I had a similar result at a similar age. I still had more and more sporadic periods for several more years and peri symptoms during that time, progressing to full menopause. I started very low dose estrogen at 49 which helped a lot with the worst symptoms, brain fog etc. Hot flashes continued but have mostly ended now (53.) Not sure about long term effects of entering menopause early. If we even were early?
When I was five or six, I think I must have dreamed that my dad could turn his head around 360 degrees. A few days later I was in the car with my Dad and asked him if he could really turn his head around. He responded “not now, I’m driving.” I took that as a yes. It was years before I realized the truth…