Support

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone

Hope you do not mind a partner of a bronchiectasis sufferer sending a

note........I am Graham's wife May. Like most of the members Graham

thinks it is

excellent to be able to be part of a group with people who predominantly

all have the one problem - the Bronchs.

Graham's health has improved heaps since leaving Scotland and settling in

Brisbane, Australia. In Scotland out of any given four weeks he would be

fine for one week, getting sick for the next, really sick for the third and

getting better for the fourth - not much fun (for him or me :-)).

A few weeks ago there was a number of notes about partner support and felt

I would like to comment. It is obvously very difficult supporting someone

who has a illness which is not vizible. When Graham has a bad attack of

the bronchs it is hard for me not to be able to help but I am unable to do

anything useful. We both know that he will become short temperted, needs

medication, postural drainage and plenty rest. I worry the entire time he

is sick and when we are in situations which I know may give him the

Bronchs.

We do not like having to constantly explain to friends and work mates why

we are not able to go to some venues or may have to leave important events

should the air conditioning begin to have its effects.

When I married Graham 26 years ago I was aware of his condition (atlhough

not probably fully aware of the debilitating effects) but to be perfectly

honest I would have married him under any health circumstances as he was

who I wanted to spend my life with.

Luckily we have been able to survive the health bad times and make the best

of the good ones by talking heaps, avoiding as much as possible trigger

situations and most importantly making light of the situation (when

possible!!)

Having any illness is not easy, having the bronchs must be awful and my

heart goes out to each and every one of you with your varying degrees of

invalidity. Please remember though that the person who has the illness

can become consumed by it during the bad times. It is not easy being on

the outside, seeing the person you love very much so sick. Not everyone

has the capacity to tell their partner exactly how much they care or how

worried they may be.

I also enjoy reading all your postings and hearing about your experiences

helps with my understanding of the illness too. Hopefully there are other

partners who do the same.

Keep well.

May