Remember your health is in your hands
Most people tend to blame genes for their health. Genes do play a small role, though most think that cancers are hereditary, very few cancers are hereditary. Well, I'm the 1st cancer patient in my family. I'm glad that I was detected with cancer after my mother's death or else she would have been shattered with her kidney failure and low hemoglobin that she was fighting with.
Most diabetics take the disease lightly, especially some men. One such person is my husband. Who is a diabetic, heart patient and kidneys partially working. Even after 1st 2 stents in 2003, then in 2012 double bypass surgery after heart attack, in 2015 another stent. Now in 2022, in February had pneumonia and a mild heart attack in ICU. In May again had pneumonia, high fever and multiple heart attacks, was very critical. In April, he almost lost 2 of his toes due to infection, by God's grace they're saved till now, but got a nearly 6" cut from below his big toe down the side to remove the infection. Since mid April his foot is in bandage for almost 5 weeks with vacuum bandage, then about 10 days normal bandage, today when bandage was removed after 4 days there was pus. Still, he has been very careless with his diet, would add extra salt when his kidneys are only 40 % functioning . His nephrologist told him that if he takes care he can prevent further damage to his kidneys, whatever damage has happened, it can't be reverted. With his heart now only 40 % functioning, told no fries, still craves for them, can't control his tongue. I keep telling him, stop thinking of food all the time, then you won't feel hungry. From the previous night, he starts thinking what he'll eat tomorrow ! Even with toes about to be amputated, still hasn't taken life seriously. Since a decade after we moved to senior citizens home, almost 21 hours of the day, he keeps lying on the bed, up only to do the basic necessities. Left to him, he can eat lying down, as he tells me to cut fruits and eats lying down, when I say get up and eat, we only fight. While, I'm on my feet, for at least 4 hours continuously in the morning from the time I get up, then again on and off on my feet, though earlier I used to walk around the complex, since last June, one health issue after another, with bone spur in my foot, then had bad fall, hurt my ankles and bled from the last few stitches of my leg where knee replacement was done. Still with all pain and suffering with L3-S1 spinal problem since 1990, I keep myself busy. I do get severe pain in my lower back when I stand and work for long, then I just sit down or lie down for some time, don't take painkillers.
My husband and his folks like to live on self-pity and want others always pity them and inquire about their health. Whenever I tell hubby that I'm having back pain or due to low calcium severe cramps, can't even sit on the crown, he'll say he has the same problems !
Now, when I try to control his diet, we end up fighting, as he feels I'm controlling him too much. As he always used to say, when I used to tell him that if your kidneys fail, you can't eat salt-free diet like what my mother was eating and all portions controlled, even intake of liquids, he used to say, don't worry that won't happen and will gorge on whole bar of chocolates, eat all types of sweets, pickles, fries and everything that was a taboo for him.
I feel sorry for him, having got into this state due to his own stupidity if I may say so, or his carelessness, thinking that he is a superhero nothing can go wrong. Even after being so critical last month, hasn't become serious about his food intake, follow strictly the doctors orders. If, I've to tell the doctor that he is careless with his diet, he gets angry for letting him down in front of the doctors, what else to do that make him realise the seriousness of his disease. When the Dr. in ICU called me to break the news that he is very critical, he was at 1st scared to talk, as I was alone, if I'll faint if he says, he is critical. He asked if I'm alone, then again silence, then asked how many kids, again silence after my reply. Then asked where are my kids, again silence after my reply. I thought that he is going to tell me the worst news, luckily it wasn't so. He said very critical, as in a span of an hour multiple heart attacks, if his condition worsens, then he may have to intubate him, for which I had to give consent by signing a paper. All this he wasn't aware which I told him once he recovered. But still, when will he get serious about his health, even I feel God can't help him.
This is my sincere request to all those out there who are regular readers of my posts, please take care of your health, it is really in your hands. By following strictly the dos and don't s, you can lead a healthier life.
LIFE COMES JUST ONCE, SO, PLEASE BE KIND TO YOUR BODY. BY LISTENING TO YOUR SPOUSES OR OTHER CARE TAKERS, YOU'RE NOT DOING THEM A FAVOUR, BUT DOING YOURSELF A FAVOUR, IT IS YOUR BODY, YOUR LIFE, SO TAKE CARE WHEN YOU HAVE IT. DON'T KEEP LYING DOWN, SAYING YOU'RE SICK-NOT PHYSICALLY ONLY YOU'RE MENTALLY SICK. THE MORE YOU KEEP MOVING AROUND, IT IS BETTER ONLY FOR YOU. BY TAKING CARE OF YOUR HEALTH, YOU'RE NOT DOING A FAVOUR TO ANYONE, ONLY TO YOURSELF. LEARN TO LIVE HEALTHY. LIFE COMES AFTER ALL ONCE !