In 2018 Tracey Bowen’s GP sent her for a colposcopy at her local hospital. Shortly before she arrived Tracey suffered a panic attack and crashed her car in the car park. Crying, she looked her gynaecologist in the eye and said: “I know I don’t need this.” Aged 55 at the time, the nurse from Rhymney said she had spent more than a decade crippled by a plethora of symptoms, which doctors had generally put down to depression and unrelated physical problems.
“My worst symptom was horrendous insomnia,” she said. “I’m a very outgoing person normally and I became really anxious. I worried about absolutely everything all the time.
“I had bizarre physical symptoms including joint pain, dental problems, and eczema inside my ears. I developed allergies including red wine and garlic. I would be nauseated and sick. I had problems with my blood pressure and I had a choking sensation [sometimes] when I laid down. It was frightening. I developed brain fog. At one point I was driving around a roundabout and I couldn't remember which way to turn. I had a complete absence and drove in circles. Nothing happened but it was really alarming.”
