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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

This is so bloody hard. Am I really being selfish?

42 replies

Notalone · 13/11/2011 15:22

I have been with my DP for almost 7 months. After being with an abusive ex our relationship is like a breath of fresh air. We get on really well, agree on almost everything and enjoy just being together. Our relationship got serious very quickly and we are head over heels in love. He had a major heart attack a few years ago and had an angina attack a few weeks ago. His GP has put him on the waiting list for more investigations and he is understandably very scared. He had counselling after his heart attack and just felt like he was returning to his old self when the angina reared its ugly head. I have been there for him the whole time.

I knew the situation when we got together and it does not change how I feel about him. I have never put my own insecurities about this onto him but in reality I am scared too. If he doesn't call me when he says he is going to (which is rare) I worry. We used to work together and his boss (my ex boss) called me a few weeks ago to tell me he had some bad news and was I on my own. I started shaking and tears were streaming down my face because I thought something had happenned to him. It turned out an old client of mine had died and he wanted me to know (I then felt guilty for feeling momentarily relieved it wasn't DP). I am scared of falling more and more in love with him and to have to deal with the fact that there is a good chance he will go before me and at a young age. I don't know if I want more DC's but he feels it would be selfish of him to have anymore children because in his words he probably won't be around to see them grow up. I am scared of bringing him into DS's life because this could affect him too if anything was to happen. All these things worry me.

I tried to broach the subject with him on Friday and he basically told me (not in a nasty way) that he will not talk about this and that him not talking about it is self preservation. He said me wanting to talk about it is selfish because is does not affect me or have the same impact that it does on him. I was crying because I hate the fact that I may have made this worse for him or made him more stressed, and also in truth for myself. I have talked to friends about this and have had a mixed reaction. One friend was bereaved at a young age and has told me to be selfish and move on. She would not wish what she went through on her worst enemy. Another friend agreed with DP and said I will probably need to be content talking to friends about this instead. However, I feel no-one really understands because they are not in this situation themselves. The only people who do really understand the whole situation are myself and DP, but he won't discuss it. I am not saying I want to talk about it all the time but I feel upset, frustrated, angry and scared all at once because no-one seems to see it from my point of view. Of course his needs come first. Stress really badly impacts on his condition. But what about me? Is it really selfish to want to articulate my worries very occasionally or should I really never be able to talk about it?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 13/11/2011 15:25

Join a therapy group for partners of people living with chronic illness. You need to talk to others who understand.

You can't talk to him about it, it's not good for him.

You are NOT selfish but you both have very different needs.

Flanelle · 13/11/2011 15:30

What else won't you be allowed to do because "it's not good for him"? It's only talking. If you can't talk to him about your deep fears and worries - and if he can't talk about his - what have you really got together?

Flanelle · 13/11/2011 15:31

Not quite sure if this is really an AIBU topic or not. What specifically do you think y might be bu about?

katyfi · 13/11/2011 15:33

Can you wait til the investigations. You can then base action ( if any) on fact rather than supposition ( rather pointless )

CopperLocs · 13/11/2011 15:33

I don't think you are being selfish but as LaurieFairyCake says, you have different needs at the moment where this situation is concerned.

Having said that, my personal feeling is that if you are both serious about your relationship then it is something you will need to discuss and prepare for together eventually.

Notalone · 13/11/2011 15:34

Thanks Laurie - do you know of any at all? Specifically any that have internet forums maybe?

Flanelle - I wanted to see if IABU about wanting to talk about it and if I am really being selfish. My friend I talked to yesterday completely got it from his point of view and I felt incredibly alone at that point.

OP posts:
Flanelle · 13/11/2011 15:35

Bit of a red flag for me that he called you selfish like that.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/11/2011 15:35

It's only "talking" could kill him though. He has clearly mentally protected himself from his illness by not allowing himself to dwell on it and not taking on the feelings of others.

I'm not saying he's right to do that, but it is his choice. He needs to do what is right for him to stay stress free.

The OP needs to get her support from others.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/11/2011 15:36

I will have a scout round. What area of the country do you live in - the GP's here keep a list of support groups.

Notalone · 13/11/2011 15:36

Katy - even before the angina came back he has always been of the mindset that he doesn't have a huge amount of time. He believes he will be fortunate to get to 60. That is less than 20 years away.

I agree Copper. It is not as though I need to talk about it incessantly but my worries are very valid too. However discussing it stresses him out and makes him more aware of his own mortality so for now it is a taboo subject

OP posts:
Onemorning · 13/11/2011 15:36

I second what Laurie says. It's not being selfish for you to need to sort it out in your head, neither is it selfish for your DP to not want to talk about it.

What a horrible situation for you both, I hope you are able to get the support you both need.

