So how will you know if you are menopausal? Well, there are lots of different symptoms that could initially be misinterpreted as something else entirely, and we have the entire list of possible symptoms for you here:
- Hot flushes (flashes)
- Increase or decrease in headaches
- Palpitations or irregular heart beat
- Dry vagina, which can cause pain when you have sex
- Difficulty concentrating
- Itchy skin – could feel like crawling
- Breast tenderness
- Muscle tension
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Feeling light headed or dizziness
- Tingling in the arms and legs
- Burning sensation in the mouth
- Changes in skin texture and tone
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Increased facial hair growth
- Your breasts may shrink slightly
- Night Sweats
- Insomnia, difficulty sleeping
- Mood swings
- Tiredness (over and above the normal post surgical tiredness)
- Memory lapses
- Urinary incontinence
- Aching muscles, joints and tendons
- Gastrointestinal upsets, such as diahorrhea, wind, bloating,
- flatulence
- Increase in allergies
- Thinning hair
- Change in body odour
- Increase in bleeding gums
- Changes in fingernails
- Loss of interest in sex
- Feelings of unspecific fear and dread
- Severe anxiety/panic attacks
- Vaginal walls become thinner and more susceptible to infection
As you can see there are a lot of possible symptoms, and it is highly unlikely that you will experience all of them, at least not on one day:-). Those that you do have may change as time goes on, some may disappear and others may become worse.
Having spent the best part of five years on my knees unable to walk i had a hysterectomy, I lost seven stone and felt even better. However i then suffered two month ago a rectile proplapse and have been unable to do much for two months i am now back at work ,but was told this was due to the hysterectomy. Also further to add they are not sure if i will need a further operation for a virginal prolapse. However i do feel great for the hysterectomy as nothing ache’s HIPS ,LEGS, BACK AND TUMMY !!!!
Prolapse is a potential side effect of hysterectomy and is one reason why women would be advised to do pelvic floor exercises after their op. But I’m really glad to hear that you are still feeling great despite this latest set back.
Hi, I’m ten weeks post-op, having had a sub-total, and ovaries removed. All in all I feel ok, but the two things that are really bothering me are the intense fatigue, i literally find it hard sometimes to put one foot in front of the other, and also my joints ache, i.e., fingers, shoulders, pelvis, and even my ankle (that was fractured 18 months ago, but just lately is as sore as hell). My consultant thinks I need low dose of HRT, but I’m wondering if this is menopause or post-op symptons. Anyone have any ideas? thanks
Hi Deb. It could be both together – the tiredness is almost certainly recovery from surgery and it is a known side effect that hysterectomy that can exacerbate conditions such as Arthritis. On the other hand both are also menopausal symptoms too.
Hi, i’m 38 and after I’ve been dignoised with cancer i had hysterectopy.
My recovery from surgery was very quick, but now my life is a complete mess.
Menopouse is having the best of me.
My night are long and no much sleep, my hands hurt very much, memory laps and most of all i lost interesting in sex. Doctors told me i can not have HRT because they don’t want to trigger cancer back. i’m only 38 i cannot go on like this. Believe me these are only part of the symptons. Hysterectomy save my life but know my life is a mysery.
Ps: thank you for what u are doing, it’s nice to find your e-mail in my post every night, it makes me feel less lonely
I’m really sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time with the menopause. There are things you can do though that don’t involve HRT – mainly around diet and life style changes. Why not have a look at Marilyn Glenvilles book – or our others – for a really excellent resource that details everything you can do and all you need to know. http://shop.hysterectomy-association.org.uk/products/New-Natural-Alternatives-to-HRT.html
i had total hysterectomy 18 days ago, in gettin night sweats, body achin but healing reasonably well, gettin light headed alot rang doc said it could be painkillers so stopped them completely still getting dizzy. think this could be part of menopause anyone else have this im 43yrs not that old ha.
The night sweats could almost certainly be menopausal and so could the dizziness and light-headedness.
Hi, I am 45 and had a Laproscopic Subtotal Hysterectomy and BSO on January 18th this year, aside from a brief discussion with a junior doctor about HRT which was not very informative I had no expectation of what was to come!!! My symptoms started within 24 hours of my operation and I was advised by a friend of mine who is a nurse to get on the HRT straight away so I started it less than a week after my operation and although some of the symptoms are now milder I have just been told I have menopausal IBS which is quite debilitating – I have found it diffcult to get much information about it and would be really grateful for any advice on managing it – I know that I can take medication but I really want to avoid managing my symptoms (as I seem to have quite a few of those on the above list despite the HRT) with drugs and look for alternative therapies if I can – any thoughts? I do have a HRT review with my GP this week but she did a blood test a few weeks ago and said my levels were as she expected but surely if these symptoms persist the level can’t be right!
Hi Frances. I can highly recommend Marilyn Glenville’s book, the new natural alternatives to hrt – it really is the best thing to read as it covers everything in great depth. You’ll be able to find the unique combination that will provide you with the support you need. Linda
Hi, I am 45 and waitting to go in for a Total Hysteretcomy should here in the next 8 weeks,i am a smoker, i have cut down a little but will i have to stop altogether, i have tryed but it is so hard, i am worried about how i will feel after the op
Smoking puts you at risk of many things, including thrombosis and as abdominal surgery also increases the risk of thrombosis, you are at least doubling your risk and exposing yourself to major problems.
Hi,
I’m 51 and started losing weight when I returned from Antigua holiday last year August. I’ve been through the mill wrongly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I was already in my menopause (last period around 47) when I had to have a hysterectomy subtotal with ovaries but leaving cervix. I felt worse after hysterectomy and have had quite a difficult time since as all symptoms seemed to intensify. I wonder if this does happen? So many aches and pains my hands really hurt. Very little help from my doctor and been very depressed and very low mood. Been off work for a year and being forced back to work by doctors even though still chronically unwell. Hysterectomy was in June and this week noticed paid around cut area. Went to doctor she said could be hernia which is unusual but possible she said. Told to monitor for 1/2 weeks and come back if still there and they will send for scan. Very upset with menopause its hell and im at wits end with everything. HELP someone please!
Hi Helena, it certainly sounds as if you are going through the mill at the moment. Have your doctors tried you with any form of supplement to try to help and ease the symptoms?
My hands hurt – and I am not menopausal as yet… I now take something called Litozin – it is a rosehip supplement – and it really really helps me – I know it works as when I ran out recently the pains come back and it feels like I want to HIT my hand to stop it aching…can’t help with anything else.. but I am sure Litozin will help…
I am 51 had ovary cyst doctors did blood work the ca-125 was elevated then ov test elevated my gyn sent me to a oncology dr he said i need a full hysterectomy he also took out my cervix, he did the davinnci robotice procedures, and he sent my cyst to lab to see if it was cancer thank god it came out benign, so would need to be on hormones?