“This article gave me the idea to "interview" my hubbers. He is fantastic, but we don't talk about my MS much, and I really don't know how it has affected him.” - Karen

Last week’s interview stirred up many comments and responses like the one above.  I’d like to share a few of them with you today and take time to explore the themes presented a bit.  I’d also like to ask Rob a few more questions because too often I think that we don’t ask those around us how our health is affecting our relationship or how it affects them singularly.

Rob, how has my MS affected you personally?  Have my changing abilities altered the way you feel about our relationship over time?

Well that’s a rather difficult question to answer.  First, from a day-to-day perspective, I don’t often sense that your MS is having a discernible impact on you.  The two symptoms I am most often aware of are fatigue and spasticity.  Other than that, I’m often not aware that you are having any sort of physical problems unless you mention it to me. 

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that to a large extent, I don’t feel as though your MS has changed our relationship much because I have not really noticed a lot of change in how it affects you other than what I am already familiar with.  I do feel concern about the possibility of the disease impacting your quality of life in the future, but I am very much a day-to-day person, which means I try to not to dwell on that issue much.  Is this a good approach to handling the issue?  Maybe or maybe not, but it’s just kind of the way I operate.  In addition, as I mentioned before in the previous interview, I do try to keep faith that MS research will continue to help us find ways to combat the disease.

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“Having a partner, spouse, boy/girlfriend who understands and is supportive and helpful is such a plus.” - Maris

That is so true Maris.  Although Rob and I are very different in some ways, we are similar in others.  One thing that the person who introduced us told me was that he was very much into sports.  She emphasized that strongly and downplayed Rob’s experience playing cello through college.

I’m not so much into sports myself, but at least I do know the rules in football and have attended three college bowl games in my time.  (My brother will ashamedly mention, and tease, that I once admitted to carrying small books within my band uniform sleeves to the football games on occasion.  Hey, I liked to read, and I’ll never live that down.)

Although that introductory person was correct, I don’t think that Rob is any more interested in sports than the next guy.  I have learned, however, that to cheer for the Dallas Cowboys is sacrilege here in Washington Redskins territory.  LOL.