Carol 2015, my husband ignores my pain, and says that I'm using excuses....I'm tired of hearing it, and when you don't feel loved, you just want out of the relationship...
This girl is getting close for DIVORCE....

Well said Denise. I read or heard somewhere that older women are choosing to remain single not in a relationship at all. For me I am happiest alone. I once had a long term partner say he can"t deal with RA, and left. I was crushed I promise if I love someone I would not leave them due to their medical condition. And like you the relationships I have had taught me so many valuable lessons. Stay strong and follow your heart.

I get that! When my husband was still alive, before he got sick. He wasn't the best at understanding my health issues. I think that's another reason I don't want a relationship right now.

I personally gave up relationships when my daughter was 15, she is 52 now. This was long before RA came into my life. At the time I was running my own business, taking care of family members and basically did not have any energy to spare.
You ladies that are blessed with the exceptions are truly blessed.
I have found out that there are much more things worse than being single.
It would be nice to have a friend for movies, etc. With no sex expected!

I hear what everyone is saying and yes it's rough trying to navigate a relationship/marriage living with RA. It's hard trying to understand the day to day nuances of this disease because the symptoms (aches, pains, swelling, etc..) change from day to day, or hour to hour. Unless you are the one living with it, you will NEVER truly understand it. I'm blessed with a loving, caring, man of God (who will do anything for me) but I know that he doesn't always understand what I'm gong through or how I'm feeling. But he tries and that means a lot. He shows compassion and love, sings to me and prays for me, and is patient with me when it comes to being intimate. This is my husband now, but he wasn't always like that. It takes a special person to be there and be supportive, and let's face it, that isn't everybody strong suite. I'm truly blessed and I thank God everyday for my husband. But I truly understand not wanting to go down that road of pursuing a relationship. It's definitely a lot of hard work and compromise. We all deserve someone who will be there for us and help support us because this disease is hard enough without the added pressure of having someone doubt us, disrespect us, or not show us love!