I had a total hysterectomy at the age of 36 due to an ovarian cycst the size of a grapefruit. (It had become that large in a matter of 3 weeks). They had prepared us for it being cancerous but luckily it was not. When they opened me up, I also had endometrosis everywhere. They literally had to scrape all my internal organs and even removed my appendix. I had already had uteral surgery to help me get pregnant and a C-section with the smiley shaped incision but they had to do a huge incision that goes from above my belly button all the way down to you know what! It kinda looks like an anchor with both incisions. Let me say this was way back in 1986 so alot has changed since then. I took estrogen and progestone for a few years then dropped it to just estrogen. I stoppped that about 10 years ago now and my biggest complaint is that everything on me is dry. I have tried the creams and stuff but nothing seems to work. Hot flashes come and go but overall that isn't my main issue. I still have paps done every three years - its actually more of the lining of course but you should still be checked for endometrial cancer. The estrogen threat is not just for the ovarian cancer but also breast. It was actually my husband who suggested I talk with my doctor about stopping the estrogen as it was being discussed among the doctors at the cancer center where he works in Radiation Therapy. As I said that was 10 years ago or more. So much depends on your age - I was so young at the time, the hormones were basically a necessity but now I am glad I have stopped them.

Starting a few years ago I've had several bouts of BPPV, and as others have said, it's the WORST. I am blessed to be very healthy, and being so dizzy that I cannot function is totally out of my normal experience. I was told to try Brandt Daroff exercises at home before doing any physical therapy. Happy to say that these have worked really well for me, and since you do them at home you can start immediately plus you're already close to bed and a resting spot if (when) you get the spins and nausea as you start the exercises. I do them on my couch which works well. My GP recommended a repetition of 15-20 cycles each session and 2 sessions daily. Since I started doing the Brandt Daroff my episodes have been controllable within a day or so. This compares to my being unable to even go to work for several days at a time with the nausea and dizziness. Yuck, just talking about it gives me the willies. For those who haven't had vertigo, thank your lucky stars. For those who have had vertigo due to BPPV aka ear crystals, give Brandt Daroff a try, it might do the trick for you too. Have linked to a video below that demonstrates. Feel better soon! Here is a link that might be useful: Brandt Daroff Exercise Demo

I had 2 periods long after I stopped having any cycles. Mine were not 2 consecutive though, as the first was about 15 months after my last period and the other was 3 months after that one. I did go check it out with my doctor, but I secretly wasn't too worried, as I was certain they were 'periods' as opposed to bleeding from some unknown cause. In both cases, about 2 weeks before the bleeding began, I got the same tell tale cervical mucus and the facial breakout that I always got when I was ovulating. So I wasn't shocked when those periods came. My doctor just felt those 'rogue' periods resulted from my ovaries deciding to do an encore presentation with 2 straggler eggs that had lingered behind. She did a Pap and said everything looked good, so I was just told to come back if I got any spotting, or if I got any more periods after another 6 months. Neither happened, and it's been 3 years, so I'm definitely done. By the way, my cycles ended at age 57, and the 2 extra periods happened at just before I turned 58! So if you're in your late 40's or early 50's, it probably happens more frequently.

Colonoscopies are not just for cancer screening as is believed by many but they can also find things like diverticulitis which is out pocketing of the large intestine. The out pockets can become infected leading to all kinds of health problems including sepsis. What is commonly called a mega-colon where part of the colon enlarges. Material can be caught in that area and may eventually build up enough to block the colon. There is also something called a leaky bowl that one of the women that was in my husband's water group had. The colonoscopy was done on a hunch to see if she had colon cancer when nothing else was found when she lost in my estimate over 100 pounds in a couple of months. I have to admit when I found out that the suggested upper age with no previous problems was 75 when the doctor said it would be the last one I decided unless I have problems not to have it again.