Woman’s ‘bad flu’ turned out to be life-threatening heart condition

By Josie Adnitt via SWNS

A woman who thought she had a bad flu was shocked to discover it was actually a life-threatening heart condition.

Caroline Lewis, 28, was discharged from the RAF and Royal Military Police in June 2022 after she was diagnosed with spinal spondylosis - which affects the discs in the spine.

She then experienced a pulmonary embolism – a type of heart disease - just a month later which left her wheelchair bound for two months.

But she decided to put herself out there and entered a Miss Swimsuit UK competition – and now she’s been invited to represent the UK in the Swimsuit USA World Finals in Cancun, Mexico, in October.

Caroline, a coordinator for a charity helpline, from Cramlington, Northumberland said: “I went into the competition thinking I just want to be myself.

“Walking down the runway as me being completely vulnerable and being recognized for the way I look was amazing.

“They said all my achievements - how I survived an embolism, worked for a charity and came from a military background.

"I love working for a charity - one of my biggest passions is helping people and supporting other people through their struggles

“It’s nice to be in a competition that celebrates that side of yourself as well as how you look.”

Caroline first noticed something was wrong when she began to experience numbness in her face, arms and legs.

She had constant pain in her neck and difficult turning her head – and eventually she was diagnosed with spinal spondylosis and was discharged from service.

Spinal spondylosis is a condition caused by chronic wear on the spine, causing compression on the nerve roots.

And just weeks later she found herself in hospital and thought she was developing a bad flu and chest pain.

Doctors gave her antibiotics but she had a severe allergic reaction and was kept under observation.

Then thanks to one nurse who suggested she be tested for blood clots, doctors discovered a large volume pulmonary embolism - a sudden blockage in the pulmonary arteries which usually happens when a blood clot in the deep veins of the leg breaks off and travels to the lungs.

Pulmonary embolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease after heart attack and stroke.

While recovering, Caroline spent two months in a wheelchair before she was able to
because she was out of breath - but she still felt like she was struggling to accept herself despite overcoming her health troubles.

So when the Miss Swimsuit competition was advertised to her on Instagram she decided to take the leap.

Just two weeks later she was walking down the runway in a bikini – and incredibly placed third in the semi-final competition.

Less than a month later, she was walking in the finals where she placed fourth overall.

Now, she’s been invited to the Swimsuit USA World Finals in October – and has been signed to a modeling agency.

“I joined the military to challenge myself and travel the world – the people I met and experiences I had were unbelievable,” Caroline said,

“But I started experiencing numbness in my face, arms and legs, I had pain in my neck constantly and difficulty turning my head.

“I was medically discharged last June, following that within a month I started experiencing a bad flu.

“I had a clot in my artery and my left lung was full of blood clots and some in my right lung. I was diagnosed with an unprovoked large volume pulmonary embolism and fluid on the lungs.

“I had to spend two months in a wheelchair and after I recovered there was still part of me that was not happy looking in the mirror.

“I was scrolling on Instagram and up popped the Miss Swimsuit UK competition - I thought this is a bit soon but how can I push myself out of comfort zone.

“What better way to send a message to myself that it doesn’t matter what shape or size you are then by walking down a runway in a bikini.

“I got through to the national finals where I ended up placing fourth.

“In October I’m going to the Miss Swimsuit USA world finals, and I've been signed with a modelling agency.

“Last year I didn't know if I would be here - this year, I'm competing in the world finals so it’s a bit crazy.

“I wasn’t expecting any of this to happen, I started just wanting to boost my confidence and motivate other people and now I'm embracing where the journey takes me.”