One Life - it's time to LIVE IT (Pt 1)...Where'd my Mojo Go?

For ages (several years in fact) I've been bitching about not having the same energy I used to have. Add to that picking up EVERY virus that's going around (x 10), and taking even more anti biotics that just don't seem to do too much (I've taken more anti biotics in the last 2 years than I have over my entire life), Not to mention being excessively moody, not sleeping and you begin to understand why I started to investigate what was happening to me! My body felt like a toxic waste dump. The body might be 48, but I just wasn't ready to accept "old age" as a way of life.

I look at ladies my age and older who look absolutely amazing. People like Madonna (53), Sex and the City's Kim Catrall (55), not to mention Elle McPherson (aka The Body) is 48 and only 2 days younger than me. Not only do they look AMAZING, but they have energy, drive and a glow that I seem to have misplaced somewhere. Now I appreciate that money can buy the best of everything - the best personal trainers, the best plastic surgeons etc, but jeez...I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE, and Goddamnit, I'm gonna find it!!!!!

So...where to start?

As I said, I've been bitching about my health for ages. I've been to the doctor more times than I can count, only to be told to take a "good Multi Vitamin" - oh and maybe you've got a Thyroid problem. Go get a Thyroid test (for the 3rd time). Did this! Same test, same result - Negative! Back to the multi-vitamin theory.

Thank God for my good mate Sharon in Melbourne, who also happens to be a Naturopath. On a quick visit to her she INSISTED on doing a thumb prick test and looking at what was really happening with my body. She noted that I was dehydrated (yep I'm guilty of not drinking enough water) and then she asked me a question...when was the last time I had a blood test? Answer - about 19 years ago when I was pregnant with my last child. Her reply: Hmmm, maybe you should get your iron levels tested. DERRRR! Why didn't I think of that - and more importantly why didn't the Doctor? That one question prompted me to start re-thinking.

Soon after this "earth shattering DERRR" moment, I fell over an article in a women's health magazine about CORTISOL and how it can affect your thyroid. Mmmmm - interesting! The doctor's been saying I have a Goiter (enlarged adams apple) and that's what happens when you have a Thyroid problem. Maybe there's something to this Cortisol thing.

A few months later I was visiting a new massage therapist for a shoulder problem. He gave me an absolute going-over (but it worked a treat) - but I noticed something really weird. He'd used a range of different massage tchniques including Shiatzu, Trigger Point and Lymphatic Drainage and on the way home I looked in the rear view mirror to see if there was any bruising around my neck, and OMG my Goiter has GOOOONE! What the???? I got home and asked Graham (husband) to look at my neck/throat. He was blown away. This incident prompted me to ask Mr Google some different questions about Lymphatic Drainage and Thyroid, with some interesting results. That word CORTISOL had popped up again.

Read more about Cortisol in Part 2 of this story - The Cortisol Connection.