It’s 17th January 2020 – a date it turns out I’ll never forget.

I woke up around 7.30am (normal for a Friday). I was teaching at 9am. I remember having a slight headache but didn’t think anything of it as I’d had a few sneaky headaches over the last month or so. I got ready to teach, putting on some of my fav Sweaty Betty leggings. I had my breakfast smoothie like I did every morning and shortly afterwards left for work.

I was teaching Abs at 9am, Hiit at 9.30am and then covering Body Pump at 11am.

I love my abs class, I’ve taught some of the members in that class for years! I sorted my mat and weight, made sure my music/mic were ready and off we went – 30 mins of abs.

It was a busy class like always, especially with the January rush. We work hard but always have a bit of a sing song which we all love. 

It was about half way through the class when I noticed some of my words sounded slurred. I carried on… and it happened again. It wasn’t every word, just every few. I felt self-conscious & apologised to the class for not being able to get my words out however I managed to finish the class.

Between my classes there were members coming and going. I remember telling people to get a mat for the next class and I think I started feeling a little dizzy.

A member came over and said I didn’t look very well and should sit down. I think I said I just felt dizzy and would be fine. She was pretty insistent and I remember she went to reception to tell them I couldn’t teach. Another member was asking me if she should get my colleague and I said yes. Quickly, I was being helped to sit down. I tried to drink some water but poured it in front of me. I was then being helped to lie down. I remember members of staff being there to help me and they got me sitting with my back against the mirror. I also remember realising that the alarm had gone off for me, which I thought was silly because I was sure I was fine.

The room was cleared. A member who is a doctor came back in to chat to me and asked some questions. He told me I should go to hospital or the GP. My speech seemed to be ok and after about 20 mins I walked to an office.

When I was in the office I was lying down. I felt better but worried. Another member who is a doctor came and had a chat and advised me to go to a&e. I still had no symptoms of speech going.

Around 10.30am (ish), My colleague was about to take me home. As we got in her car she said she noticed my legs shaking and asked me what I had for breakfast and my speech was slurred again.

Thankfully, she got me straight inside and called the paramedics.

They arrived shortly, as well as my partner. I had some tests; ECG, blood pressure, asked questions but when they arrived my speech was ok again. I lost track of time but they got me on a stretcher, wheeled me out of work & took me to Harrogate Hospital.