Relationships and chronic illness: When should you talk about your condition?

@CDKennedy Hello. I am just seeing your response now. Hope you are well. Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I am in the severe range as well, so I understand. Hope to talk again sometime. Bless you.

@linco515 I now have a hospital bed at home. I raise the head of the bed and use the rails to help me get in and out of bed. I don't use the "trapeeze" (yet) and have taken it down to make it easier. I use a large wedge to raise my knees up to help take the pressureoff my back. I already have a lift chair because I can't get out of chairs. Using a walker inside and outside. My wife has to help me with a lot of daily day items like picking up things I drop, putting shoes and socks on and off and sometimes more of the dressing activity. I tried Humira for a year but the damage is too severe and it didn't help. Now just take Advil. I hope some of this helps you as you try to manage your A.S. :)

@linco515 As far as the discussion goes, I don't think the inlaw family undestands at all. They don't ask how I am doing or want to help. Our kids understand somewhat because they see how I am and help us with moving the beds around, cleaning up, taking big items to the trash bin (We live in an apt.) We moved from our house to an apt. because we were unable to take care of a house. We have a couple of good friends who will ask how we are doing and offer to help us whenever. We rarely ask for help because we try to do what we can by ourselves for now. Additional helpwill be needed later. Some other friends we thought were good friends have pretty much have no comunication with us. We feel it is because we can't go out like we used to. We found out who really are good friends and who aren't as we go thru "adventure." Between Covid and A.S. we rarely get out. Mainly for Dr visits. Sometimes we go to the store but usually have it delivered. My wife is disabled as well so we both just have the mindset that this is the way of our lives now and try to keep a positive attitude. It helps tremendously that we are followers of Jesus. Again I hope this info helps you.