I need your prayers my pea friends.

[Lil Zoo]

My husband and his brother both have diverticulitis. It is very hard to change ones eating habits, but DH has tried and so far it's worked. He uses George Forman grill in truck and has learned to eat vegetables which he steams in bags in radar. He changed to whole grain bread. It has helped him. He changed his beloved eggs and bacon to grain cereals. His brother and God only knows could not even be the reason. He is a bachelor, his diet consists mainly of hamburgers or a piece of meat fried in skillet. He has had to have a big portion of colon whacked out and bag. He had so much infection that they had to leave his stomach open to heal. He spent months in the hospital. My DH keeps telling him that at first you hate the change but now he prefers eating what he does.
I'm like your husband when I had to retire this winter and couldn't see right even to watch TV, I became so depressed I thought about ending it and I don't believe that way. I also have insurance that pays 60% of my wages till full retirement, we could make it ok with me not working and with out the insurance, but who wants to. Finally they were able to fix glasses so I can see of a distance and arms length good,(only God knows how long) but doubt they can ever fix up close. I thought maybe I could go back to work, but was informed (never) I'm to big of insurance risk.) Thought about doing something else, but with this disease like MS you don't have a clue if tomorrow stays the same or gets worse over night. The institute of blind showed me a computer program that talks and you can change things to see better. The gardens, the peas, and the pea people have helped me so much. The institute of the blind is teaching me to use feel more to do the things I can't see good. Unbelievable you get kind of use to seeing things in a blur also. Simple little things help so much. I've never worked a 40 hour job, always close to 60, to doing nothing was a big change. I worry about this winter as I won't be able to get out the kids will have to do all the chores. We are working on things I can do by feel to keep me busy. I just pray I never go back to that dark depressing hole again. I have to learn to accept what will be, will be and learn to change with it instead of feeling sorry for myself, which doesn't do any good.

 

[zazouse]

We are home

Lil zoo can you point me to a good website for does and don't with diverticulitis?
My DH will not have a problem with the change, he just has to listen to me and when in dought do not eat it, no second guessing.
If he messes this up i am sending him to a nutritional class for his condition, .
he knows that if he gets the mess implant and this flares up too bad that surgery may be very difficult. Ya just can't keep hacking in such a small area and he has a 33 inch waist.
Will know more in Sept when he has to go for more test and consolation about the surgery.

Love you folks thanks again.

 

[Lil Zoo]

We are home

Lil zoo can you point me to a good website for does and don't with diverticulitis?
My DH will not have a problem with the change, he just has to listen to me and when in dought do not eat it, no second guessing.
If he messes this up i am sending him to a nutritional class for his condition, .
he knows that if he gets the mess implant and this flares up too bad that surgery may be very difficult. Ya just can't keep hacking in such a small area and he has a 33 inch waist.
Will know more in Sept when he has to go for more test and consolation about the surgery.

Love you folks thanks again.

