Due to an unfortunate encounter with stage 4 endometriosis, I underwent a complete hysterctomy at 33. From there my health in general went completely off the grid, ranging from congestive heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, to osteoporosis. As a kid I had the best dental care at UNC-Chapel Hill's dental clinic from age 6-14. From there I had the standard braces for 2 years, but an unfortunate car accident where I sailed through the windshield due to a faulty seat belt lead to maxiofacial surgery on both upper and lower jaws. After the hysterctomy, within 6 months my teeth began to crumble en masse and within 2 years, I had lost 3.5 inches in height even with hormone replacement therapy, vitamin therapy, diet modifications, numerous root canals, and bi-monthly dental check-ups. I began developing extremely painful absesses that required antibiotics. And still my teeth continued to disentegrate. When I asked my family dr if there was any correlation with menopause and teeth loss, he broke out into laughter..."of course there is no correlation; that's patently absurd!" I felt like an idiot and all the more hopeless. However, my dentist said that the destruction of my teeth was due to nerve/root death. And due to the quirky turns of life, I had neither the funds nor the time to pursue dentures. At the lowest point, I had lost 28 teeth. I felt like a freak show. I stopped smiling, laughing in public because of the way my predicament was received. I was treated like a bafoon, and I lost my teaching job of 13 years, yet I have a Master's in English Literature. Research needs to be pursued with respect to menopause and dental problems. To others in a similar place in their lives, don't take "No" for a thorough or representative answer, and most of all, know that you are not alone, and most certainly not an anomalie of science.

I went to see the doctor yesterday and besides the usual exam, she is sending me for blood tests, urine cultures, an internal ultrasound and I have another appointment set up for her to take a biopsy of the lining of the uterus. She said this is just to make sure there is nothing else going on. When I described all my nuttiness to her, she just said "That sounds about right". She didn't push for hormone therapy and made it sound like it's my choice completely. She also said that this wouldn't necessarily give me weight gain.

If I remember correctly (that's a problem in itself!), the test for estrogen level was pretty definitive - I was below the level that I was supposed to be, and I think the doc tested me again in about 6 months without an improvement. By then, I knew without them telling me that the remaining ovary wasn't working and that I was going in to menopause. My mother also did not provide any info. She, in fact, said it wasn't that bad. For me, it's been 10 years of hell. I started with hot flashes about every 1/2 hour, and now I'm about every 1.5-2 hours. That's a lot (or not much) of disturbed sleep. I do remember something that my doc told me, but I haven't really researched it - women who have less body fat have more severe menopausal symptoms because they don't have any or have less stored estrogen. Not that that will make you feel any better! Still, my exercise kind of keeps me sane and out of the "poor me" mindframe. Hopefully, this isn't really menopause for you. I have seen some comments about hot flashes from women going off the pill - maybe doc can answer whether that's common.

Hi Cynthia2s, I am new here also! I would like to say that I too had a hysterectomy at 31 and my ovaries were also not removed. Although my Dr. insisted that this would in no way affect my age of menopause, I had started experiencing several symptoms, especially hot flashes! I was 43 and at my physical (last November) I mentioned my concerns. He then tested my FSH level and was VERY surprised that I was indeed menopausal. Although my own mother was in her mid-forties when she experienced menopause and earlier menopause can be hereditary, I HAVE read that hysterectomy can damage the blood supply to the ovaries, thereby causing early menopause. My doctor does not believe this theory, but I am wondering now if I had not been suffering for several years. It was very frustrating because I starting having lots of difficulty concentrating at work, became very "scatter-brained", and very, very moody! I am now taking Premarin, but am considering alternative methods for coping with the symptoms. (I went of the Premarin for a short while recently because I was having some surgery; the hot flashes returned WITH A VENGENCE!!!) I would definitely voice your concerns with your doctor. I wish I would have sooner. I just thought I was losing my mind! Good luck! Lisa12