What's wrong with my husband?

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I really don't know which section to post this but I'm pulling my hair out and doctors are useless so I'm hoping someone will say "oh I know what that is..."

My husband has a history of mental health problems, but not since we met. He can't handle stress at all well and gets overloaded quite easily.

He had some kind of nervous breakdown a couple of years ago which seemed a bit abnormal to me. He got paranoia and behaved in some strange ways. I would say he seemed depressed but it seemed like more than that. It was some sort of episode.

He saw the GP at the time for numerous physical complaints - stomach aches and so on, but the GP found nothing. The GP said he felt he needed mental healthcare but DH refused (he's VERY anti this due to traumatic past experience as a teen).

This episode where he was very extreme seemed to go on for 3 months, then he was listless for months.

After that he got better but we had to change our life significantly to remove all stress. Then he got covid. Not sure if that's relevant but it might be so I'm putting it in.

Then about six after the episode he got joint pain and fatigue. That's escalated and escalated to a point where we don't do anything or go anywhere. He wakes up in the night in pain, he wakes up in the morning in pain, he is always exhausted.

He gets an extremely swollen abdomen. He's developed allergies to foods and pollen. Painkillers do nothing. It's worst in the morning. Stress exacerbates it.

Now he's developed a heart problem. He's only 41 and was a keen cyclist with exceptional fitness and we eat like vegans! His heart has always been fine.

We've seen doctors and had every test and everything comes back negative. They're not really helping us, we just get passed from pillar to post.

Does anyone have any ideas?

I'm at my wits end. He doesn't even have energy to speak to me.

My mil has many of those symptoms. She has lupus not sure which type isn't there a few types? Has he been tested I'm not 100% but the specific blood test is A something. Sorry I should have checked what km saying more before I replied but my main point was lupus.

Is he on Metformin? I had lots of the symptoms you describe when I was on that drug and I have heard of people having much worse side effects.
MH episode needs therapy - I had a breakdown and I was in lots of paint afterwards for months.

fibromyalgia ?

Could be vasculitis? I'd ask for a ct scan rather than an ultrasound. Bloods don't always show it if he's not 'flaring'. There are a lot of different types and can cross over with pots mcas fibro or even coeliac and rarer issues like MALS.

Has he had an endocrine scan? All
of these symptoms could be associated with something Like Addisons disease?

Fibromyalgia sufferer here. I'd say it's this. Not test. Just a process of elimination but it's is a horrible misunderstood life changing illness.

I thought I had rheumatoid arthritis. Turns out it's late Lyme .

There's antibodies in the blood they can test for .

It took 2 years for me of absolute hell - I've a thread in general health about it .

I also had a lumbar puncture. I'd suggest a referral to an infectious disease consultant

Coeliac?

If it is something autoimmune then I agree with other posters that diet and gut can make a huge difference to pain or lack thereof. Firstly are you aware of the link between nightshade vegetables and inflammation/pain? Your DH should cut these out, see if symptoms lessen, and if they do he could re-introduce them one by one to single out which ones cause him pain. I am currently doing this and it turns out potatoes cause me an increase in pain and swelling. Other nightshades include tomatoes, bell peppers, aubergine, and red spices such as curry powder, paprika, chilli and cayenne pepper. There are others so it's worth looking into.

And, after a terrible flare up that left me in agony, I also suspect that strawberries may have triggered it, but I'm not sure - too frightened to eat them now in case I'm right.

Also, probiotics... leaky gut it thought to be a cause of autoimmune disease, so it's a good idea to investigate this, see if his gut needs healing or his microbiome/gut bacteria could be improved as that might help to improve his health.

? FND....physical problems that often caused by mental health trauma or situations in the past....can cause a range of issues

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/brain-nerves-and-spinal-cord/functional-neurological-disorder

Hi OP...read this sorry it's from.the DailFail but talks about how a vegan diet made this lady really it...are some of the symptoms the same?

read this

She was terribly bloated and looked pregnant too

Conversely, I found all of that nightshade stuff utter bollocks. And as I had Coeliac and associated problems with dairy, I did still need to eat something.

Medication is far more likely to do something useful for the OP's DH than cutting out a huge amount of fruit and vegetables.

Other symptons she details are:
"Breathing issues, rapid heart rate, skin burning, anxiety, joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, breakouts, throat swelling, and other autonomic dysfunctions"

There is link between abuse and developing fibromyalgia, fibromyalgia can make you very ill, I know someone who is wheelchair bound because of it.

I am on metformin have been before and my mood is on the floor I have been a vile person now looking back its been since I went back on metformin. Was also bad last year whilst taking them and never put 2 +2 together but reading that something has juat clicked.

Literally every part of me is in pain almost. Fingers, toes, skin, muscles, spleen, kidneys (those areas) and the lowest I have ever felt and erratic so so angry. Metformin and gliclazide I'm definitely coming back off it my doctor or nurse haven't picked up on this even when telling them my mood .

This!! I dont know anything aboit Lyme disease personally, but recall reading this ladies post. The thing that stuck out to me was the fatigue. Might be worth a look OP. Hope you get to the bottom of it. X

That was my post .

My thread is in general health . I can't link it .

Lyme disease isn't auto immune
It's caused by a bacteria carried by infected ticks

I'd second reading the body keeps score and complex PTSD.
Even if it's not that I'd suggest counselling to sort out his trauma stuff

Stage 3: Late Disseminated Lyme Disease
Many have asked, do you ever get rid of Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses? Do I have chronic Lyme disease? Can Lyme disease return? If Lyme disease isn’t promptly or effectively treated in the first two stages, late disseminated (post-treatment, chronic, or neurological) Lyme occurs weeks, months or even years after the tick bite. The bacterial infection have spread throughout the body and nervous system, and many patients develop chronic Lyme arthritis as well as an increase in neurological and cardiac symptoms. More severe symptoms may include:
• arthritis in large joints or near the point of infection
• severe headaches or migraines
• vertigo, dizziness
• migrating pains that come and go in joints/tendons
• stiff, aching neck
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• sleep disturbances, insomnia
• disturbances in heart rhythm
• mental fogginess, concentration issues
• numbness in the arms, legs, hands or feet
• problems following conversations and processing information
• severe fatigue
Learn more

My thread is is general health

The bacteria has spread to my heart, brain , nervous system, vascular system, basically everywhere and called I told misery for 2 years.

I've been off work months , had to hire home help , it's caused inflammatory athritis, optic neuritis, jerking limbs , nausea and vomiting, sleep issues , pain , depression because I didn't know what was wrong , fatigue like I have never experienced in my life , brain fog ,
There is a blood test but I had bloods and lumbar puncture. I could have kissed the consultant because after 2 years of being virtually bed ridden and housebound it's treatable.

I'm also going to suggest MCAS, it can cause all these symptoms

He could have had it for years, with small flares now and again, and then Covid made his 'bucket' overflow