As I begin my story, I have currently in the middle of a hot flash. Pulling up my hair and madly fanning my neck. I have learned that applying coolness to the neck is the fasted way to cool down. RELIEF!!! Now I can begin my story…

My name is Amy and I am 33 years old. On October 14, 2008, my life changed before my eyes: I was told I was in early menopause. It all started a couple of weeks early. I was having hot flashes and dizzy spells- as well as some other "girlie" issues that you can probably guess. I was used to the hot flashes 2 years ago when I was on clomid. But they had stopped once I stopped the medication. So when they reappeared, I was a bit miffed. So I made an appointment for my annual "girlie" exam. When I told my doctor about my recent symptoms- he raised an eyebrow (literally- it was kind of freaky!). He said he wanted to run a blood test, not to worry it was only a slim chance. "Slim chance for what?" I asked. "Premature Ovarian Failure". Well sir. I’d never heard of such a thing. He said my results maybe in Friday, but possibly Monday.

So, I race home to my beloved Internet and do a search. My mouth dropped. The symptoms of this condition mirrored what I was going through. But my doctor said "SLIM CHANCE!- It might just be high blood pressure". On my hands and knees I begin to pray like crazy for high blood pressure. WHO prays for high blood pressure? A girl who is NOT ready for "the change!"
Friday came and went without a call. That means a whole weekend of wild wonder. Monday finally roles around and again no phone call. Okay- now I’m getting miffed again. WHY is this taking so long? Tuesday morning- I make the call. The doctor is in surgery and will call me this afternoon. Less than 2 minutes later- he is calling. Do doctors call from surgery if another patient is anxious enough?!?! Apparently not. He had just walked in and call me first thing.

"The news isn’t good. Your FHS is at 66.9. Your ovaries have completely shut down. You are in menopause." Silence… If I was in the right state of mind- I might have heard the crickets chirping. Without realizing what I was saying, I said "So my chances of having a kid?". My doctors was very sincere in saying that the window just closed. He mentions something about hormones and my pharmacy. A hot flash is coming on… We hang up. I sit at my desk for a moment then send out an email to my team about the conversation that just took place. My boss emailed if I was okay- I relied simply, with only one word: "NO". One of my coworkers was there in an instant and just held me as I whaled. Then my boss sent me home….

Telling my hubby. He knew something was up when the door opened. I walked in and fell into his arms. I apologized for not being able to give him kids. He apologized for not giving me kids sooner. We both said the other didn’t need to apologize. We then look at the dog (Maple) and say "Well, you’re the kid!"

I talked to my Dad for a while, as my Mom was out. I talked to Mom later and then took Maple to the dog park. I will never forget that afternoon as long as I live. It was a gorgeous afternoon and Maple was as happy as… well as happy as a dog free to run around with other dogs! I sat in a chair and took it all in. It was very surreal- almost poetic. Words cannot really describe my calmness that afternoon. I was to learned later that ALOT of people where praying for me during those moments… (Thanks to all!)

When I got home, my hubby was just getting home as well. We talked for a little bit, then Mom called. She and Dad wanted to take us out to dinner. We dined at the Cracker Barrel then had dessert at DQ. It was really nice. My parents couldn’t have children. Both my brother and I were adopted. They knew our agony… they knew our pain.

The hormones. Before dinner we ran by the pharmacy and got my HRT (hormone replacement therapy). It looks alot like bc pills in the little circular container. So I dialed up my day and dispensed my first pill. Last night I took my second pill. No marked changes in the first 36 hours.

These past few days have been heart wrenching. A friend emailed me and told me how "brave" I was to share my story so openly. I didn’t think of myself as brave. I felt rather like a beat up wimp. I’m normally very optimistic and happy- so a marked change in me is very noticeable. I told me story as it was unfolding so that people would know and I wouldn’t have to tell it 50 million times. So, here is my story in it’s entirety.

Any advice for me?

I was placed on hormone replacement because of early menopause from surgery removing the uterus along with my tubes. I am really concerned because of the risk of breast cancer. My doctor (gyn) does not seem concerned. Has anyone taken the HRT and discontinued after some lenght of time? I want to discontinue the pills. What are the effects of discontinuing the hormone replacement? Thank you.
I am now 53 years old and was put on the HRT because of the effects of early .menopause. I am concerned with having taken them for a long time.The hysterectomy was about 10 years ago. With an inactive thyroid, my hormones were just about none. Does the benefit outweigh the risk? Is there someone that has experienced the same situation? Thank you for the input.

