relationships? just kinda throwing it out there....

[Guest guest]

I wonder if anyone else feels like their disease affects their relationships? I

have a new friend at church, she's a single mom too, lots in comman, but I feel

like it's so much to put a person through...not being able to keep appointments

or plans due to flareups or fatigue. Not being able to do a lot of walking,

having to plan your social life around your physical limitations, flares, etc.

She's younger and way healthier btw. And as far as a dating relationship, I

broke up with my last boyfriend years ago and haven't dated since. He had health

issues that affected him psychologically to the point of being detrimental to

everyone around him-which is why he's my ex-boyfriend! I guess I'm afraid to let

anybody else into my world, which can be very painful sometimes. I realize

that's a defense mechanism. But I figure it's hard enough for my kids and

grandkids to have to deal with it, and I'm afraid that after someone gets a real

look at the really hard days, they would probably bail anyway. Not that I could

really blame them. And not to say that I don't have a lot of good days too- it

seems to require someone really special, to deal with a relationship with a

chronically ill person. Any thoughts from the RA family?