How My Chronic Illness Affects My Marriage

HOW my chronic illness affects my marriage

 

How My Chronic Illness Affects My Marriage

Marriage is work. I believe having a chronic illness and staying married is well…

  • Strenuous
  • Exasperating
  • Gratifying
  • Worthwhile
  • Distressing
  • Burdensome
  • Hard to understand
  • Rewarding

My husband and I have been married for over twenty years.

I would like to think that our marriage without my chronic illness would have thrived and survived. But, I do not know?

I am not sure our marriage would have last this long if I were not stricken with several rare diseases and chronic conditions six years after our nuptials.

When I began my health battles, I lost a large slice of who I was.

My health struggles have turned my world upside. Sadly, my body is always in some survival crisis.

As I try to survive, I lower the bar with what I would want and expect out of marriage.

I realize my lack of expectations contributes to an onset of my marital issues.

I remember several times laying tearful in my hospital bed, and my husband would remind me of our marriage vows:

I promised to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death does us part.

My husband, David would then kiss me on top of the head.

Oh, how I love this man!

However, I am starting to learn how to love myself, chronic illness and all.

Marriage With A Chronic Illness

As I get older, bolder, my husband and I both understand the importance for a third party to help navigate our journey.

Through exploration of a third party, therapist, Dr. Deborah Kirschbaum I have learned my husband is not a mind reader. I need to say what I need and want.

How I felt and allowed myself to be treated with a chronic illness almost broke my marriage.

I know I am not alone on this topic.

Those of us married to someone with a chronic illness or that have a chronic illness need to speak to their partners.

People with a chronic illness do have rights.

You do not always have to accept you get what you get.

It is not our fault we have what we have.

 

You may also find these HypoGal Blog Health Reference Stories Insightful:

A Sheehan’s Syndrome Story, So Long Chrispy

My Relapsing Polychondritis Mother’s Day Story 2016

What Is The Cause Of My Body Sweats, Red Face, and Butchered Speech

 

I hope this HypoGal Blog Health Reference, How My Chronic Illness Affects My Marriage echoes.

You can find resources to living with a chronic illness on the HypoGal Website.

 

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