Latest news with #LeanneJones
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
I went from feeling constantly horny to my boyfriend thinking I hated him – the truth was terrifying
LEANNE Jones and her partner, Adam, used to have no issues in the bedroom department - they loved spending hours between the sheets. But now, Leanne, 42, feels more like 'Grandpa Joe' than her usual, energetic and 'horny self'. Adam, 40, initially suspected she no longer loved him, but the true cause was far more devastating. 16 16 16 'I went from being very highly sex driven to feeling like Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka,' the mum-of-two, from South Wales, tells Sun Health. The character, played by Jack Albertston in the 1971 film and David Kelly in Tim Burton 's 2005 remake, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was based on Roald Dahl 's book of the same name, is famous for lying in bed, unable to move, for 20 years. 'My partner took it personally at first, as many would, and thought I didn't love him anymore,' Leanne adds. 'I was left heartbroken. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get back my once horny self.' The former legal secretary found herself struggling to get aroused and when they did have sex, she wasn't able to climax as usual. It turned out to be due to a 'debilitating' brain condition that she had been diagnosed with years prior. Multiple sclerosis (MS) stripped Leanne's entire life away - and unbeknownst to her, was to blame for her dwindling sex life. It also had a profound impact on her mobility and overall wellbeing. 'I've gone from walking three miles every day to work and running 5k to almost being bedridden,' Leanne says. MS is an incurable condition that is more typically seen in women, striking between the age of 20 to 50 - though there are other risk factors too. It affects the brain and spinal cord, with the immune system attacking the protective covering of nerve cells. The symptoms vary hugely; some can be incredibly disabling, and others less obvious. In the lead up to her diagnosis, Leanne had been experiencing numbness in her right knee during her running and personal training sessions. At times, it would give way completely. While alone it might not have rung alarm bells, Leanne also had 'crippling' fatigue, where she was unable to move off the sofa, and partial hearing loss. Knowing something wasn't quite right, she spoke to her GP and was booked in for an MRI scan. It was March 2020 - the start of the Covid pandemic - so Leanne wasn't able to see her doctor in person. Instead, she received a phone call to say she had MS, and it changed her life completely. It's such a debilitating and lonely life. I want people to know that even though it feels like a prison sentence, it's not Leanne Jones Leanne says: 'It was a relief that I wasn't making it up and I could now have a name for it and treat it.' She has what's known as remitting relapse MS in which her symptoms come and go, with periods of worse symptoms followed by bursts of recovery. But day to day, the mum experiences issues with her speech, vision and mobility, and has extreme fatigue, restless legs, and absence seizures, which cause periods of "blanking out" or staring into space. Leanne was not with Adam at the time of her diagnosis and was 'forced' to take early retirement. 'I don't think people understand the impact on your mental, emotional and physical health of being told you can't work anymore,' she says. 'Losing the role of being the breadwinner for my family was very hard to come to terms with. 'And of course, when it impacts your enjoyment in the bedroom and intimacy with your partner, it is very difficult.' 16 16 Leanne knew about her MS before meeting Adam in 2023, though she had no idea it would affect her sex life. After meeting the carpenter, they had an intimate relationship, but this soon dwindled. Leanne's GP confirmed her MS was likely the cause. In 2024, Leanne was also diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND), which impacts how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. Like MS, there is no cure. To find others suffering like her, the mum turned to TikTok where she found more people who have seen their sex life fall off a cliff thanks to MS. What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex condition that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It's an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating (myelin) around nerve fibres. This disrupts the flow of electrical signals and causes a range of symptoms that can vary wildly from person to person. The good news? MS isn't a death sentence, and with advances in treatment, many people live full and active lives. In the UK, over 150,000 people are living with MS, and around 7,100 new cases are diagnosed each year, according to MS Society. It's typically diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, with women three times more likely to develop it than men. Despite its challenges, many with MS find strength and resilience they never thought possible. Common symptoms of MS are: Fatigue: Not your average tiredness—this is bone-deep exhaustion. Vision problems: Blurred or double vision, or even temporary vision loss. Numbness and tingling: Often in the face, arms, or legs. Muscle weakness: Making everyday tasks feel like climbing a mountain. Mobility issues: Trouble walking or balancing. Cognitive difficulties: Memory lapses or a 'foggy' brain. Spasms and stiffness: Muscles that just won't cooperate. Bladder and bowel problems: A less glamorous but common challenge. MS is unpredictable—you might have periods of remission where symptoms vanish, followed by flare-ups when they return. This 'on-again, off-again' nature can be frustrating and means people can be in anticipation of a flare. While there's no cure yet, treatments like disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms and slow progression. Leanne says: 'I've heard from so many sufferers that have told me their partners have left them over it as they didn't realise MS could cause this. 'They simply assumed their partner didn't find them sexually attractive anymore. 'Because of the nerve damage to the brain and spine, the signals needed for arousal, sensation and orgasm are no longer there. It creates a disconnect. 'For us women, there's issues with low sex drive, lack of sensation and lubrication and pain. 16 16 'There's been many times my partner could've walked away, but he says we are a team. 'He knows the severe change is because of my MS and the full extent of life with it. 'I spoke with an MS neurologist in front of him about the issues we were having in the bedroom and he understood that it's not him, it's my brain. 'Now, we have sex a few times a week – but he knows when not to try his luck. 