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Original poster

Horrendous foot in mouth scenarios

99 replies

KatnissMellark · 26/05/2019 18:17

Lovely kind nurse chatting to me prior to my discharge following some gynae surgery as a result of multiple IVF complications: on hearing I've only got one DC 'oh that's lucky, having two is a nightmare...blah blah blah', me 'not really lucky, that's why I'm here.. we've had seven IVFs, two miscarriages and a lost twin and I've just been operated on to sort some complications'. Felt a bit bad correcting her but she did know I'd just had pelvic surgery by a consultant specialising in infertility it doesn't really phase me after so many years of dealing with comments like this- people are really just making conversation/trying to 'help'/slightly misguided but I think this one was the worst (because of the context!). I wasn't upset but she was pretty mortified I think.

Anyone got any corkers?

OP posts:

TwitterQueen1 · 26/05/2019 18:25

My friend told me I had a very masculine face - when I'd gone bald through chemo. Lovely. Thanks for that.

Sizeofalentil · 26/05/2019 18:27

I'm sorry about your losses and your surgery- wishing you a quick recovery soon.

I once warned a casual sex partner that the condoms I had on me were quite small, so probably wouldn't fit him (be a bit tight).

They fit perfectly fine, and the awkwardness just hung in the air and killed the mood somewhat

(He certainly wasn't small or anything either - he must have had the same shaped willy as whoever had modelled for the condoms or something)

Justkeeprollingalong · 26/05/2019 18:28

At my mum's funeral 'have you realised you're an orphan now?'. Yes, thanks.

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Bluerussian · 26/05/2019 18:28

I think the nurse was just telling you, albeit tactlessly, to count your blessings. Lots of people would be delighted to have one child. Appreciate what you have and make the most of them, you are blessed.

Original poster

KatnissMellark · 26/05/2019 18:29

Twitter that is bad! How did you react?!?

Thanks for the laugh Sizeofalentil is your username related to the incident?

OP posts:

Original poster

KatnissMellark · 26/05/2019 18:37

No blue, she was just making mindless conversation, no malice but also not much thought. She was lovely and absolutely no offence was taken but thoughtless all the same. Of course I'm lucky to have my DC and I'm absolutely grateful for them-thank my lucky stars every day that he is here, he's an absolute miracele, and I realise others are worse off. But that doesn't mean I haven't suffered. Years of infertility, invasive treatments, horrendous side effects, multiple hospitalisations, not to mention the cost, the effect on my relationship, my career...

OP posts:

CarcerDun · 26/05/2019 18:38

As a teen I accidentally stood on DMs toe, so she did a howling over acted limp up and down the shop. Each time passing the amputee shopping in front of us. Same leg. She didn't notice him, it was excruciating.

TwitterQueen1 · 26/05/2019 18:40

Unfortunately, I didn't at myself.
It was one of those moments when I thought "WTF are you saying?" Made worse by the fact that actually I was giving her more bad news....

It amazes me that someone who is supposed to be a good friend can be so utterly, utterly insensitive.

"You're an orphan now"..... OMG. Sometimes there are just no words.

Aardvarkitsabloodyaardvark · 26/05/2019 18:40

At a dinner party when one person said something about its like the blind leading the blind... There was a blind dinner guest. Horrendous.

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 26/05/2019 18:45

At Dad's funeral meal my aunt was talking to me about her son's new girlfriend.

"Yeah,this one doesn't have a dad. He died a few years ago. In don't know what he's thinking bringing all these orphans home!"

While meant to be insulting to the gf,it felt like a slap in the face to me too.

Hoppinggreen · 26/05/2019 18:46

Ranting to a client about how a lettings agency were being awkward about wanting her name rather than her employers name on the tenancy agreement
“ they’re being ridiculous- a corporate let is much safer, even if you got hit by a bus the day after you moved in they would still get the rent paid for 12 months”
Guess how her husband died ? ( which I knew)

Original poster

KatnissMellark · 26/05/2019 18:48

Oh no hopping I bet you we're dying inside as that came out of your mouth

OP posts:

flippyflapper · 26/05/2019 19:01

The one that sticks out for me and i feel sick anytime i think about it.

