severe they interfere with normal life.

Jackie Howe, boss of the National Association of Premenstrual Syndrome, said: "Psychological symptoms are often the most disturbing and severe - anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

"A lot of people we speak to say they are not taken seriously by their doctors and they are palmed off with anti-depressants.

"They do help some women but not all - there is no one-size-fits-all cure for this condition."

Symptoms of PMDD - also known as severe PMS - include mood shifts, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, feeling out of control, panic attacks, bloating and muscle pain.

Some sufferers' symptoms are so severe they have led to misdiagnoses of being bipolar and they have caused family breakdown. But the key to diagnosing the condition is to record a pattern of symptoms that coincides with the monthly cycle, leaving at least one week a month where the sufferer feels normal.

Once identified, treatments can be explored including anti-depressants, hormone therapy and a range of alternative therapies.

Ultimately, however, for some women, the only cure is to stop having a monthly cycle altogether by inducing menopause or by removing the womb or ovaries.

For many, the beginning of finding a treatment is simply recognising what's wrong and finding someone who understands.

Jackie said: "This is a difficult and debilitating condition and there are only a few specialists out there.

"But every woman has the right to function properly and, without appropriate treatment, PMDD can seriously affect them from operating successfully."

DONNA BARROWMAN AGE 29

DONNA is only 29 but she's already going through the menopause and thinking about a hysterectomy.

And while the busy mum-of-two is delighted with the size of her family, that's not the reason she's considering such drastic action.

Donna, from Lanarkshire, suffers from PMDD and is prepared to do just about anything to be able to feel normal for her monthly cycle.

She said:"It seems to be common that after you have kids it gets a lot worse. After my second son was born a year ago I was too busy to stop and think about what was happening.

"I just wondered why I was feeling like this. I wasn't convinced it was post-natal depression.

"Then I looked at my diary and realised that I'd been to see my GP at almost the same day of my cycle for months - my worst day.

"I'd phone and say 'I'm scared I'm not being a good enough mum' and I was utterly exhausted."

When she realised there was a pattern she got in touch with the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome (NAPS) and then the penny eventually dropped.

Using interactive diaries available on the NAPS website, she saw that her awful symptoms were linked to her cycle.

She said: "It's dreadful. Okay, the moods are horrendous, but the physical symptoms are the most draining. The sheer and utter fatigue like you can't lift your head off the pillow is the worst. I got muscle aches and sweats - although it does vary from woman to woman.

"I just felt like someone had beat me up but with two kids to run after I had to keep going.

"It would take every ounce of my energy to get through the days. It is a horrible feeling because I believed - wrongly - that I simply wasn't being a good enough mother.

"On really bad days, as soon as my husband got home, I'd collapse into bed crying because I felt I'd only just made it through the day."

Donna was lucky that her GP recognised the condition and offered her treatment. She tried different hormone treatments including contraceptive pills, none of which helped. Anti-depressants didn't work either for the young mum.

Donna was referred to a specialist who gave her a treatment that forced her into menopause.

Finally, something made a difference. She said: "I went cold turkey with menopause symptoms, but in terms of PMDD it's been great, so much better.

"I have no mood fluctuations and the physical symptoms have gone.

"It does make me feel a bit sad and it's a lonely condition - I don't know anyone my age going through this.

"The long-term solution is a hysterectomy, which is a big step for someone who is 29. But if it allows me to function normally, it'll be worth it.

"I want to raise awareness of the hell of PMDD and show there is hope."

See www.pms.org.uk or contact Donna at [e-mail] for more information.

CAPTION(S):

SUFFERER: Donna with her son NIGHTMARE: Donna's PMS has been severe