Does my husband have ME, Fibromyalgia or what?

[littlefawn]

For the past year my husband has had a 'bad back' but it seems more than that, he has
Sore back (top and bottom)
Tiredness
Developed eczema type rash on his hands
Dizziness - struggles on flights/lifts and generally out and about complains of being light headed

He has been told that the back pain is muscular

I know that fibromyalgia can be brought on by a traumatic event, he was diagnosed with PTSD but that was a few years ago and our son was born a year ago and he did struggle to adapt at the beginning but is fine now.

His DM had ME when younger but is totally fine now so possibly genetic?

I'm at a loss and he seems to be in pain all the time, he's only in his early 30s

[PlanDeRaccordement]

Lupus?
The rashes are usually on face, but can be on hands. Basically any skin that gets sun exposure.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Lupus/

[TheVanguardSix]

I have Lupus actually and it doesn't really sound like typical SLE. Though my dad, also a Lupus sufferer in life, had vitiligo and chronic itchy rashes on his hands and arms, very itchy in fact, due to kidney failure. The rash, is it itchy? This combined with the back pain would make me think he needs to get his kidneys looked at. That would be my main worry. Ask the GP to check his kidney function (and do a full blood count). Mention Lupus and ask for an ANA test.

[littlefawn]

Thanks he has been to the doctors but they've said it's muscular back pain. He did mention getting bloods done but I'm not sure what they checked for so will ask him

[TheTigerQueen]

Could it be depression at all? I recently was prescribed antidepressants after going to my GP thinking it was Fibromyalgia, the back pains improved almost straight away after starting the medications.

[BilboBercow]

The bloods will be to tes for inflammation. It might be either op but gets diagnosis will be a long road. It took me a year to get my fibro diagnosis and that was with a reasonably early referral and a decent rheumatologist.

Does he have pain anywhere else? Normally fibromyalgia causes widespread pain. Mine started in my legs and feet then spread to hands, wrists, back etc. I had terrible fatigue, became really forgetful and developed IBS symptoms.

Could the eczema rash be psoriasis? That would suggest autoimmune. Psoriasis can trigger a type of arthritis

[PlanDeRaccordement]

I agree with Vanguardsix- ask for blood tests, kidney function, ANA for Lupus.

Lupus affects all organs as it is inflammatory autoimmune disease. It should at least be ruled out. The doctor may not have thought of it because it’s considered a female disease since mostly women have it. But men can have it too and they present slightly differently. So don’t assume the doctor has checked for it, ask.