Radical Lifestyle Change

[Barmaid]

Have you or a loved one had to make a radical lifestyle change as a result of an unexpected illness or the threat of one?

How did you deal with it? How did you support your loved one or persuade them to buy into those changes?

[Peter Pedant]

Hi Boo Boo
no dont look into that inheritance issue - it is internally inconsistent for a start ( = we dont know the half of it)

Ca colon aged 48 - 50% survive 5 y ( I did.) - first of all get over the immediate challenges, not having half a gut, altered erm bowel habit, - other patients and hospital staff were very helpful
most were about getting back to where you want ( long distance running for me) despite a colostomy ( just do it)
going out and getting caught short - (try it and see)

work - can I work? and will they try to fire me ( no but they did to other ill people) - one hospital tried to refuse a junior doctor time off for chemo - yes step forward one of the Glasgow hospitals

and the amount of time I needed to just lie in bed.....

the main change needs to be from the patient himself. oh and remember that Chemo wipes your memory big time - doctors seems not to know that

good luck - sorry to hear that illness has called so early ....

[Calicogirl]

Mr Cal has Sjorgrens syndrome and it's affecting his lungs and kidneys so he's supposed to be not smoking or drinking and he's smoking and drinking ( albeit not as much). He's also supposed to not be stressed and he's stressed and me nagging him about it makes him even more stressed. Not sure where to go from here with any of that tbh.
So sorry that things are not well with you and yours at the moment Barmaid and much love to you and good wishes x

[Eve]

I am so sorry for your loss and for what you are going through at the moment.

Yes to the radical lifestyle change and plenty of sacrifices and changes on an ongoing basis, keeping on adapting as things change, dealing with new curve balls, it's been a process and a big learning curve.

I've learnt a lot over the way and have adapted in a lot of different ways. It can be a lot of trial and error. There is still plenty of room for improvement but it's a huge juggling act with a number of different medical conditions and sometimes I have to accept that, although I try and make good decisions as much as I can, sometimes other things take/win over.

I do agree with Woofgang in that decisions preferably need to be personal and that some decisions/ways of doing things may not make as much sense to a loved one who hasn't experienced it but it has a very different meaning/reasoning to the person who is going through it. Or there may be other factors interfering.

I really do appreciate help, especially being on my own, and could use far more of it. I think more open suggestions and discussions are good, being asked about the kind of help that I would find helpful is brilliant.

I can find it quite difficult sometimes when I feel like I'm being pushed in to something (or having things imposed on me), especially if it isn't something that is helpful, or when incorrect assumptions are being made, rather than me being asked about things. I really appreciate the sentiment of someone trying to help so I can find it difficult to say something negative.

I think very open communication is a big one. It's good to be able to be really honest, even though there's always line somewhere, of how much you tell someone. Especially a loved one who worries about you.

It's difficult to put it in to a short reply really as a lot depends on the individual and the circumstances. Am happy for you to ask anything more on FB if you think it might be helpful, I'm happier to be more open about personal things on there too.

I hope that makes sense! Been a long day and I need to get to bed so apologies if I'm rambling.