Does anyone with serious health issues ever stop feeling like they’re “too much” to love?
I’m 39M and recently went through a breakup. The relationship ending has left me questioning something I hadn’t fully admitted to myself before.
I’m legally blind and I’m on hemodialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant. Those aren’t temporary challenges—they’re part of my life right now. I know they affect what dating looks like, and after the breakup I’ve started wondering if they make me someone that people just don’t want to build a future with.
I don’t blame my ex or think anyone owes me a relationship. I also know everyone has their own reasons for staying or leaving. But since the breakup, I’ve found myself asking whether anyone will ever look at everything that comes with my health and still decide I’m worth choosing.
I don’t think I’m a bad person. Before I became disabled, I spent years managing and mentoring employees. I genuinely enjoy helping people, making them laugh, and being there for others. I still try to do that whenever I can. But some days it feels like all of that gets overshadowed by the fact that I’m on dialysis, waiting for a transplant, and living with a disability.
I’m not really looking for dating advice or pity. What I’m hoping for is perspective from people who have lived with chronic illness or disability.
Have you found someone who accepted your health as just one part of who you are? Did you ever go through a period where you felt like no one would choose you, only to find out you were wrong?
I guess I just need to hear that my health doesn’t automatically mean I’ll spend the rest of my life alone. Right now that’s the fear I’m struggling with most.
Thank you for reading.
Posted Jul 29, 2026, 6:43 AM UTC