Are your significant others educated on fibro? - Fibromyalgia Message Board

lynn41 · 04-15-2008, 09:53 AM

I tried to get my husband to read what the physician had given me on living with fibromyalgia and chronic pain, but he just blew me off. I really think he NEEDS to read it to get some kind of understanding of what's going on with me, but says he doesn't need to. I'm curious - for those of you in relationships, married, etc. how informed are your significant others? Any advice for forcing my husband to become more informed short of stapling the articles on his forehead?

bleigh · 04-15-2008, 10:04 AM

I can't understand why some spouses refuse to pay attention to something that explains why you're not able to function the way you used to. Maybe they just refuse to believe there is something really wrong like if they don't see it, it's not there... Of course, this will only lead to frustration for them as they will have no clue as to what's really going on with you. My husband never read anything in particular, but listened to me read him information. I'd ask him if he minded me reading this stuff to him and he appreciated the opportunity to listen while I did the reading.

Maybe if you tell him how important it is for him to understand why your body is in pain then he'll read it. If not, maybe he'll listen to you explain it to him. Just tell him how frustrated you are to be going through this and it would help you for him to at least check out the basics on the disease. Maybe try the perspective of not wanting to being alone in this and that you need his compassion....hopefully this will soften him up a bit.

baserockermom · 04-15-2008, 10:31 AM

Lynn, mine hadn't read a thing on it. He'll listen when I talk, but even then, sometimes he stops me. As he puts it, "if I don't have to listen to that stuff, I can still hold out hope." My knowing, however, does help me to have some backbone. When I get made fun of around here or accused of stuff that is untrue, I can make it clear that all the denial in the world won't change the facts.

fibrohurts · 04-15-2008, 10:43 AM

Mine does not read anything either. I tell him stuff and sometimes he retains some of it, but other times he argues with me.
He does not always believe that i have certain symptoms or that certain ones are really "fibro". all well.