'Adam has helped me realise it's nothing to do with me or him, it's just my condition so it's mind over matter.' Leanne, who volunteers at her local hospital, was having weekly injections to help manage her symptoms, as well taking disease-modifying medication. Now, though, she has decided to go completely drug-free in a bid to combat the conditions naturally. The mum also gives those suffering a voice about how it impacts people's dating lives through her social media. She adds: 'I had a number of male sufferers message to thank me for discussing it as a few of them had lost partners over it. 'They find it hard to talk about due to pride or shame. This is why it's so important to raise awareness. 'It's such a debilitating and lonely life. 'I want people to know that even though it feels like a prison sentence, it's not. 'You've got to work with it, not against it, as there's so much to live for.' What is functional neurological disorder? FUNCTIONAL neurological disorder is a 'brain network disorder,' according to UK charity FND Action. The brain is unable to send and receive messages correctly, affecting all parts of the body. Some symptoms, particularly if not treated, can result in substantial disability. Treatment includes 'retraining' the brain with specialised physiotherapy, distraction techniques and psychotherapy. But some 70 per cent of sufferers have the same or worse symptoms ten years later. The exact causes of FND are unknown. Symptoms can appear suddenly after a stressful event or with emotional or physical trauma, including a head injury, migraine, surgical procedure or vaccination. It can occur as a result of several factors working together, for example, the brain shutting down after perceiving a threat or trying to avoid pain as well as a genetic vulnerability to the condition. It is estimated that up to 120,000 people in the UK have FND, and there are a further 10,000 new cases per year, according to The Brain Charity. But most people have never heard of it. 16 16 16
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Campaigner fears longer waits between smear tests could 'cost lives'
'WE can't afford to take a step backwards' – a Warrington woman is pushing back against longer waits between cervical screenings that could 'cost lives'. Leanne Jones, who lives in Padgate, was scrolling on her phone when she came across a social media post from Warrington and Halton Hospitals Trust. This post shared the announcement from the NHS that cervical screenings for women aged 25 to 49 will now be every five years for those who test negative for HPV, starting in July. Cervical screenings, also known as smear tests, is a test to prevent cancer which takes a sample of cells from the cervix. Women between the ages of 25 and 49 are currently invited to have a screening every three years if 'high risk' HPV's are not found in the cells. Leanne, 37, is someone who has to attend smear tests more regularly after an abnormality was found at a screening, and she is also someone who lost a family member to cervical cancer. She now feels that the five-year gap between appointments could leave more women at risk of developing cancer. 'It just doesn't seem right,' she said. 'It's played on my mind ever since because I have to go every six months for check ups. This is something that has happened over the last two years after never having any issues before. 'My personal experience has shown there can be a lot of changes in a two-year period.' Leanne (left) feels the gap between tests could mean cancer is left undetected for longer (Image: Supplied) Leanne's family member had her screening delayed by Covid, which meant any abnormalities went undetected for longer. Sadly, she died at just 40 years old. 'She went through hell,' said Leanne. 'It was horrendous. She was a young woman with kids to leave behind and it could have been avoided. 'A delay is a delay – whether it's caused by Covid or a longer wait between appointments.' For many women, smear tests can be intimidating and Leanne believes that extending the wait between appointments only exacerbates the nerves women may feel, and may mean some decide not to go at all. 'It's a scary thing, for so many women,' she said. 'When you go more frequently, it does make it less daunting. 'But, if it's less frequent, then it does make it look less important – people might think 'I just won't go at all'.' Despite her concerns, Leanne does think that there have been great steps taken by the NHS to help prevent cervical cancer, such as the HPV vaccine. However, she feels this progress is negated by the increase of time between appointments, calling it 'mixed messages'. 'I can't find one person that thinks it's a good idea,' she said. 'There are still women dying every year from cervical cancer. They've not cured it. 'They've obviously done a lot with the HPV vaccine, so they're doing a lot of positive things. But I feel while there's still people who haven't had the vaccine and there's still variables to it seems too soon to jump to five years. 'Everybody I speak to seems to have the same opinion - that it's going to cost lives by risking those longer intervals.' Read more Mobile clinic to offer cervical screening tests in Warrington Boyfriend, dad and friends of woman who fought cancer twice team up for big challenge New £11 million health centre that aims to reduce waiting times has officially opened Leanne has now launched a petition on to try and reverse this decision. 'We cannot afford to take a step backwards in women's healthcare,' she said. 'My story can't be unique. It can't just be me and my loved one that have had these experiences. 'I don't think my petition is going to change the world, but I've got nothing to lose by trying and by talking about because there are people who aren't here to talk about it themselves.' The change will commence tomorrow, Tuesday, and has followed a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee, and it is already the approach used for women aged 50 to 64 in England. Those whose sample indicated the presence of HPV, or have had a recement history of HPV, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings. Dr Sue Mann, NHS national clinical director for women's health, said: 'Taking a more personalised approach to cervical screening will help ensure everyone eligible can make the most of these life-saving services, while sparing women appointments that they don't need. 'The NHS is following robust evidence on how often women need to be safely screened, and by putting invitations and reminders straight in women's pockets on their phones, we're making it easier than ever to take up screening appointments. 'Make sure you come forward for your screening when you're invited, even if it was weeks, months or years ago. If you think you are due but have not yet had an invitation, speak to your GP practice."
