Pacemakers Support Group

What kind of help do you need??? I am the person with the ICD, but please tell me what you need. I don't know about another group, so let us help you if we can.

I just want some input on what I need to do to help my husband with his diet & what else I can do to help him through this time. He won't let me go to the Dr with him for his appoinments so I don't know what to look for or what I need to do.

Cook his food without salt. Use mostly fresh or frozen. Check all labels for the amount of sodium. Try not to eat fast food or go out to eat too much. Go for a walk with him. Try to get him to let you go to the doctor with him. Tell him sometimes it is good for two sets of ears to hear what the doctor has to say. Ask me some more specific things....

The American Heart Association website offers alot of information about lifestyle changes for people with heart disease. I can tell you from experience changing eating habits takes getting used to.
I agree with SB57 that sodium is a big problem with heart disease. My diet contains no more than 2000mg a day which is about 2 tsp.
I was told by a nutritionist a heart healthy diet is high fiber, low sodium, low fat, good proteins. Lots of frut & veggies (fresh and frozen), whole grains, fish, chicken, and lean red meat no more than 2 days a week. Dairy products should be low fat or as low a fat as you can stand in my case 1%.
Canned and preprepared food is high in sodium thats why fresh or frozen is best.
You can do your part but ultimately it's his decision as to weather he wants to change. Many people live long healthy lives with heart disease but part of the treatment is developing healthy habits.
I don't like my spouse going to the doctor anymore, because he tattles on me when I cheat on my diet or smoke a cigarette. I'm not saying thats what he's doing but thats what I do :-)
Did he tell you why he doesn't want you going to the doctor with him?

Thank you sb57 & papeacjes for the information. I have been reading labels & watching the sodium. I have not been given a rason why he doesn't want me to go with him.

Just insist that you go with him. I told my husband not to go with me, but the reason was not to hide anything. He thought I was trying to hide information from him and threw a fit about wanting to go to the doctor with me. I finally said ok whatever you want. I was just trying to save you some time and effort. Now, he chooses if he wants to go or not. I didn't realize it was such a big deal to him until he got mad about it and talked to me. Maybe he doesn't realize it is a big deal to you. Have you talked to him about it?

Yes I have talked to him, but I will try one more time & see how it goes this time. Thank you

My husband didn't like me going with him to his doctors...but I did anyway and now he doesn't mention me NOT going.

Another website forum you might try is implantables.com....and they have a separate group for ICD patients.

Good luck,
Sue