Can you help me help my Dad

[DKSK8754]

Hello, I am new to this group as from today my dad was diagnosed with coronary heart disease. He had an angiogram and was told he may need either a stent or bypass procedure as two arteries are narrowed. I am very worried about all this as it has been very sudden his chest pains. He is very unmotivated at the moment exacerbated understandably by Covid as he hadn’t even been able to meet his granddaughter in Singapore this year. This has led him to become very sedentary and increased his appetite for junk food. He is currently 30kg overweight and a smoker. I wanted some help with how I should speak with him so that he could understand the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle. I developed a meal plan for him based on research which I believe he will not follow due to his love for junk food and takeaways. He has just turned 66. Please help me as I am 33 but have mental health problems since the age of 24 and depend on my parents for companionship and support.

[080311]

Hello DKSK8754

Hello and welcome to the forum, so sorry to read about your Dad, firstly he can get better but he as to help. Adopting a healthy life style is paramount. Stop smoking is a must, lots if us here on the forum follow the Mediterranean diet recommend by BHF lots of fish and fresh vegetables. If you go on line to the BHF web site you will find lots of tips and recipes.

He as to look to exercise as well, if he finds he as to have a bypass then it’s open heart surgery and then he will have to follow the instructions he will be given to get back to normal after such a big op.

I was 68 and had to have Aortic valve replaced and bypass now 4 years on and life is good. Try getting him on the forum to read some of the posts here. His medical team can help him but he as to help himself.

Sending you best wishes Pauline

[DKSK8754 in reply to 080311]

Thanks Pauline. And all the best to you. It’s put me more at ease knowing you were able to recover from this major surgery and are well

[080311 in reply to DKSK8754]

He is very lucky to have such a caring daughter, yes he can be fixed and be on the mended heart road we are travelling but he as to do his part.Pauline

[gilreid1]

The first thing I would suggest is talk with your dad about how you feel and use his love for his grand daughter as an incentive to change his lifestyle. Dieting and stopping smoking will be part of a massive change and is easier said than done. His cardio team will advise on all options but in the end it will be down to him. Just over a year since my bypass and like many others still coming to terms with change.

Family support is one of the best things to help.

Wishing him all the very best

Gil

[DKSK8754 in reply to gilreid1]

Thank you very much Gil for your response and wishing you all the best with your bypass

[gilreid1 in reply to DKSK8754]

👍had my bypass October 2019.

[Boharford]

Try cooking from the hairy bikers diet cookbook. Has healthier versions of many traditional sides like pies. good start to wean off junk food!

[Ianc2]

As Gilreid said 'His love of his grand daughter may be the key to getting him to change his ways' - particularly smoking. Who wants a smelly grandad? If he has to go for a bypass it will give him a major incentive to change and the doctors will probably tell him so. Smoking causes sticky blood which is a very bad idea if you have heart problems. Sticky blood plus sugar from junk food helps to form clots.

There is always a catch. If you can get him to stop the smokes his ability to taste food will improve. Try to get him to go for a walk on a level path so he can see how unfit he is. Do you cook for him ? Can you slowly but surely change his diet without him noticing ?

The British Heart Foundation have lots of informative leaflets which might give him an insight. Deep down he is probably very frightened and is adopting the wrong comforting habits to cope.

[DKSK8754 in reply to Ianc2]

Thank you so much Ianc2 for your response. I don’t cook for him as he dosent live with me and only eats in restaurants which makes matters worse. I offered suggestions to start him off on his diet change simply such as no sugar with his coffees and brown whole meal instead of white bread. I am unsure whether he has taken any of this onboard. Hannukah is next week and I have invited him round for dinner and prayers. So will be offering low fat alternatives which I hope will go unnoticed the difference. I have also ordered some gifts to make his hospital stay more comfortable and more of a positive life changing experience.

[Ianc2]

Have a look on The LCHF site (low carb healthy fat) You can access it by looking at the small 9 circle symbol on the top left of the headline banner, next to the symbol of a house. The Low carb approach means cutting out sugar, bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries, puddings etc.

The British Heart foundation advocates the Mediterranean diet which looks at increasing the amount of fresh green food and reducing red meat in favour of fish and white meats such as chicken. If you look at the BHF website there are plenty of recipes and eating plans available.

Another place to look is on the diabetes.co.uk website, where they have lots of low sugar recipes, menus and diets. Before the medics get to work they will carry out a raft of blood tests. Sugar levels are one the key indicators that they will look at.

Restaurants are usually very happy to meet customers needs. As long as you tell them what you want they will work hard to meet your requirements.

Good luck with your quest. As Gilreid said his love for his grand-daughter may be they key to all the changes you hope to unlock.

[Ianc2]

If you get a chance have a chat with the surgeon to ask him to advise your father?