The woman who collapses when she LAUGHS: Funny films trigger rare condition leaving 44-year-old paralysed on the floor

  • Tracy Herring, 44, suffers from cataplexy - a sudden loss of muscle control
  • It causes her to collapse when she experiences strong emotions, including anger and laughter - meaning she avoids comedy shows and films
  • She becomes temporarily paralysed on the left hand side of her body 
  • She has not seen a comedy film since 2003, when she was diagnosed 

By Madlen Davies for MailOnline

Published: 06:18 EST, 10 July 2015 | Updated: 10:58 EST, 10 July 2015

While most of us revel in losing ourselves in a hilarious film, for Tracy Herring rom coms come with a health warning.

The 44-year-old has to avoid watching anything that might make her laugh, for fear of collapsing, temporarily paralysed.  

Miss Herring, who lives in Sheffield, suffers from a rare condition called cataplexy which causes sudden muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions.

'In my case laughter caused my neck to weaken,' she said. 'I lose control of my limbs and become paralysed on my left side.

'It usually only lasts for a few seconds but it is frightening.'

Tracy Herring, 44, can no longer watch comedy films as she collapses to the floor and becomes temporarily paralysed every time she laughs

Tracy Herring, 44, can no longer watch comedy films as she collapses to the floor and becomes temporarily paralysed every time she laughs

Ms Herring suffers the rare condition cataplexy, which causes attacks of muscular weakness when she experiences heightened emotions, or finds something funny

Ms Herring suffers the rare condition cataplexy, which causes attacks of muscular weakness when she experiences heightened emotions, or finds something funny

Ms Herring's cataplexy is so severe she has banned herself from hearing anything funny, and has not seen a comedy film for 12 years

Ms Herring's cataplexy is so severe she has banned herself from hearing anything funny, and has not seen a comedy film for 12 years

Miss Herring's cataplexy is so severe she banned herself from hearing or watching anything funny.

As a result she has not enjoyed watching a comedy film since 2003, when she was first diagnosed.

'I've missed out on lots of the big hits,' she admitted. 'It's annoying when friends are saying, "Have you seen this film?" Of course I haven't.'

Despite her preventative measures she still suffers outbreaks which can be embarrassing.

Miss Herring, who has a partner Michael Wild, 45, continued: 'When I first met my boyfriend in December last year he thought I was a lush, although he only admitted this to me months later.

'He thought I'd been drinking before we met.

'It does look like this because I can just suddenly topple over.'

Miss Herring, who is unable to work full-time currently because of cataplexy, first began having the episodes aged 32.

WHAT IS CATAPLEXY? 

Cataplexy is a symptom of narcolepsy, a long-term condition causing problems with normal patterns of sleeping and waking.

Cataplexy is the sudden, temporary muscle weakness or loss of muscular control. 

Typical symptoms are:

  • the jaw dropping
  • the head slumping down
  • legs collapsing uncontrollably
  • slurred speech
  • finding it difficult to focus, or double vision

Cataplexy attacks are usually triggered by an emotion, such as excitement, laughter, anger or surprise. 

Attacks can last from a few seconds to several minutes.

Some people with narcolepsy have cataplexy attacks once or twice a year, while others experience them several times a day. 

In an attempt to avoid attacks, some people may become emotionally withdrawn and socially isolated.

Source: NHS Choices

She said: 'I was at a friend's house for a party. She'd had these lovely cream carpets put in everywhere.

'I was having a glass of red wine, chuckling away.

'Suddenly my arm went funny. I couldn't control it. I was throwing my drink around.

'My arm was flipping about. I was mortified.'

As similar incidents began happening more regularly Miss Herring began to fear she was suffering a brain tumour.

'The way it was affecting my movement was terrifying,' she said.

'First it was just my arm. Then it would affect my neck and my legs.'

Miss Herring was referred by her GP to a specialist at Thornbury Hospital in Sheffield.

She said: 'I had some neurological tests and he confirmed it was cataplexy.

'I'd never even heard of it before.'

Miss Herring's friends are able to help her when it happens.

She said: 'They can tell when I'm starting to go. 

'I tell people when I meet them, otherwise it can be awkward.'

The condition has also caused Miss Herring to collapse in the street.

She said: 'Luckily I've been with my parents when it's happened.

'But I've banged my head hard. It's terrifying to think what could happen if I was on my own.'

She said it was embarrassing when she first met Mr Wild.

'We were on a date and I was laughing and then my neck started to go,' she said.

'I can see that it looks weird.

'It was only months later he told me he thought I'd been knocking the drinks back.

When she has an attack of cataplexy, the whole left hand side of her body becomes paralysed. She is pictured with her mother and brother

When she has an attack of cataplexy, the whole left hand side of her body becomes paralysed. She is pictured with her mother and brother

Ms Herring says she has missed out on a lot of comedy classics. She said: 'I've missed out on lots of the big hits. It's annoying when friends are saying, "Have you seen this film?" Of course I haven't.'

Ms Herring says she has missed out on a lot of comedy classics. She said: 'I've missed out on lots of the big hits. It's annoying when friends are saying, "Have you seen this film?" Of course I haven't.'

'It is embarrassing. I have strangers tell my friends that I'm wasted.

'But it's a serious condition.'

Miss Herring regularly sees a specialist to try and keep her condition under control.

'It's been getting worse. I just hope there's something I can do to stop this,' she said.

A spokesperson from Narcoplexy UK said: 'Cataplexy is an episode of muscular weakness triggered by strong emotions such as laughter, anger and surprise.

'The loss of muscle tone ranges from a just-perceptible weakening of the facial muscles through weakness at the knees, to total collapse on the floor.

'Speech is slurred, eyesight impaired (double vision, inability to focus) but hearing and awareness remain undisturbed.

'Attacks often last less than two minutes and they may only last a few seconds. Some people have repeated attacks of cataplexy which persist for up to 30 minutes.'

 

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