Flanelle · 13/11/2011 15:38

No, stress could be dangerous. Talking does not equal stress. It equals stress reduction when two lovers share their fears and worries and become closer and stronger for it, surely?

Notalone · 13/11/2011 15:39

Flanelle - honestly he is lovely. The most considerate man I have ever been with. He has been such a rock for me over the past few months and I could not imagine being without him now. I can see it from his point of view. The way he feels about this he has no energy left for anyone elses feelings. Including mine Sad In his words he just wants to be around long enought to see his kids grow up

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 13/11/2011 15:40

To other people talking doesn't equal stress but to the op's boyfriend it, very unfortunately, does.

Sending you lots of sympathy OP. Awful situation.

Notalone · 13/11/2011 15:42

Laurie - I am in Yorkshire. Thank you Smile

Thanks onemorning too Smile

Flanelle - I thought the same but really in reality it makes it worse. It feeds his insecurities and I think he feels if someone else articulates their concerns then it it as bad as he fears. I can't and won't do that to him but I want to be able to voice how I feel at the same time. Its a horrible situation, it really is

OP posts:
Flanelle · 13/11/2011 15:47

Still got alarm bells. Heart attack v. serious. I get that. Angina not good. I get all that. But "no energy for anyone else's feelings" ... ? Ever? I don't get that. Not blaming him. Seriously. It's terrifying and he's terrified. But I think there's a way for him to be poorly and careful without being that locked in and that totally selfish and without silencing you and calling you names. IF he seriously wants to be your partner.

Good luck OP.

Notalone · 13/11/2011 15:52

Sorry Flanelle. The no energy for anyone elses feelings were my words, not his. I am probably not painting him in a very good light but he is truly amazing. He is always there for me and for a lot of other people too. When we worked together he was always the shoulder everyone else leant on. And I know he finds being the good guy, the voice of reason, draining at times. I guess you have to draw the line somewhere. He has been there for me through a lot of personal crisises (sp?) this year and no other subject is taboo. Just this one and I can see why. But I feel upset for myself too. I am sure we will find some sort of middle ground at some point. He knows how I feel now at least. Whether he takes that forward is up to him now and I will need to seek support elsewhere.

OP posts:
Flanelle · 13/11/2011 15:56

Ok, I understand a bit more now. Hope you find some good places to talk until DP's ready & I wish you both well.

waterrat · 13/11/2011 15:56

If he is in a relationship with you then yes, he has to talk about it - and yes, it does affect you. Sorry, but he can't back out of discussion - it is impacting you, upsetting you and you need to be able to talk about it.

I think some counselling for you on your own might be a good starting point - you can work out why you need to talk to him, what you need to talk about - and look at how your history in relationships is linked to your current fears...

cwtch4967 · 13/11/2011 15:58

Is he having further treatment, has he made any lifestyle changes that may have been suggested? ie is he doing everything he can to improve his health or is waiting for his fate?

Notalone · 13/11/2011 16:04

Thanks Flanelle Smile

Waterrat - I am going to see if there are any online support groups first. I work full time and what with DS and an active dog lol my free time is very sparse.

CWtch - he is on medication and made some lifestyle changes at the time by giving up smoking and cutting down his working hours. He doesn't have the best diet but takes plenty of exercise. He is also waiting for his fate though too if that makes sense. He feels it is inevitable.

I stepped out in front of a bus last week by mistake thinking it was a one way street. In a weird way that illustrated for me that actually this may not be his fate at all. I could go before him or he could go in another way years and years in the future. However he can't see any alternative. In his mind it is a given that this is what will eventually get him and at a young age

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 13/11/2011 16:11

I think you are both acting in really negative, unhealthy way.

He think he's dying and you assume he probably is too - when, truth is, he could have another 20 plus years.

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 13/11/2011 16:16

You are both wallowing in morbid misery over something that may or may not happen one day. (And I do know exactly what you are feeling because I've been there - there's a thread about someone stopping smoking on here from this past week where I posted all about my exeriences with heart disease and dying.)
The death rate is exactly the same for everyone in the world - one person, one death, one day and you need to get over yourselves and get on with living before you both die of depression!

Notalone · 13/11/2011 16:45

Ha Ha - yes you are probably both right Nancy and Pombear. The truth is it rarely rears its ugly head and we do have a very normal relationship. But of course it matters. I have to think about this, about my future, his future and that of DS. I will only be in my early 50's in 20 years. Still very young. And it might affect whether I have more children which is a huge issue as far as I am concerned. And of course DS would be affected too. But, yes you are both right. Being consumed by negative feelings is not healthy. Do you have a link to that thread Pombear?

OP posts:
PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 13/11/2011 17:05

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1340355-to-stop-smoking
That's the thread Not (am quietly pleased with myself for finding that Grin )

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