Codependency kills.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Starting over all over again
Posts: 4,426
Codependency kills.
Codependency kills.
No really. I knew that addicts can easily kill somebody else while driving under the influence, and they eventually kill themselves from the side effects of whatever chemical they're addicted to. What I've recently learned in the program of Al-Anon is the my codependency is just as dangerous as a chemical addiction.
What I did was I neglected my own health. Skipped doctor and dentist visits, didn't get checkups. All in the name of getting my pill-head wife to change. My life style became ever more stresful as I tried to keep our faltering business afloat, look after her needs and get myself back to school to find a new career. Can you spell "stress"?
Last October I had a heart attack as well as a minor stroke. Had I been taking care of my health properly the docs would have been able to see it coming. I could at least have postponed it a couple decades, if not prevent it altogether. Since October my health has improved enough for me to take a very low stress job, and my emotions have improved as a result of Al-Anon.
I've been going to lots of doctors, finally doing what I should have done years ago. They found a small hole in my heart, technically called a "Atrial Septal Defect". A fairly common condition they _could_ have diagnosed years ago, if I'da shown up.
I also have a fairly defective pancreas, which causes a condition called "hypoglycemia". It's gotten much worse with stress. The heart and the pancreas are messing with each other, and things are going bad in a hurry.
The good news is I'm being scheduled for surgery. They're going to fly me out to some fancy-pants clinic and do open heart surger as well as some kind of partial transplant of my pancreas. Tomorrow I get to spend all day with my docs working out the details and trying to get the insurance company to cough up some cash. I'll be outta town for a couple weeks, soon as I get a date, and then flat on my back in bed for at least 3 months.
I'll let you guys know before I go, and I'll get back online as soon as I'm well enough.
For those of you who haven't been taking care of your own health, my story will eventually become your story. I'm praying for you, and that the program works it's miracles in your life the way it has in mine.
I hope the nurses are cute, I need to learn how to date again.
Mike :-)
No really. I knew that addicts can easily kill somebody else while driving under the influence, and they eventually kill themselves from the side effects of whatever chemical they're addicted to. What I've recently learned in the program of Al-Anon is the my codependency is just as dangerous as a chemical addiction.
What I did was I neglected my own health. Skipped doctor and dentist visits, didn't get checkups. All in the name of getting my pill-head wife to change. My life style became ever more stresful as I tried to keep our faltering business afloat, look after her needs and get myself back to school to find a new career. Can you spell "stress"?
Last October I had a heart attack as well as a minor stroke. Had I been taking care of my health properly the docs would have been able to see it coming. I could at least have postponed it a couple decades, if not prevent it altogether. Since October my health has improved enough for me to take a very low stress job, and my emotions have improved as a result of Al-Anon.
I've been going to lots of doctors, finally doing what I should have done years ago. They found a small hole in my heart, technically called a "Atrial Septal Defect". A fairly common condition they _could_ have diagnosed years ago, if I'da shown up.
I also have a fairly defective pancreas, which causes a condition called "hypoglycemia". It's gotten much worse with stress. The heart and the pancreas are messing with each other, and things are going bad in a hurry.
The good news is I'm being scheduled for surgery. They're going to fly me out to some fancy-pants clinic and do open heart surger as well as some kind of partial transplant of my pancreas. Tomorrow I get to spend all day with my docs working out the details and trying to get the insurance company to cough up some cash. I'll be outta town for a couple weeks, soon as I get a date, and then flat on my back in bed for at least 3 months.
I'll let you guys know before I go, and I'll get back online as soon as I'm well enough.
For those of you who haven't been taking care of your own health, my story will eventually become your story. I'm praying for you, and that the program works it's miracles in your life the way it has in mine.
I hope the nurses are cute, I need to learn how to date again.
Mike :-)
Nature Girl
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
Oh Mike, my prayers go with you!!
Your sense of humour is amazing as is your courage. Please keep us posted and let us know how it all goes. I hope when all this is done you end up feeling so very much better.
And I'll pray for some cute nurses too, Mike. It's nice when we codies can get someone to look after US for a change.
We will all be going with you in spirit Mike.
Hugs
Ann
Your sense of humour is amazing as is your courage. Please keep us posted and let us know how it all goes. I hope when all this is done you end up feeling so very much better.
And I'll pray for some cute nurses too, Mike. It's nice when we codies can get someone to look after US for a change.
We will all be going with you in spirit Mike.
Hugs
Ann
Searching and tripping
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Back in my head
Posts: 1,194
Hey Mikey,
Have missed seeing your posts and I'm sad to hear you've got to have this fancy-pants surgery. Darn... My prayers are with you. Keep us up on your progress.
Blessings
Have missed seeing your posts and I'm sad to hear you've got to have this fancy-pants surgery. Darn... My prayers are with you. Keep us up on your progress.
Blessings
Wipe your paws elsewhere!
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,672
I'll be praying for you, my special friend. Wishing you a healthy heart, a healthy pancreas, some cute nurses to tend to your every need, and many bright, happy, and healthy days ahead. And oh yes, a surgeon who has experience in treating broccoli heads--sorry, couldn't resist.
Miss Scarlett
Miss Scarlett
Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Litterbox City
Posts: 5,691
mike - i will also be praying for a complete success with your surgeries.
i wish i could clone my stepdaughter to send over to the "fancy pants" clinic - she just graduated with her 4 yr. nursing degree and she is, if i must say so myself, a real cutie!!!!
we'll miss you input on the boards!
i wish i could clone my stepdaughter to send over to the "fancy pants" clinic - she just graduated with her 4 yr. nursing degree and she is, if i must say so myself, a real cutie!!!!
we'll miss you input on the boards!
) who can keep you in touch with us.
Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: England
Posts: 3,410
(((Mike)))
Hope eveything goes really well and that you're back sharing your wisdom in no time at all.
Don't be looking at those nurses too much - you have to look after your heart now!
Let us know how you get on.
Thinking of you.
Love
Minnie
xxx
Hope eveything goes really well and that you're back sharing your wisdom in no time at all.
Don't be looking at those nurses too much - you have to look after your heart now!
Let us know how you get on.
Thinking of you.
Love
Minnie
xxx
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 491
I wish you the best on your road to self focus. I have described the same story to friends though fortunately I dont think my health got too bad yet. I did notice an unusual amount of stress hit me and caused some physical stress induced problems but as I broke off all contact with my ex, a sense of peace has covered me and this stress slowly but productively started to disappear, and my focusing on self has really made me feel so healthy, my body, mind and soul has been thanking me so much.
I've arranged dental and health appointments, I workout everynight, I do what I want to do and I stopped denying myself for so long...
I hope you get well and so long as you have the will and determination to continue forward and fight hard, you will succeed in whatever you put your mind to! Afterall, all these stress symptoms are in the mind, the mind is a powerful thing!
Best wishes to you always...
I've arranged dental and health appointments, I workout everynight, I do what I want to do and I stopped denying myself for so long...
I hope you get well and so long as you have the will and determination to continue forward and fight hard, you will succeed in whatever you put your mind to! Afterall, all these stress symptoms are in the mind, the mind is a powerful thing!
Best wishes to you always...
Cruelty-Free
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Body: South Florida Heart: Yosemite National Park
Posts: 914
Originally Posted by DesertEyes
Codependency kills.
Originally Posted by DesertEyes
They're going to fly me out to some fancy-pants clinic
Wishing you a speedy recovery and some cute nurses,
NCP
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