Thank you Donna for sharing this with us openly. It's a great first step, I am sure.

I can totally relate to your difficulties sharing things about your health with your husband. With both of my ex-s and, although to a lesser degree, with my current partner, it is an issue. It is hard to deal with the person you love not feeling right, and we cope with that in all sorts of manners which are not always helpful... Always in different ways, but always some issue. It might not be catastrophic for the relation, but I understand your frustration... I hope you can find a friend to share this with. I'm glad you also share it with us!!

I would certainly not let what is happening to you go unnoticed, and it will be useful to talk to a doctor. Is your current family doctor the best guy? Probably. But maybe not. If you don't feel like you can trust him with your confidence, well, maybe it's time to visit someone else. It doesn't have to be forever, but maybe you'll meet a new doctor who will feel a bit more understanding to you...

Like LBTC I agree that quitting smoking can make you feel miserable for a while. Bearing your own weight is maybe taxing your body as well. You are totally right though that you don't want to get on a crash diet. But it's likely that loosing a little bit of weight every month will help. However, I wouldn't mess with overall joint pain. It will bring you down into depression and you don't want to go there. Having some control over your body - even if it doesn't mean that the pain will completely go away - is important.

Good luck, and please get back to us.