Michelle Fletcher suffered such an extreme form of PMS, she spent two weeks every month battling depression, anxiety and abdominal pain.
Shockingly, the mum-of-three was so desperate to feel normal she turned to cocaine in the hope it would help, but she became addicted and racked up a £15K debt.
Now she has finally been diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS that affects around 5% of women.
She has quit cocaine and two weeks ago she had her ovaries removed to stop her body producing the hormones that caused her PMDD.
Michelle, 33, from Littlehampton, says: “PMDD was ruining my life. I’m ashamed I turned to cocaine but I was desperate. At first it helped, but it almost cost me everything.
"Having my ovaries removed sounds extreme, but it’s worth it to live a normal life.”
Read the rest of this story in Closer magazine, out today