Taking some of the stress off me, without feeling guilty from the pain it causes. My husband now has a tracheotomy (at night only) and it is my responsibility to care for it. The more he does for himself the better he will get and the more weight he will lose which is the only way for the trach to be removed eventually. I know that getting up causes him physical pain but if he stops getting up he will eventually become unable to get up. I guess I am seeking the words to motivate him without making him feel I don't want to do it for him. I know that if he stops it will kill him and that is a great fear. We are both 50, I work full time and provide full time care for him. Thanks for your time.
Yes, I did apologize and explain why I said what I said. Things are tense but at least we are doing something.
It's very challenging for the spouse of a person with this kind of health condition. If this is the case, then you know how the patient can blame and deflect from the real problem. I might seek support for myself with a counselor or therapist. Your husband may continue to be resistant, without similar help. I wish you all the best.
I know that he must make the changes that are necessary to survive. I do like the words you used """I'd really like to save you the pain of doing that by doing it for you, but I know you need to do it in order to get better. I really, really want to see you better!""" This may be the best words and put it back on him for allowing me to feel guilty about making him do what he knows he has to do.
The pain is caused by a broken back (4 places all within 1/2 inch) but he still walks around and can do for himself.
He understands that if he loses the weight he gets better and to live longer but he has had other waiting on him for so long "feeling sorry" for him that he has come to expect it. (We have only been married 6 years). Although I realized at the time that his health was an issue I never bargained on a tracheotomy or the care it would take me to give him.
One think I know for sure is that illness can tax a marriage to the max, love and understanding must pull together for things to survive, especially when you are newlyweds (under 10 years).
Thank you both for the advice.
So you'll have to make decisions in spite of the unearned feelings of guilt. Do your best to do what you understand to be right for your husband. Move on and ignore the guilt.
Have doctors explained what the pain is from, whether there is any way to lessen it, when to be concerned that it is "abnormal" under the circumstances?
I agree with Pam that some in-home "professional" help might be more motivating and less easy to dismiss as nagging.
What to say? Well, I see that you are a writer, but I don't guess there are any magic words. "I'd really like to save you the pain of doing that by doing it for you, but I know you need to do it in order to get better. I really, really want to see you better!"
Has your husband bought into the theory that if he loses weight his health will improve? Does he basically believe that he can improve? Does he want to? What is his overall attitude toward his condition?