It has been almost three months since my dad was hospitalized for diabetes and congestive heart failure after I found him unresponsive in his home. After being in the hospital for almost two weeks, my dad was sent home in my care and it’s been an uphill battle ever since.
My dad is a really good guy who means well, but he is also stubborn and bull-headed (see where I get it from?). The first few weeks after he was released, he ate the right foods and went by the book as far as his health was concerned. But as he got better, he also began to fall into his old habits—eating processed foods, smoking cigarettes, and drinking sodas. All of these things were not to be done per doctors orders, but when I found out he wasn’t following instructions, he told me, “you only live once”.
So you can see why I am a little frustrated right now.
His blood sugar levels has stabilized and he is feeling better, so I think he thinks he can do whatever he wants. But the thing about diabetes is it is not a forgiving disease—he has to follow the doctor’s instructions and eat properly or he will be right back where he started. And his heart is in poor health—smoking is going to just continue to to make his CHF and his heart disease much worse.
So the update is this; on paper, everything is great. In a few weeks, he will get a defibrillator installed in his heart to help it run the way it should. But if he doesn’t get in check, I am afraid that he will back in the hospital for the same thing or worse.
As a daughter, I do my best to be there for him, to love him, and to have his best interests at heart. No matter what, he is my dad. I just want him to be as healthy as he can be.
Thoughts?
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