Re: Discharged, Still coming

[Guest guest]

, you stated in your post,>>>

Family members always leave with a renewed

> sense of hope merely because they have a better understanding of

how this disease

> affects other families, as well as what they learn about the

disease, meds,

> surgery.

, that is truly my hope and I can now definitely RSVP for my

husband. Also I can tell you my father will not be able to make it. I

am so delighted that my husband can come. This is putting such a

tremendous strain on us lately. I haven't seen it mentioned on the

board, and I am hesitant to bring it up, but I know every adult on

the board has probably had similar experiences... so I will say it

any way. This disease has all but destroyed our intimate relations.

We have been together going on ten years (yes we were together at 16

and 17) and once had a full and healthy sex life. Now it is all but

gone. The main reason that is a problem is because of the emotions

that come along with it. My husband says he feels that I must not be

in love with him or attracted to him anymore; nothing could be

further from the truth. Seeing the way he has taken over all the

responsibilities of our home and kids and me and finances over the

last five years, I don't think I could ever be more in love with

someone than I am in love with him. It breaks my heart that he takes

the decreased amount of physical connection as a statement about how

I feel about him. I wonder if anyone else has had similar problems? I

realize how sensitive and personal this issue is and trust that as a

group we can discuss the issue in a candid yet sensitive and

professional way. I hope that I have not offended anyone, that

certainly is not my intention. I feel this is also a good topic to be

included in the psycho-social portion of the symposium. As a nurse,

espescially as an L & D nurse, I am pretty desensitized to the topic,

so I don't know if everyone else is as comfortable with it as I.

You also wrote>>>

What hospital do you go to? Please either add

> it to the hospital database or send me the contact information so

we will have

> it on file.

>

I am a patient at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana IL, phone is 1-

and request patient by room or name. Address I don't

have at hand.

I also wanted to tell you that I think that you are a superb person,

evveryone on the board is really an angel on earth, but you are

really tops!! I am sure you know how much your work is appreciated

and how much it means to each of us; but it is always nice to be

reminded.

Love and hope, Keri in IL