An otherwise healthy woman in her 30s has been struck down by a "debilitating" condition she says has "ripped away" life opportunities - and because the condition doesn't have an official clinical diagnosis, getting treatment has been a nightmare.
Chester-le-Street raised Laura Shaw, 33, has suffered from Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) for three years. The recently-married comedy producer should be in the prime of her life, but over the past couple of years she has spent months almost bed-bound, and even had to move home to her County Durham parents for support.
She is now fundraising to pay for a treatment called Ultra-Pulse Contact CAP therapy - which has previously helped to alleviate her symptoms. She hopes a longer course - not available on the NHS - could help banish the "bone-deep" itching and pain for good.
