Question: Last year at age 40, I started having severe stabbing pains during my menstrual cycle as well as heavy bleeding for about five months. Sometimes I even suspected that the pain was intestinal cramps and not menstrual cramps. Sometimes I would be able to use the bathroom and the cramps would go away. But the cramps were severe stabbing pains. I could not breathe and often times be doubled over. They would only last for a few seconds; they were not constant. I had an ultrasound in October 2012 and the doctor said that I had a thick uterine lining - 12. I scheduled a D&C for a couple weeks later. However, I never had the D&C. While at the doctor's office for the procedure, I had a panic attack (first one ever). In addition, another patient had an emergency so the doctor had to leave to go to the hospital with the other patient. I left and never went back for the procedure. Also, during this time I was under a tremendous about of stress at work and at home. One of my sons was diagnosed with HSP, my uncle died at age 54, and my husband had to have emergency surgery (all within 6 months) plus I was working lots of hours at work. I started having severe anxiety and then depression. My menstrual cycle continued to fluctuate for the next year. Sometimes I would have one, sometimes I would not. Sometimes I would have spotting in the middle of my cycle and then nothing when I was supposed to. I basically had a nervous breakdown in XXXXXXX 2013. I was taken out of work and even hospitalized for 13 days. I am doing much better mentally now. I am taking medication and seeing my psychiatrist and therapist regularly. In addition, I also have psoriasis (had since I was a child). My psoriasis flared up the worst it ever has in August of this year. I have also started having joint pain in my knees and feet. My dermatologist thinks that the psoriasis has intensified to psoriatic arthriitis. I went back to my OB/GYN in September for my annual check up. She wanted to do another ultrasound and compare to last year. I had that ultrasound on 10/15/2013. The uterine lining is now normal but she indicated that there was fluid in my uterus. I cannot help but think that everything is related. Up until this time in my life, I have been pretty healthly. I have two children by c-section and then had gallstones three months after my second son was born and had that removed. Otherwise, I have never had any issues. I feel like I am falling apart. I think that I am in the early stages of perimenopause and all the hormone flunctations are causing a lot of the other problems. My doctor says that I am too young for perimenopause. But my mother started around 45 and one of her grandmothers had early menopause. Am I going crazy or can all of this be related and treated? My questions to you are: 1) Why was I fine for 4 years after my surgeries? I no longer have the stabbing pains but I am experiencing the menstrual cycle issues as well as anxiety and depression. I just told you that so you would have to whole picture. 2) What is the fluid in the uterus and what that could be. 3) could all of this be related? I know hormone changes can affect various aspects of your body. 4) Can I be going through early menopause and that is causing the anxiety, depression, aggravated psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis? 5) Is fluid in the uterus part of menopause?