I have been taking birth control pills for early menopause for about a year now. I was taking 30mcg but my doctor switched me to 50mcg because my symptoms are so severe. I have been taking the new ones for almost 2 weeks now and feel some of my old symptoms creeping back again but not as severe. Is this normal? Is there a period of adjustment when switching? When will the new higher dose pills kick in?

My Mom had it early and my 33 year old sister is going through early menopause.

Now I’m terrified that I will run out of time to have more babies.

Is there a test to find out if you carry the gene for early menopause?

I went through early menopause when I hit 40. I am through it now five years later. Every month however, I still have symptoms of a period. It feels like I am getting ready to have one, but I don’t. I have water retention, cramps, breast soreness. I was wondering if this is normal to some women?

I haven’t had menses for 5 months now. The 6 months before that were spotty at best. Had three preg tests-all neg. Had a pelvic and a hormorne test. All neg. Now I feel like crap, just like I was when I was pregnant. Finding it hard to function properly. Mom went thru this early and she said she was ok with it.

Have stress issues to deal with, but I just can’t seem to wake up during the day recently. Don’t sleep well, either. Hot flashes and weird dreams all night.

Made an appt with an obgyn, but that’s for a few days yet.. I know that early menopause can cause a variety of symptoms, but I just want to know your opinoin.

I am 35yrs old and went into early menopause 5yrs ago. I have been taking oral contraceptives for hormone replacement for 3years. My doctor had me on a very high dose for two years of these years. Less than three months ago I lowered my dose. I was wondering how long does it take for my body to adjust to this change or has it already?

hi im 24 and gone through early menopause but sometimes im laid in bed and can feel kicking in my stomach is this a symptom for menopause? i took pregnancy last month coz i was hoping i could be pregnant but came back negative. please help
i have gone through it ive been to hospital and its been confirmed
please i av gone through it, ive been to gyno and they have done bloode tests and all is confirmed and ive been told im no longer ovulating, i have not had a period since january 2009
if is was not possible why would they tell me this, its called early menapause, my fh levels are 97 and there ment to be 8

At 17 I had 1 of my ovaries removed. After a little imbalance everything was ok. I became pregnant at 19, had my son before my 20th birthday. I had 1 period while I was pregnant… about 2 weeks along…. then some spotting at 6 weeks. After that nothing. But I had a + home test before the 6 week marker…

After that my periods became regular again… usually they were late by about 2 days. I had the mirena put in after my son was born, but later had it removed during a surgery. It has been about 4 months since my surgery, and all periods have been normal.

My hubby and I had unprotected sex before my last period, BUT my period ended up coming 1 week early. It was different. So I assumed I could be pregnant. Then I developed these white bumps on my areolas. One of them is REALLY sore. The others not really. I took a home test… (-).

Someone told me it could be a hormonal imbalance… is this true? Could I be in early menopause at age 20??
I’ve also been tired, nauseated, irritable……

For the past two years I have been having problems with my period. After the first round of blood work Doctors told me I was in early Menopause at age 39, I was on progesterone for about 1 1/2 year and then I started to have period again. I have been extremely tired over the past 2 years. Now my Doctor said I’m not in menopause and has stopped the progesterone, however my periods have stopped again. I’m not very hungry, but I don’t seem to be losing weight. In fact my stomach seems to be painfully bloated toward the top. I read some of the symptoms, I did have night sweats, but I thought that was menopause. My lower stomach was very itchy, and from time to time I will have a few itchy spots. Just wondering if anyone with lymphoma had similar problems?

I have been having hot flushes for about 3-4 weeks, irregularly through the day and night, can’t seem to sleep, extremely moody, and my period is about 2 weeks late. I’ve done 2 digital hpt’s and they were negative. But then a couple of minutes before after a flush I can be freezing! I’ve also been feeling nauseous and light headed for a few weeks too. I done an online early menopause checklist and I have 12 of the 14 symptoms but I’m only 30.
Could it be menopause or something else? Please help!