I'll look around, but DH did go to a nutritionist. I know fat is a big contributor it settles in those holes and irritates causing infection. More fish, chicken with no skin, lots of vegetables and for fiber fresh and steamed or even frozen is better than canned vegetables. DH wouldn't completely give up meat but has reduced red and portions greatly and we do less fatty meats and more chicken breasts. I could cook him chicken breast almost everyday and change it with different seasonings, dressings, soups, or barbecue. I've learned to do more casserole things with meat drained through. Whole grains, that was both our down fall and still hard for me. Walmart for a while had whole grain rice in sealed dishes you radar, he added milk and sugar to and ate for breakfast. Some believe that seeds cause problems but this nutritionist said they don't believe that anymore. DH eats tomatoes and strawberries, does fine. Also a big deal with him is absolutely no constipation, have grape juice, (he won't do prune juice) handy. I'm sure they told him stool softeners, don't forget them. My DH and his family were very big red fatty meat potato gravy and corn eaters. DH eats a little corn today, but rarely as it tends to agitate it. I had to change my diet years ago, but he wouldn't. At the time it hit him we drove separate trucks, so he had to just listen to me and do it himself. He'd call and ask how to do things and virtually learned to cook at that time. He quit the fast food restaurants all together. Balance is what I think is the most important. It's harder when you don't have family cooking anymore, but each meal needs veg, fruit and grains. I guess my DH was hurting so darn bad and so sick, besides seeing what happened to his brother, that for once he listened. When he had prostrate cancer I was just sure they were going to find it spread to the colon, but they did another colon scope and Dr. said what ever he had been doing for his diverticulitis seemed to be working he would of thought he'd of taken that chunk out by then all they found was 2 polyps that was almost 6 years ago. I think the diverticulitis started the year or two before. My DH and his brother had a bit of weight to see them through, your DH doesn't. He needs to listen to you as my brother-in-law looked like a walking skeleton after his ordeal and I would of considered him in the fat category, my husband wasn't fat but carried a few xtra pounds. Deserts try to use more fruits. DH still loves his ice cream, does alright with it. Has cut back on milk drinking though. One thing I do remember that I read somewhere cabbage is believed to help people with this. Some may say different, but I try and do a lot of coleslaw, took some pushing but he will eat cooked cabbage now. I add a lot if I make homemade veg soup. I stick it in casseroles even if it isn't an ingredient, he's got so he likes it. I sometimes use egg plant I dry for noodles. My family if they don't know can't tell the difference. I hope this will help you. If he changes nothing but stays away from fast food, he should see some improvement, that isn't always easy,, we know. DH will forget once in a great while and will instantly remember due to pain. I hope this might help you a little. I sure will be thinking about him and continue to add him in my prayers. I'm totally surprised he was sent home this fast. One thing I do know you have some of the very best hospitals in Houston. You need the most prayers trying to get him to change. Also remember buying the fresh veg and fruits or frozen seem so expensive, but that hospital cost far more. I grow the majority of my own, have 3 big freezers which the kids eat a lot of it to. Gardening raising chickens is not a chore to me though, I enjoy it.

 

[ColbyNTX]

Glad y'all are back home Zaz! We will keep y'all in our prayrs!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I am glad you are home!

 

[zazouse]

I'll look around, but DH did go to a nutritionist. I know fat is a big contributor it settles in those holes and irritates causing infection. More fish, chicken with no skin, lots of vegetables and for fiber fresh and steamed or even frozen is better than canned vegetables. DH wouldn't completely give up meat but has reduced red and portions greatly and we do less fatty meats and more chicken breasts. I could cook him chicken breast almost everyday and change it with different seasonings, dressings, soups, or barbecue. I've learned to do more casserole things with meat drained through. Whole grains, that was both our down fall and still hard for me. Walmart for a while had whole grain rice in sealed dishes you radar, he added milk and sugar to and ate for breakfast. Some believe that seeds cause problems but this nutritionist said they don't believe that anymore. DH eats tomatoes and strawberries, does fine. Also a big deal with him is absolutely no constipation, have grape juice, (he won't do prune juice) handy. I'm sure they told him stool softeners, don't forget them. My DH and his family were very big red fatty meat potato gravy and corn eaters. DH eats a little corn today, but rarely as it tends to agitate it. I had to change my diet years ago, but he wouldn't. At the time it hit him we drove separate trucks, so he had to just listen to me and do it himself. He'd call and ask how to do things and virtually learned to cook at that time. He quit the fast food restaurants all together. Balance is what I think is the most important. It's harder when you don't have family cooking anymore, but each meal needs veg, fruit and grains. I guess my DH was hurting so darn bad and so sick, besides seeing what happened to his brother, that for once he listened. When he had prostrate cancer I was just sure they were going to find it spread to the colon, but they did another colon scope and Dr. said what ever he had been doing for his diverticulitis seemed to be working he would of thought he'd of taken that chunk out by then all they found was 2 polyps that was almost 6 years ago. I think the diverticulitis started the year or two before. My DH and his brother had a bit of weight to see them through, your DH doesn't. He needs to listen to you as my brother-in-law looked like a walking skeleton after his ordeal and I would of considered him in the fat category, my husband wasn't fat but carried a few xtra pounds. Deserts try to use more fruits. DH still loves his ice cream, does alright with it. Has cut back on milk drinking though. One thing I do remember that I read somewhere cabbage is believed to help people with this. Some may say different, but I try and do a lot of coleslaw, took some pushing but he will eat cooked cabbage now. I add a lot if I make homemade veg soup. I stick it in casseroles even if it isn't an ingredient, he's got so he likes it. I sometimes use egg plant I dry for noodles. My family if they don't know can't tell the difference. I hope this will help you. If he changes nothing but stays away from fast food, he should see some improvement, that isn't always easy,, we know. DH will forget once in a great while and will instantly remember due to pain. I hope this might help you a little. I sure will be thinking about him and continue to add him in my prayers. I'm totally surprised he was sent home this fast. One thing I do know you have some of the very best hospitals in Houston. You need the most prayers trying to get him to change. Also remember buying the fresh veg and fruits or frozen seem so expensive, but that hospital cost far more. I grow the majority of my own, have 3 big freezers which the kids eat a lot of it to. Gardening raising chickens is not a chore to me though, I enjoy it.

