I think (hope) doctors today have the mindset of sparing what organs they can. I've read/heard arguments on both sides of the story. Here's some info from the wall street journal health journal: Cutting Less More doctors are challenging the convention of removing the cervix during a hysterectomy. Here's why: * Pap smears have sharply reduced the incidence of cervical cancer. * Sparing the cervix reduces the risk of bladder damage. * Some doctors say it may improve sexual function. Some 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the U.S. every year, making it the second-most common women's surgery after Caesarean section. It is done to remove cancers of the uterus or cervix, or more commonly to treat a painful condition called endometriosis or because of noncancerous uterine growths called fibroids. Prior to 1940, nearly all hysterectomies preserved the cervix because it was easier and safer given the lack of antibiotics and blood banks. But by the 1960s, removing the cervix, viewed as a cancer preventative at a time when Pap smears were still fairly new, became standard. Now the tide appears to be turning. In 2006, 9.7% of U.S. inpatient hysterectomies, which account for more than 90% of the procedures, preserved the cervix, compared with just 1.7% a decade earlier, according to federal data. ------- Just sharing that info, not saying they are right. It's something anyone considering a hysterectomy should think about. I'm just thankful that we have alternatives to an actual hysterectomy these days. tina

I personally think we'd all be better if none of us ever started HRT. I started it when I was 48, to keep from re-bleeding after a D&C. I had an absolutely horrible time going through perimenopause. I thought I would die. It wasn't little stuff either.........overwhelming fatigue, panic, muscle aches and pain, headaches, phobias, diarrhea, sleep problems, etc. No fun at all. But.....in retrospect, I realized that, for me, I essentially became dependent on the HRT. It held me hostage, and I couldn't get off of it. All my horrible symptoms would come back.......the worst of which were horrible migraine headaches. To make a long story short, after several years of pure hell, I finally got off HRT, by weaning off of it very slowly. If I had it to do over again, I would NEVER have started it. It gave me problems that only the HRT could keep me from having. People on HRT don't seem to realize that they will always HAVE to go through menopause eventually ......whether it's now......or later, unless they stay on the HRT forever. I know our grandmothers and greatgrandmothers didn't have any help......but I do feel that life is quite different now, and may present a few more challenges for us. For example, all the additives and preservatives in food, the less active life many of us have, environmental toxins, etc.........plus, we live longer now. But I agree........there's too many drugs out there, just waiting for us to buy into them, and then we have to deal with side-effects and coming off of them. Some women can take HRT and feel great on it, and stop it without any problems. But for people like me, it was absolutely hell for me to ever get off. I hope women appreciate how awful it can be to get off of it before they start up on it.

It sound as if you are in Peri-menopause. The symptoms can actually start happening 15 years prior to the actual on-set of menopause. My periods are now very very light and also come irregularly, one of the signs of Peri-menopause. If your pap came back normal I would not be too worried since it doesn't seem as if you are having any pain associated with the irregular periods other than maybe cramps if you get them.

Hi melonwhelz, Sorry I didn't respond sooner, had a rough week taking my dog who has an incurable disease to all these different vets. He will be okay and I will just pray for the best as he is my bestest friend. Anyway, the day after I posted, I started to spot, thought I was going to get my period, but nope! It never happened. I have to make an app't to see my gyno. Yes, my body is very confused and sending mixed messages to my brain which I hate! At least when I had Lyme I knew all my symptoms including the mood swings and depression, but this is a whole new ballgame! I am feeling a different type of depression, almost like I am bored but too tired to do anything about it. I did receive the book "Awakening at Midlife" yesterday so I am going to start reading that. How is your sister? I help many people who have Lyme Disease because it is horrible and so misunderstood, especially by doctors because they don't know how to treat it. What helped me recover was following a book written by a brilliant doctor named Dr. David Jernigan (Beating Lyme Disease Using Alternative Medicine". I know so many people that are cured now because of Dr. Jernigan. Maybe your sister should buy the book? Anyway, I feel so drained, is that normal? I need to vacuum and do some laundry but I'm not doing it, LOL! I am laughing at your drumroll:::: THE CHANGE! Oh why oh why don't men get this? Yeah, I'm bad. Denise