Well, I sort of felt like I was just reading my life for a moment on your original post..

How do I deal with it? Well, I don't.

I have TOS, winged scapula, ischemia and who knows what else. I've spent 7 1/2 years without diagnosis, or with wrong diagnosis and even unnecessary surgeries. At first, I could function and enjoyed a normal life. I got married and had a daughter. Then he had an affair.. so now I'm a single mom.

I tried dating at first, but in the past two years my health has deteriorated so much that it's just not really a viable option. I can barely maintain the energy to get my daughter ready for school or to wash dishes. Adding a social life into it, one where the person involved isn't understanding or doesn't know what's going on, doesn't work for me.

I dated one person and when I first started to find the TOS information and realize what was wrong with me, I told him about it. Big mistake. I was upset because I realized that there is a good chance, even with treatment, that I will not be able to continue doing some of my favorite things (classical piano, dance, painting). His response? "It could be worse, you could have just returned from deployment and have lost all your limbs and be paralyzed like [insert name here]."

I was crushed. Needless to say, I didn't continue seeing him.

I don't know how you balance dating with all of the other things going on. I have such chronic pain, that it doesn't seem worth it. I just find fulfillment in life in other things - my daughter, my church, a small circle of friends, my work/education (I'm losing my physical ability to do some of those things as well and it's been far more depressing than not dating).

I also know that there's a good chance I may never improve. I don't need a BOYFRIEND.. I need a live in NURSE! [LOL!]

Anyway, just letting you know that you're definitely not alone. I don't really have any advice, but I can relate.