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MS is a relatively unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. Learn about the four types of multiple sclerosis here....
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Q: Ms And Marriage
asked by: whiteflag on March 15th, 2005
New User
Hi to all. This seems to be a very helpful site and I am hoping to gain some wisdom out of it.

I have not officially been diagnosed with ms but with possible ms, although I may be at the start of a relapse, as I am feeling a slight tingling sensation at my fingertips and toes and on my right leg (that watery numby feeling). But more on this in another post. (if this indeed is a relapse then it would lead me to believe that it is ms).

A little background about me - I am male, 32 and come from a society where inabilities of people are looked down upon. Sad, I know, but what to do, some people are like that.

Recently I fell for a girl that liked me as well. I did not tell her that I might have ms as I did not know for sure whether I did, and I wanted us to get to know each other better before I prematurely say something that I shouldn't. Well, we live a great distance away from each other and communicate by phone, chat and sms (although for a brief period when we were together we were meeting and going out having dinners, etc.). Then she started saying that she's heard some things about me, and that it is quite bad and she can't tell me what it is. A relative of mine knew I had 'possible ms' and may have squealed.

She has now stopped all contact with me and has pretty much told me that it wont work out, but hasn't said why.

This is where I need your help, friends.

I am at the stage where I am accepting that it may not have worked out due to my condition (i think she is referring to my possible ms), but what is bothering me even further is that, with this condition of ms I don't know if i'll ever get married. I know it sounds silly and even heartless of me to say, but I feel that I am stuck in a rut about this. I do not personally know of anyone who has ms, and due to my community it is not easy for me to acknowledge openly that I have ms.

I know there are a great majority of people who have ms and are happily married, but from the majority of posts I have read on the forums, they have been diagnosed after getting married.

But what if you are not married, and have ms, and are hoping for someone to accept you as you are, and you can't easily admit that you have ms? Lets face it, it's more difficult finding a bride when you have any kind of health condition than when you don't, and ms is a widely un-understood (misunderstood?) condition.

Sometimes I feel that I may have to hide my condition and marry someone, but sooner or later it will be known to my partner that I have ms, and then the question will come up as to how long have I had it. Then my conscience will force me to tell the truth, and all **** could break loose.

I would like to think that I am opening my heart here for answers, and I am hoping I receive some. I would especially like to hear from those who have had to go through a similar dilemma or are in the same boat as me, but of course, all responses convey some level of wisdom.

Thanks friends.
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MMcDermott82
replied on April 18th, 2005
New User
Marriage
I was just reading through this forum hoping to gain some answers to my current issues and I came across this topic. Whiteflag, don't hide who you are. Be open and honest and eventually a woman will come along who will want to marry you for who you are, completely. I am 23 years old and I have been in a relationship with a man with ms for 5 years. As of last year we are engaged and I have known from the very beginning. It was incredibly hard and still is at times but I love this man regardless. Worry about taking care of yourself and keeping yourself as healthy as possible and the "wife" will come in later. I hope I have helped.
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n8ed
replied on December 19th, 2005
New User
Hey whiteflag. I'm in the same boat. I've had ms for three years, but I haven't had an exacerbation since my initial diagnosis. I often wonder if i'll ever get married. I haven't been dating much since my diagnosis. Mostly because i've been in school and been living on a tight budget. I'm not sure my comments help much. I don't know when it would be appropriate to bring up my ms diagnosis. On one hand, it might be more painful tell your girlfriend about your ms after you are emotionally invested and she decides to break it off. But if you share that information too soon, you may never get close in the first place. It is a tough situation.
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gracekms
replied on February 4th, 2009
New User
Telling sooner rater than later
I've been married for nearly 15 years! My husband couldn't handle my diagnosis 5 years ago! He started using drugs, disappearing on shot night, then started having an affair 2 years ago with a marriage and family therapist. I wish I had know about tis disease earlier so that I could make sure the person I married could deal with it.
I've since met wonderful people who can deal with my disease.who are ok if I can't walk,but will carry me.
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BlueAquarius
replied on March 24th, 2009
New User
I came across this and I feel very much exactly the same way. I'm a 23 year old woman though, living in Kuwait. And trust me, it's much harder for a girl to be accepted in my society if she has ANY kind of problem.
I'm unsure how to contact you personally whiteflag, but I think we have a similar struggle. Keep fighting though, we;re all survivors.
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Quanah11
replied on May 6th, 2009
New User
Quanah11
I'm the husband of a woman with MS. I love my wife so dearly. I want her to live with this disease knowing that she has my absolute love and support.
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mamacita1942
replied on August 5th, 2009
New User
You can still get married.

My husband and I started dating right about the time he was diagnosed with MS. Now we've been married for several years.

MS won't prevent you from getting married...it will help you find the right person. We all need someone who will be there for us when the going gets tough. MS is a pretty good litmus test for that.

Good luck.
Mamacita
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toot
replied on August 5th, 2009
New User
i got very drunk and blurted out to my new boyfriend about my ms (recently diagnosed at pretty much the same time i met him)
all i knew at that time was that i couldn't lie/pretend with anyone i liked and respected.
8 years later we got married.3 years after that my ms took a severe turn for the worse,can't walk etc any more
we went through a horrendous year while he struggled to accept i wasn't the exact same girl he married. but slowly he decided i remained underneath someone that he'd known and loved for so long that we've stuck together and are closer than ever.
hold on in there.
through this you will find someone who is true
sarah
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