We are already ahgead of the game when it comes to whole grains, fresh veggies and fruit as we garden year round and have always eaten whole grain foods, cabbage yea we eat lots of that in the winter months as well as kale but he is already fussing about the tomato seeds( has it in his head i told him no tomatos), i am confused, one article i read said no seeds, another says eat the skin and seeds of both fruit and vegetables.

He is already saying well i don't think it was this or that but i told him it is not a chance he needs to take because i did not want to see him go threw this again and again, he does not understand that this can just develop one day. honestly his going to the bathroom every time he eats had me concerned for a very long time and we eat a good diet and rarely eat out unless we go to lubys which looks health but some of it is pretty greasy looking.


He is really not having to change much but he is making a big fuss over it, hopefully he will settle down and come around, if not i am handing it over to him and keep my mouth shut, he won't get anything here from my cooking or the lunches i pack him so he will have to go to the store and get it himself and as soon as he lives for work that DARN DOG GOT IT OFF THE COUNTER AND ATE IT

He likes cokes sometimes, not every day like he use to but every once in a while, he did just ask if cokes were ok, i told him i do not know yet but would not chance it, he is now drinking a coke

He likes Popeye's chicken a couple times of year but you post it is not good, yet i read nothing about it being bad, i rarely fry anykind of food so pop eyes is about all he gets in a year unless they get something brought into work when they have a shut-down.

I am sorry about your eyes, my site is going also, i have narrowing glaucoma, but my vision has went way downhill in the last 3 years.

Men gotta love um

 

[Lil Zoo]

Zaz sounds like you two are already eating as they direct. Stan drinks pop ( not a lot) doesn't seem to effect him.

I know my DH has gotten better since he got really sick, but he still takes medications till the day he doesn't feel like he's going to die then quits. There is nothing worse than a sick DH. I'm feeling your pain.

When Stan had cancer operation which ended up to be 2, he didn't want me to even go home and get a shower the 2 weeks we were in the hospital. I don't know if he was afraid they'd come give him bad news or what if I left, but he was livid I be right there.

Our understanding is mostly fat, fried and deep fat fried foods they felt was Stan's culprit . One other thing to think about and some of these Drs. don't tell us or put 2 and 2 together. Could he be taking any medications that might irritate this if he is eating healthy? None of us can eat prefect all time but that's my attitude he isn't going to get it here. Like I said with Keith, I just know he eats really bad, but I'm not God and has my DH just been lucky or has different diet helped him. Being a truck driver, he lived on fast fatty foods for years. I couldn't believe when I didn't have to fight with him to change. What I found unreal is he never complained till he was so sick and hurting he was ready to go to the emergency room. He hadn't been to a Dr in 15 years except company physical and that basically a formality to have his medical card signed.

I sure hope HE can get this settled down. I think that is the main thing he is going to have to keep track what he is eating if he thinks it irritates it, quit eating it stay away from it for a while. Maybe later give it a try. When you say he goes to bathroom after he eats all the time I wonder if he has something else going on with the diverticulitis.

 

[zazouse]

Zaz sounds like you two are already eating as they direct. Stan drinks pop ( not a lot) doesn't seem to effect him.

I know my DH has gotten better since he got really sick, but he still takes medications till the day he doesn't feel like he's going to die then quits. There is nothing worse than a sick DH. I'm feeling your pain.

