Okay, I REALLLLLLLLLY hope that I don't scare you by saying all this.

Having said that, my mom got her's removed about 3 years ago. Since then she has chronic diareha. She can't even eat out in public because she's too embarassed about being in the bathroom more than at the table.

She's never been in good health and to be honest I think she's just wearing out and at the point where she's creaking and cracking all over. I'm glad to hear that my mother is the abnormality and wish you the best of luck