So most of you know me as Carys, the West Ham loving, she wears her heart on her sleeve kinda girl, the diabetic.......

On the 16th of July  2015, I became Carys, the West Ham loving, she wears her heart on her sleeve kinda girl, the diabetic and the girl with Heart Disease and here is my story...

I didn't know what Heart Disease was....

I'd noticed my heart was beating rapidly and went to see the Dr, I accepted my diagnosis of a chest infection on the15th of July and went home, with a prescription in my hand, I started taking my antibiotics and using my inhaler as instructed. I felt like I was struggling for breath every 4 to 5 minutes. But thought the chest infection had to get worse before it got better.

Thinking the tablets would kick in soon, I went to work the next day as normal. Within hours I felt exhausted, overwhelmed with tiredness, I eventually decided I needed to take a break at work, in a quiet room to feel better rather than going on. Trying to play the hero.  I walked towards the Managing Director of my company and that's when my life changed forever.

'are you ok Carys, you don't look well' wobbling, I stumbled towards the chair behind me with the director leaping out of his seat. With what I can only describe as an overwhelming rush of heat showering over my legs, my head stiff and solid, my body shook like I was having a fit. I was so hot. I was crying. I had no idea what was happening to me. My colleagues consoled me, people were dashing around the office, phoning 999, phoning my mum...

Not even the paramedics knew what was going on when they got to me. Within ten minutes, I was joking around with mascara down my face, attached to a oxygen tank and a blanket around me. I looked like E.T. The only way I could explain what had happened to me? It felt like I'd burned and drowned at the same time....

What had happened? My LAD artery had given in, sending shockwaves to my heart and around my body, changing who I was and my life forever...

At 31, I had suffered a heart attack. 31! Too young they say, but not so uncommon anymore. 

'It can't happen to me.... I'm too young. I barely smoked. I never thought it would end up this way. This happens to old people. But I had no chest pain. I had no arm pain... I didn't keel over like they do in the films.... All these things ran through my mind. Why didn't it happen like I thought a heart attack would? '

BECAUSE NO ONE TELLS YOU WHAT TO REALLY EXPECT...

I spent 5 days in hospital, 3 of them attached to wires, not even allowed a shower, in a ward with people much older than me. Some coughing so bad and suffering, they were sick. On my 4th day, I had my Angioplasty surgery. 3 stents were inserted. My arm was black, I had a cut on my wrist from the surgical entry. I had a cuff fitted to make sure I didn't bleed to death. These things will stick with me forever.

How do I feel now? I'm scared and afraid of dying. The emotional side of this disease is literally heartbreaking. Overwhelming sadness hits me, will I drop down dead? Will I ever have children and see them grow? It's not just your heart that's damaged... A part of you goes with your artery.. My family have been a huge support to me. I am truly grateful for the family and friends I have.

Heart Attacks can happen to anyone, it doesn't discriminate. The overweight, The Diabetics, The Smokers, it's not just them, the ones you expect it to happen to, It can happen to normal people like you and like me (even though I am a diabetic) There is no cure for Heart Disease. But it can be found and it's not impossible and we need to fight for every heartbeat. It is the UK's biggest killer. 

Please help me raise awareness for Coronary Heart Disease and please help me raise the important funds needed so a cure can be found. 

Our hearts are precious, we need to look after them and what goes in to our bodies is important. Please familiarise yourselves with the symptoms of a heart attack, do not ignore them. Let's win the battle against heart disease, because it doesn't always happen like it does in the movies.

Justgiving is a safe way to donate so please give what you can, not for me, but the cause. 

Thank you