When Stan had cancer operation which ended up to be 2, he didn't want me to even go home and get a shower the 2 weeks we were in the hospital. I don't know if he was afraid they'd come give him bad news or what if I left, but he was livid I be right there.

Our understanding is mostly fat, fried and deep fat fried foods they felt was Stan's culprit . One other thing to think about and some of these Drs. don't tell us or put 2 and 2 together. Could he be taking any medications that might irritate this if he is eating healthy? None of us can eat prefect all time but that's my attitude he isn't going to get it here. Like I said with Keith, I just know he eats really bad, but I'm not God and has my DH just been lucky or has different diet helped him. Being a truck driver, he lived on fast fatty foods for years. I couldn't believe when I didn't have to fight with him to change. What I found unreal is he never complained till he was so sick and hurting he was ready to go to the emergency room. He hadn't been to a Dr in 15 years except company physical and that basically a formality to have his medical card signed.

I sure hope HE can get this settled down. I think that is the main thing he is going to have to keep track what he is eating if he thinks it irritates it, quit eating it stay away from it for a while. Maybe later give it a try. When you say he goes to bathroom after he eats all the time I wonder if he has something else going on with the diverticulitis.

OMG does god not want him to go to work or what? we got up this morning , i packed his lunch and then he asked where his release papers were, i told him i put them in his bag per his instructions last night after i highlighted the release part, well it was not in there and i can not find it anywhere,
weird thing is i told him last night i felt he needed to take the rest of the week off after he returned from outside in a soaking wet sweat and it was not really hot, i mean i had been out working and never broke a sweat.
He went on to work but we both know after missing 2 days he has to have a doctors excuse and being in the hospital he has to have a release from the doctor, thank god his VA doctor is the next town over but that doesn't put him in a better mood, it is gonna be a rough day i can tell already.

Thanks for the info on the diet, it Reilly helps me , i was not sure if he accidental ate the wrong thing not knowing if it would cause problems within a day or two.

I think something else is going on beside the condition he has with his bowls moving all the time but it has been like that for years, i use to think it was all that beer he drank but he stopped drinking a couple years ago and it still is going on, and thay did not diagnose anything else.

it sounds like crohns to me but they did not list that, i wonder if they really know what is going on sometimes.
I have always thought his meds cause some of his problems, he was put on a new one a couple years ago and he has a rash all the time now, but i know when the inside is messed up it can morf itself to the outside, one of his meds depletes the b-vitamins and folic acid in his system so i have him on vitamins and he has to take a teaspoon of children's allergy meds to keep the itching for driving him crazy, now he is not taking either one cause we are not sure if it ok with the meds

and vitimens.

I think he is just falling apart all them years of drinking have caught up with him even though he finely stopped

I am really worried about these antibiotics, they remove the gut floral we need for healthy digestion and he has a week of them to take, i just pray this does not make things worse especially after having his gut completely cleaned out for the test last Friday .

 

[zazouse]

OMG , my gut is killing me and i just know it is because i feel my DH pain, i can't make it go away and i have that feeling that someting is terribly wrong, i just don't know when i am gonna know for sure, i was hurting all day the day he came home and he ended up in the hospital now i have that same pain and my hands are shakey , i am about to cry and i don't know why except there is something wrong.
Sorry i just had to get this out, mabe if i tell someone it will not happen, i do hope so

 

[Lil Zoo]

Zaz, Wish I could be there with you. You can't make yourself sick. I swear these Drs. have become so specialized that they can't see past their spot in the body.. My thought it sounds like Irritated Bowel Syndrome, just by a person I know that deals with it. An allergic reaction also causes my son to get diarrhea. If he has an outside reaction to anything he has an inside too. If a medication gives him a rash a Dr. needs to change it.

I doubt if his drinking has a lot to do with this. My DH probably has had an average of one drink a year for 40 years.

I sure can't believe he went back to work this fast, either. It might be his release though. Don't stress about the paper call and the Dr office can fax a copy to his work immediately.

Try and remember when a person is sick they are very hard to live with. They usually lash out at the person they love the most. Men can be worse than woman, but believe me I have wondered how my DH has put up with me at times.