Percy Blog 2 - Common Sense and Data: A Personal Wellness Investigation

A Personal Health Journey Blog by Mike Norton

My Health Journey: A Commonsense Approach to Wellness

Following on from my last post, it’s time to take a scary (but necessary) look at where my health stands today. 😬 To put it simply, my body has been through some things—and when I say things, I mean decades of living, stress, and, let’s be honest, not always the best decisions. But hey, this is all about context, right? Everyone’s health journey is unique, and this is just mine.

How we end up—physically, mentally, and even spiritually—is a combination of what we start with (thanks, DNA!) and what life throws at us along the way. Think of it like this: Our DNA is the hand we’re dealt at birth, but how we play that hand changes everything. The science folks call it epigenetics—basically, how our DNA evolves over time, influenced by our environment, choices, and life experiences.

Now, let’s talk about how the choices we make stack up over time. The food we eat, how much (or how little) we move, our mental health, alcohol, drugs, smoking… All of it leaves its mark, some deeper than others.

But here’s the kicker: take Dot Cotton from EastEnders (a POMMIE soap opera)—if you’re not familiar, she chain-smoked her way right into her 90s and didn’t check out until she was 95! I mean, what a legend. Then there’s Oliver Reed, a notorious hard-core drinker. Yes, he passed at 61, but let’s be real, the man drank like it was an Olympic sport for decades. Some people drink just as much—like a bottle of scotch a day heavy—and somehow make it well into their 80s. The point? Some people are just built differently. Their DNA and life experiences gave them some next-level resilience to the things that would send most of us packing.

As much as I’d love to say I’ve inherited those invincible genes, spoiler alert: I haven’t. 😂 Nope, my body is much more “handle with care.” And that’s really the crux of it—we’re all born with our own unique genetic makeup, and as we age, those differences only become more apparent. The trick is understanding what your body needs and how to work with it, not against it.

So, buckle up, because we’re diving deeper into what my body’s been through, what’s happening now, and how I’m using that info to make changes for the better. Stay tuned—things are about to get interesting!

Firstly, some thoughts on the health system of today and the reasoning as to why I’m doing what I’m doing!!

With the advancements in health care science, I foresee a future where your everyday devices such as your bed and toilet, maybe even your fridge, are sending real-time data to your own personalised health AI. This AI, in turn, would offer you real time advice as to how to manage your health. Imagine this: your bed tells you your sleep quality is tanking, your toilet suggests you eat more spinach because your blood pressure is creeping up, or maybe AI screams, “DON’T EAT THAT DOUGHNUT!” 😂

However, until then the health market of today is a maze of conflicting advice, dubious promises, and miracle products. Every supplier claims their solution is the answer to all your problems. But let’s be real—how can one-size-fits-all wellness work when we’re all so different? What’s great for one person might be terrible for another. Take nutrition, for instance: a diet that transforms one person can be completely “wrong” for someone else.

And let’s be honest: visiting GPs nowadays can feel like a step back in time. With all due respect, the advice they give often feels archaic, as if modern breakthroughs in science and technology haven’t quite made it to the exam room yet. It’s frustrating how often I hear “just take this pill,” Nexium, Statins etc. without any deeper investigation into what’s really going on. Don’t get me wrong however, without the local GP, I’d be riddled with Polyps (those nasty potentially cancer forming cells that grow in your stomach) and not be as informed as I would be without any health or medical guidance. However, they are not as in-depth, personalised or invested in my health as I would like.

Let’s face it, not all modern day meds work like magic pills for everyone. It turns out, a lot of this one-size-fits-all approach to pharmaceuticals is missing the mark. I recently came across some eye-opening research by Dr. Nathan Price, who’s big on the future of personalised medicine Dr. Nathan Price has emphasized the importance of shifting healthcare from a reactive, treatment-focused model to one that is more preventive, predictive, and personalized. In his research and talks, he has frequently critiqued the inefficacy of some of the top pharmaceuticals in the U.S., stating that a significant percentage of patients—sometimes up to 50%—do not respond effectively to commonly prescribed medications. This problem is often linked to the lack of personalization in standard treatments. The future isn’t about generic advice—it’s about personalised wellness, where treatments are tailored to you, not some generic patient​.

So, what’s the alternative right now until things change? For me, it’s about going back to basics—taking a commonsense approach to health and making informed decisions based on my body’s needs, not blanket recommendations. After all, no one understands my body better than I do. But first, let me take you back to the start of my health journey and how I ended up on the path of personalised wellness.

Where my health is now

So where does that leave me? Well, I’m on a journey of discovery, that’s for sure - trying to make sense of my health from a commonsense perspective. I don’t expect a magic bullet, but I do want to find solutions that make sense for me, specifically.

Let me take you back to my early days in the Army, where I spent eight formative years (ages 16 to 24). At that time, I was in incredible shape. There were forced marches, fitness tests, and a rigorous physical activity regime that kept me at my peak. Whether it was the Basic Fitness Test (BFT) or Combat Fitness Test (CFT), we were always pushing our physical limits. Sport was a regular part of the routine, and every Wednesday afternoon was dedicated to games. I left the Army in 1994 fitter than I’d ever been in my life.

Then came the club world. I danced—a lot—but I also drank—a lot. It was a strange paradox: I was still physically fit, but my sleep schedule was non-existent. I burned the candle at both ends and lived by the old saying, "I’ll sleep when I’m dead." Those were carefree years, filled with incredible memories, good people, and living exactly the way I wanted at the time.

