What a wonderful post. I just joined this group. I am on others that have helped me so much. It is not a partner I am seeing disappear. It is my mom. In fact, she has an appointment, today, with the psychiatrist to see if they can tweak her patch or anything. I am trying not to have any expectations. I know what this disease does as I have seen it before in my dad, grandmother and others. This, however, is my mom. I posted about it days ago and have received some wonderful comments, helpful comments. I also talk to my therapist about it. She has this habit, now, of hanging up on me if I challenge her in anyway. She needs to see the hepatologist and her GP and she keeps cancelling them. She will complain about symptoms of her diabetes, liver (skin stuff) and I will say, you need to go to the doctor. I inevitably get the response..."there is nothing they can do." This week, I made the comment (which I should not have) "Well, I am not sure why there are doctors that go to medical school, if there is nothing they can do." She got mad and hung up on me. Of course, she doesn't remember that. That is what I am learning. I also am trying to change the trajectory of the conversations to something funny. That works sometimes. I was told to get the book "36 hours a day." I plan on getting that for my brother and myself. He lives with her. Anyway, thanks to all of you. I check the Mayo site daily. The 3 groups I am in provide so much support.