I was pregnant and mum at the school was pregnant too a few weeks a head, every pick up we would chat, such a lovely lady.

My daughter came 6 weeks early so while dh was off work he did the school runs so i hadn't seen school mum for about 4 weeks.

First pick up i was standing talking to other mums everyone cooing over the baby and i spot the mum, no more bump and stupid absolute stupid me goes over with baby asking where her little one was, the poor lady had a still birth, i have never felt so awful in my life as she was obviously trying to avoid me.

It was nearly 9 years ago now

Lovethetimeyouhave · 26/05/2019 19:02

I work from home so have few interactions, but loved reading these few

Original poster

KatnissMellark · 26/05/2019 19:14

Wow floppy you poor thing, I feel ill reading that.

OP posts:

Pieceofpurplesky · 26/05/2019 19:20

Shortly after my exh left I got a message from his friend asking me if I could look after their kids when they were out with him. as 'it's not like you will will be going anywhere'

WeeDangerousSpike · 26/05/2019 19:22

I've lost count of the number of times I've asked my friend with one arm if he 'needs a hand' with something when he's trying to do something and it's obviously awkward.

Wtf I can't just say 'do you need some help' I don't know.

TheChineseChicken · 26/05/2019 19:33

I was out with friends and we were discussing names for some reason and I started saying I really didn't like a certain name and that the usual shortening was even worse. Not sure why I was so impassioned at the time as I don't really feel that strongly about the name either way (might have been the glass of wine that had gone to my head).

Look up and remember my good friend, who is sitting opposite me, is called the name and uses the shortening

slipperywhensparticus · 26/05/2019 19:40

Need a hand? (To someone who has had half theres surgically removed and is in severe pain) I realised what I said and corrected myself to any help really obviously she inquired if I needed a spade to dig my self out I informed her a shovel would work better

Someone who was deaf and mute walked into me as a teenager jesus she could have said sorry (she did sign sorry) when I realised she couldnt talk I did the sensible teenage thing and legged it

Wavingwhiledrowning · 26/05/2019 19:48

Once during an evening of drinking and such, the conversation turned to 'what would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse?'. I said "I'd just kill myself. It's the easy way out". There was very little reaction. Afterwards, DH told me that (future) SILs DM had committed suicide. I cannot describe how terrible I felt. Even now thinking about it I feel all hot and sicky.

PassMeTheBleach · 26/05/2019 19:50

My friend has trichotillomania (a compulsion to pull her hair out). She asked me how my really boring trip had been and I said “Oh god it was so awful. I wanted to rip my hair out”

DisplayPurposesOnly · 26/05/2019 20:12

My favourite being on the receiving end is the time my colleague told me he'd had rabbit to eat over the weekend... I waited til he'd finished telling me about his lovely meal then told him I'd had to have my much-loved pet rabbit to sleep the day before. He was mortified

(And hasn't eaten rabbit since )

justyouraveragegirl · 26/05/2019 20:45

After having nose surgery, my deputy manager was in the office with me and the manager looking at old work photos from a work do and whilst looking at an old photo of me said "omg look at your nose I didn't realise how bad it was" she then proceeded to show the manager (who was new) going on about how bad my nose was, my manager then asked me if it was always that bad or if I had been in an accident as a child.. I only had sinus surgery and they lifted the tip a bit so it wasn't majorly different so I was very taken a back to say the least.. luckily for me I'm very aware that some people feel the need to bring others down to make themselves feel better so didn't let it bother me too much..

Proseccoagain · 26/05/2019 21:07

On my first holiday on my own after DH died.... at the bar getting myself a drink and the entertainments officer asked if I was getting a beer for my hubby as well.....
For one thing, I cannot stand the word 'hubby', so I am afraid I told her that if he were here he would definitely not be having a beer but a large Scotch. Shouldn't have made her feel embarrassed, but I was feeling a bit raw.

SimonJT · 26/05/2019 21:14

I made a joke about ‘nutters’ falling in love with prisoners and marrying them, I didn’t know at the time that one of the colleagues in the group married her husband when he was serving time.

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