Menopause after a hysterectomy at age 33?

[steph6176]

Last year I had a hysterectomy removing the cervix and the uterus, kept the ovaries.  I has endometriosis and constant pain, after and Endometrial Ablation I thought things would get better and 3 months later things were worse than they ever were.  The final step was they hysterectomy.  Three months after the surgery I still felt horrible, now 14 months later things are not better.  I have night sweats, horrible mood swings, cry over nothing, hardly ever sleep and don't have much of an appetite, and diminished libido.  

I spoke with my doctor and she says that it is just from depression and anxiety, she put me on Lexapro and told me that if it doesn't get any better that I should see a psychiatrist.  My question is could it be menopause?  I hate feeling this way and after 3 weeks of the Lexapro I still feel the same.

[PerimenoWorried]

Anything is possible!  Hormonal fluctuations and even severe PMS can cause these types of mood swings.  The fact that you have no uterus to detect hormonal fluctuations through menstrual irregularities makes it harder to tell what's what or what is causing what...ie:  you can't tell if you'd be PMSing.  

Has your doc done a blood test for FSH and LH levels as well as estrogen, progesterone etc.?  Any members of your family go through early menopause?  Your hormones may simply be out of whack or you could have a case of PMD (severe PMS).  Have you had your thyroid levels checked??!!!  That's an important thing to have checked!!  Thyroid problems are often undiagnosed but can cause VERY similar symptoms to menopausal hormone shifts!!!  It can cause the depression and anxiety as well!  Ask your doc to do a simple blood test for all of these things first.  If they all come back within normal levels for your age and stage of life, then perhaps, giving the Lexapro a try is worth it.  

If your doc isn't willing to at least check these things out and hasn't already done so and pushes the Lexapro, then seek out another doc who will listen to your symptoms and test these things out.  Hormonal swings and ESPECIALLY thyroid problems CAN cause these types of symptoms!!!  

Please update me!  I'd love to know what your doc has to say about these possibilities!  

[sammyharris]

hi there, i too have had the same problems as you. i had a hysterectomy last year age 31 due to a prolaped bladder and uterus.
i was told that i would feel amazing after surgery, wrong!! i have felt even worse than before and since july 2008 have felt pretty rubbish. firstly i thought i had endo as the pains i had were so bad at times, these seems less nowaday, so i put it all down to my body adjusting to the surgery and the post operative bleed i had, so was back in for another op to close my wound again!
i recently have felt like i was losing the plot, very forgetful, tired, hair falling out, put on weight blah blah blah, so went to my docs and we discussed poss menopause, since the chat she looked into my notes further and decided to do some blood tests to check my thyroid as she seems sure that as my ovaries were left, that i should be fine! so i go for blood tests next tues, and hope they come back with something as the night/day sweats etc.. are getting beyond a joke now and i wish i never had the surgery! hope you have managed to find out what was wrong and that you are feeling better already!!! just so awful not knowing whats wrong!!

[quietgal]

If you haven't already read this book, I would highly recommend it:  "What Your Dr. May Not Tell you About Premenopause" by Dr. John R. Lee.  He also wrote a book "What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Menopause" which is worth a read as well.  It sounds to me like your symptoms could very well be hormone related.  Good luck!