|
by Michael Tresca
- Be tolerant! This condition may be new to both of you. It will change
both of your lives, but it does not END your lives. You'll need to get
comfortable talking about diarrhea and stool -- and even better, you may
learn to laugh about it!
- Educate yourself. Any condition having to do with farts and poop isn't
likely to be something you read about every day (unless it's a joke on a
late night show). In this rare instance, the Internet is probably a good
place to start.
- Educate others. Unthinking relatives and friends can make very hurtful
statements like "it's all in your head." Especially with digestive issues,
there's a lot of theory. Be ready to educate some folks, and for the rest,
plan how to avoid talking to them about that subject.
- Learn to hold it. Your spouse will use the bathroom. A lot. You and
your family needs to be understanding about your spouse's situation.
Sometimes that means finding another bathroom. Sometimes that means getting
out of the bathroom quickly. Sometimes that means you just hold it.
- Be the press person. That is, it's sometimes difficult for your spouse
to explain to people why she or he must use the bathroom immediately. If
she's a woman, this makes life easier. If he's a man, it's not so easy.
But if it comes from you, it spares your spouse some embarrassment.
- Make sure everyone knows about your spouse's diet. You don't even have
to explain this one -- blame it on allergies. When family events are
scheduled, be sure your spouse's special diet is taken into account.
- Conversely, choose restaurants based on your spouse's diet. This may
mean no Mexican or Indian food. When it comes to restaurants, don't put the
burden on your spouse.
- Know your doctors. Your spouse may often be medicated or otherwise
unable to speak him- or herself. So you need to be aware of the issues,
be in contact with the doctors, and have all the emergency medical numbers
on hand at all times.
- Plan everything. Your spouse is going to need access to bathrooms. This
means no long trips on deserted roads. It means getting a seat next to the
toilet on buses and planes. It means knowing the whereabouts of the rest
rooms BEFORE you go shopping in a mall. And if you can't get to a rest room
fast enough...
- Be sure to have a spare change of clothes for your spouse.
Mike Tresca is a communications professional who enjoys
writing, gaming, and reviewing. He also happens to be the husband of Amber Tresca and has stood by her side through two surgeries over six years.
 |
|
|
