For my first time, I'll go short here and see how this works. I'm on my afternoon break at work. I'm 53 had my hyst at 52. I had a long history of hideous periods, pain heavy bleeding and long long periods. This did not lessen as I grew older. In my 30's I had a larparoscopy (sp) to determine why I couldn't get pregnant and at that ime found out I had adenomyosis, but somewhere along the line I kind of forgot that til after my hyst. My one doctor pretty much expected that eventually I would need a hyst, but then due to insurance it took me a number of doctors and a few tears to again reach that decision. It was necessary and I am glad it is behind me.

I have a DH, DS, two small dogs (one miniature dachshund red smooth, one miniature long-haired dachshund/sheltie mix she was a rescue). My son is over 3 hours away at college in his third year, my husband is on a disability retirement from the car company due to MS.

I am dealing with a lot of pain due to a herniated cervical disc. I expect sometime this year I will relent to having the surgery. I knew I had to do the hyst first, as I could not imagine having periods like I was having them and going to the hospital for back surgery. But, it's getting harder and harder to handle the discomfort. I hurt my back October of 2004, no idea how, just woke up with it one day and been fighting the pain ever since.

I have 29 years at the phone company and would like to retire soon. My husband and I have a tiny place in the thumb of Michigan a few blocks from Lake Huron. In my dreams we would retire to that area. In reality we might need to stay here as we get older to stay closer to doctors.

I have recently discovered BEST on hystersisters. I hope to benefit from the friendships I have found there to keep myself on the straight and narrow. I have high blood pressue issues (not weight related), thyroid disorder, asthma, and the back problem. All of which benefit from my keeping in shape. I am very strong for my age because I am naturally of a muscular build. But I know age causes our muscles to deteroiate so I'm trying to fight nature. I'm not the type to join a gym, just like my walking and bike riding.

I've bored even myself here, so if anyone else ever labors through this journal, I'm impressed with your tenacity. I will try to remember to post from time to time to get things off my mind. It's like,,,type it and forget it.