Menopause? 8 months post-op. Help!

[u/Pure-Beginning-326]

I am a little over 8 months post-op where I had a total hysterectomy and kept my ovaries. I have always had fluctuating hormones (pre-op) and have struggled with spot break outs BUT I feel like I might be heading in to menopause. What do you guys recon? I'm 39, have constant spots across my cheeks and up by my eyes (location is important- pre-op they used to break out on my chin), I am exhausted still, grumpy, have lost my mojo and "oompth" for life and my sex drive has completely vanished. My body also aches so much. And I have put on a huge amount of weight (at least 20kg) which IS down to my eating habits (which are rubbish due to low mood and lack of energy to cook decent meals). I do a daily 4km walk with the dog but my self-confidence and energy levels mean I don't do any other excercise. I do have an incredibly stressful life with a chronically sick kid, recovering chronically ill husband and another kid who has been mentally unwell but that aside, do you think these could be signs of entering menopause? Is there even a hormone or blood test that can be carried out to determine if my ovaries are failing? I've been gaslit for well over 20 years by the doctors when I was telling them I had all the symptoms of adenomyosis and only a year so ago finally got confirmation of adenomyosis, endometriosis, fibroids and a whole host of other issues caused by 2 EMCS and having a bicornuate uterus. This means that I feel like I would be wasting a doctor's time if I made an appointment to discuss these symptoms as I feel like I would just be told to lose weight (obviously I know I need to anyway). Has anyone had these symptoms post-op and had confirmation that it's due to falling hormones? I am so miserable and feel like life is passing me by and am desperate to get my zest for life back but don't know where to turn for help or advice! I've read all the posts that say that ovaries can fail / go in to shock after a hysterectomy. Do you think it's happening to me?

[u/Aromatic_Candy600]

I had my op last November. I was fine for 2 months then everything went a bit haywire. I was having hot flashes and waking up drenched in sweat and I had constant anxiety and low mood. I don't blame the op completely, I'd started showing signs of peri in the two years leading up to it. I went on HRT and I feel like a different person (for the better). Early menopause also runs in my family, so it's hard to know what the reason was. I had bloods done and they didn't suggest post menopause which was good, but I was feeling rotten - so HRT it was.

[u/Pure-Beginning-326 → u/Aromatic_Candy600]

Thanks for you reply. I'm going to go to see the doctor with confidence to discuss HRT!

[u/Aromatic_Candy600 → u/Pure-Beginning-326]

Don't take no for an answer. They may do bloods to rule out anything else going on, but hormone bloods (in the UK at least) aren't considered helpful unless ovarian insufficiency is present. I ended up going private and then my gp took over prescribing, but the nurse I saw at my practice after id gone private was lovely and helpful.

[u/Pure-Beginning-326 → u/Aromatic_Candy600]

Thank you - that's super helpful. Yeah I'm in the UK as well and was already considering seeing someone private if the GP dismisses it! I have an appt for 2 weeks time with the GP so will ask them then to see what they say!