Denise Drysdale has never been one for making a fuss on her birthday. But after living pain-free for the past 12-months, she had every reason to celebrate when she turned 75 on December 5.
"It's been a terrific year," Denise says. "I've worked non-stop with some of my best mates Normie [Rowe], Craig [Bennett], Jess [Rowe] on Studio 10 and lots of my own stuff." More than anything, it's Denise's health that's been a blessing.
"I finally feel on top of how I felt," she tells New Idea exclusively. "I don't think I realised how sick I was until I got better."
Regaining her mobility has been a joy for Denise, after spending much of 2021 and 2022 in excruciating pain following a trigeminal neuralgia (TN) diagnosis.
Inviting us into her Gold Coast home for a catch-up and celebratory photo shoot, Denise, one of our popular columnists, explains, "It was one of those things that cripple you. It changed how I walked, even simple things like how I got things out of a drawer.
"It felt like electric shocks. The pain was caused by the artery touching the nerve. Some mornings I'd just sit and inch my way out of bed because I knew as soon as I stood up it was going to start."
The TN diagnosis was the last in a slew of health problems, including a fractured shoulder that left Denise feeling rundown and exhausted.
"There was a period there where I thought, 'Geez, what else can He have in store for me? I mean, I say 'He' ... God might be a woman ... but if She is, She hasn't got a sense of humour," Denise says with a laugh.
Girls' day out
Denne historien er fra December 25, 2023-utgaven av New Idea.
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Denne historien er fra December 25, 2023-utgaven av New Idea.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CLOWNING AROUND!
THE GAGLIARDIES PUT THE FUN IN FAMILY
FIGHTS FOR HER JOB!
HER NEW ROLE RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS
'WE'RE ONE AND DONE'
THE WILDLIFE WARRIOR SHARES SOME FAMILY NEWS
CURSE OF DREAMWORLD strikes AGAIN
THE GOLD COAST PARK IS FACING ANOTHER SCANDAL
Seeing RED
SIX RELATIONSHIP RED FLAGS TO BE WARY OF, ACCORDING TO LAWYER CAROLYN DEVRIES
'MUM SAVED THE DAY!'
THEY PAIR ARE SET TO HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
WE THOUGHT WE'D LOSE HIM'
A SIMPLE VIRUS SAW LITTLE RYAN LOSE BOTH HIS LEGS
Getting so ber made me a better man'
Settling in for a candid chat on the porch of his family’s sprawling 100-year-old farmhouse, James Blundell breaks into a warm smile.
Prince Christian's ON ROYAL DUTY!
Denmark’s Crown Prince Christian has enjoyed his first solo royal engagement abroad at the Paris 2024 Paralympics!
3 great ways with DOUGHNUTS
CREATIVE TAKES ON THIS ICONIC SWEET TREAT