Enter the world of IT. Suddenly, my days were spent sitting behind a desk for 8 to 10 hours at a stretch. My physical activity plummeted. I made a weak attempt to keep running around the local lake, but as soon as kids entered the picture, that became harder and harder to squeeze in. You know how it goes: life happens.

Fast forward to today, and I’m in a sales role, which might be the worst job possible for physical activity—right next to being a truck driver! The events, the presentations, the travel, the pub food, and the alcohol don’t help either. So, yeah, my health has taken a backseat for quite some time now.

The Ailments Start to Pile Up

At the fear of sounding like a whinging POM, I’m going to be completely transparent about all of my health concerns. Whilst some might just say that this is a natural part of the aging process, I’m a little stubborn and pig headed, not accepting this answer and digging deep to see which ailments I can impact. Also, these ailments are not there all the time but rather intermittent. It might also sound like I don’t believe in the current health model and to be honest, I don’t!

About 18 months ago, I hit a rough patch. If you’ve read my previous blog, you’ll know that I went through a severe bout of depression. And honestly, I think it did more than just mess with my mind. It affected my body in ways I’m still trying to understand. Depression has a way of creeping into every aspect of your life, and for me, it’s like my body has been breaking down ever since.

And now, for the reality check.

The Ailments Piling Up: A Not-So-Fun Reality Check

As much as I’ve thrown myself headfirst into the world of health and wellness, my body seems to have its own ideas—and trust me, they’re not good ones. Over the past 18 months, I’ve been battling a collection of symptoms that, quite frankly, make me feel like I’m falling apart. Here’s the highlight reel (or should I say, lowlight reel):

• Gut issues – Let’s start with the big one: I’ve been dealing with Barrett’s oesophagus and severe acid reflux. In plain English, my stomach is producing way too much acid, which burns my oesophagus and, if left unchecked, could lead to stomach cancer. I’ve had more colonoscopies than I care to count, and I’ve been prescribed Nexium—which, much to my horror, is now involved in a class action lawsuit because it might cause permanent kidney damage and is being investigated for potential links with Alzheimer’s. Fantastic, right? Nexium feels like a band-aid solution, and I’m convinced the real problem lies deeper, but my doctors seem to be stuck on “just take the pill.”
• Poo issues – Now, in the interests of oversharing (because, why not?). About an hour or two after my morning poo, I get this mysterious leakage that requires a second wipe. Yep, it’s as fun as it sounds. It’s not all the time, maybe once a month, but when it happens the sensitive skin in that area gets irritated, thank God for nappy rash cream as it’s become a part of my daily life. The docs have run all kinds of tests and sent me to specialists, but nobody has an answer.
• Tingling sensation – If I lower my neck to my chest, the backs of my legs and feet start tingling. It’s not a circulation issue—it feels more like a nerve problem. Oh, and there’s a numb patch on my lower thigh that seems to be along for the ride. After various scans and blood tests, the doctors are as clueless as I am.
• Weak legs – Here’s a head-scratcher: my legs have started to feel really weak, which is odd considering I’ve always been a runner. Back in the Royal Engineers, I could easily run the 400M and leave most of the pack behind. These days, I can still jog around the village, but it feels like my muscles are running on fumes. Where’s my strength gone?
• Swollen calves – My calves? They’ve decided to bulk up like they’re prepping for a bodybuilding contest. They’re not painfully swollen, but they’ve definitely increased in size, and my veins are now more visible than ever. And the doctor’s verdict? “That’s just old age.” ZOMG, seriously?
• Sleep struggles – Oh, sleep, how I miss you. It’s like I’ve developed some sort of restless leg syndrome, except it doesn’t quite match up with the symptoms I’ve researched. I get this weird internal energy that won’t let me calm down, even when my brain is begging for rest. I haven’t woken up feeling refreshed in years. These last 18 months have been especially rough—getting out of bed is a slog, and by 3 or 4pm, my brain checks out for the day.
• Ear issues – This one is particularly annoying because it’s messing with my ability to sing – much to my wife’s delights. About a year ago, my right ear started feeling blocked, like there’s water trapped in it. You know that dull, reverberating sound you get after swimming? It’s like that, except it never goes away. It gets worse when I’m active, like sweat’s building up in there. I even went to an ENT specialist, who stuck a camera up my nose only to say, “There’s nothing I can do.” Lovely.
• Walking through mud in thick fog – You might think my brain’s still fairly sharp (I’m blogging after all), but honestly, it feels like I’m wading through thick mud every day. My mind has been in a fog for about 18 months now. I wake up tired, and by mid-afternoon, I’m done. I have to force myself to get through my to-do list, and even though I’ve been grinding away at my new business, it’s tough. Gone are the days of working energetically until 2am—I’m lucky if I make it past dinner without feeling like I need a nap. If I’m being real, this fogginess is the driving force behind everything I’m doing with Predictive Health. I want my energy back. Even just a little bit would be a win.

So what now?

Is this all just old age, I wonder? Or is it tied to the depression I experienced? Everything seems to have stemmed from that time. Or, is there a deeper, single root cause behind all of this? My gut feeling (pun intended) is that my gut microbiome is out of whack. But rather than rely on doctors who seem to have run out of ideas, I’m taking matters into my own hands.

In my next blog I’ll talk about how I’m unpacking the data I’ve obtained and how I’m using AI to give me some informed advice. I’m getting quite good a prompt engineering!!! 😊