Victoria Ruffing, RN-BC: Well, I think my number one would be: Understand what you can about your disease and your medications. And help your partner to understand that, too. I think before we talk about anything, I think we need to really understand. Number two would be to develop some style of communication that’s going to work between you and your partner. And number three, I think, is relax.

Iris Zink, NP: Just do it. Ashley Graham has a great quote: She said every time she and her husband are bickering, she knows it’s because they haven’t had intimacy in a while, and they just smooth everything out. So, maintain intimacy, whatever that means to you. It doesn’t mean penetration, you knowmunication, communication, communication, that is so important for intimacy in whatever form. I love Vicky’s suggestion about journaling or writing it down and giving your husband or partner a card with information that could be helpful. There is a book.

just laying there, and say, “You know, I picked this up because I heard this crazy nurse practitioner talking about it. Let’s have a conversation.” Because the whole book is about communication and the importance of maintaining intimacy no matter what.

Pete Scalia: I think just having this conversation is key. Like you said, a lot of times, especially for men, a lot of times guys are reluctant to talk about their health in general, right? If you’re dealing with arthritis and you’re dealing with that pain, or you’re dealing with the side effects of the medication, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about it, to your nurse about it, somebody to get that conversation going because you need to do that for your own well-being. But then especially that communication with your partner. And having that dialog is so important. Weiterlesen