Arthritis Foundation Forum / Arthritis / Dating with Arthritis / Dating / Latest Posts

Re:Dating

maria183 — Tue, 16 Aug 2005 15:33:00 GMT

Hi I'm a 40 year old single mom of a 20 and 10 year old. I met my boyfriend a year ago I let him know on our second date that I was dxed with RA 2 yrs ago. He is still with me and supports me besides having RA I'm hard of hearing from both ears and he accepted that also. He's a very loving guy and my children both like him. We are planning in moving together next year and hopefully down the road get married some day. Their is hope for us out there and someone to support and love us unconditionally. Hope to talk to you soon.

Re:Dating

marielisa78 — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 19:09:00 GMT

Hi I am 26 and have AS. After being diagnosed about 4 yrs ago...my boyfriend of 3 years broke up with me. It was heartbreaking. I choose not to date for almost 2 years because i couldn't deal with another guy not being able to deal with my illness.

However, I am currently dating. I have handled the situation of letting the person i am dating know in a couple different ways. It all depends on the situation.

First i believe it is important for them to know early on...by the 3rd date. They don't need all the details, just that i have arthritis...if things progress then i tell them more as time goes on. I have been out to dinner, and taken pills with dinner, and that usually prompts my date to ask what i am taking. Or I have just said, there is something i want you to know. I too have come to the point in my life where i realize if someone can't handle it now, when i am feeling well...then i don't need them around when i don't feel well.

I have had a really good response with the guys i have told. So good luck...and don't give up

Re:Dating

Alison81 — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 04:07:00 GMT

Hi,

I am 26 years old and was diagnosed with RA about a year ago. My boyfriend at that time and I broke up about the same time after I had been ill for about 6 months. I went to my rheumatologist and he asked me about my relationship. When I told him what had happened he said that couples where one person gets ill and the other is healthy have about an 80% break-up rate. He could tell that I was pretty bummed out and made sure that I understood that those are not the one's you want to be with. He made sure that I knew that when you enter into a relationship where the knowledge of future struggles may exist, there is a much higher success rate and that there is someone for everyone. Being up front about RA is important in my opinion, in that it is part of who you are, and the person needs to know who they are falling in love with. =) Take care.

Dating

frizzy — Sun, 10 Oct 2004 12:50:38 GMT

Was wondering if there were any GLBT individuals out there with RA/JRA who could share with me some of their experiences in disclosing their illness to their significant others . . . positive or negative . . . feel free to email me at frizzydoe@hotmail.com for privacy . . .