How to deal with family when they don't always "get" it?

I have been sick for 15 years now and married for almost 7. When my husband and I first met, I was open and honest with him from the get go about my health problems. For the record I have lyme/rickettsia, EBV, heavy metal toxicity, candida, parasites, CMV, HHV-6, etc.

My husband and I have a wonderful relationship and I truly feel blessed to have him as my husband. When it comes to my health issues, however, he struggles. I know he is stressed because he feels helpless at not being able to help me. But sometimes he just doesn't get it. I can't walk fast, and I wear tennis shoes 99% of the time because of my muscle and joint pain and so on. As it is, all of this has taken it's toll on me because it has screwed up my metabolism and I have gained a lot of weight because of it. I don't feel attractive anymore and in many ways, I've just stopped caring. I wear mainly yoga pants and like cute t-shirts, but even they are starting to look worn. I know he loves me and is attracted to me, but I don't feel attractive anymore and I lately I just feel like I don't measure up. He would disagree profoundly, but I notice it. I'm not exactly sure what I'm trying to say, just like I feel my entire family doesn't understand how people like me/us feel. I know he/they take my health issues seriously, but sometimes it just doesn't feel like it and like I am always having to explain myself or defending what I'm going through. Does any of this make any sense?

Thanks.

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