Is Housemate Acting Weird or AIBU?

[LessMissAbs]

New housemate. The first week, I got in from work, dripping wet from the rain, to a loud wailing noise coming from the bathroom. Bathroom door was open, she was sitting on the toilet seat, screaming in agony. I thought she'd injured herself or had bad food poisoning, but no, it was her period. She said it would only last an hour, but the only thing that could help is if someone stayed with her and talked to her. Awkward to say the least. Eventually I persuaded her to take some Ibuprofen, escaped to get changed out of my wet clothes, and she made a full recovery.

The next week, I got a phone call during my evening class (but it went to voicemail as I have it switched off during the class) asking me to phone her back urgently, as she'd been to give blood, felt faint, and could I come and collect her as she was too faint to drive. I didn't - I had an exam, and she did recover enough to drive herself home.

Last week, there was a crisis the moment I got in the door about the key for the bike shed having gone missing. I didn't even get a chance to get my jacket off.

This week she has been talking about her period being due again soon, and maybe going to see a doctor about it. I think I'm dreading the period as much as her!

Do people really suffer in this way/AIBU to feel slightly freaked by all of this?

[RedHelenB]

I'd let her get the plastic - it will save your carpet from getting ruined!!!!

[ConfusedPixie]

I would just replace her tbh. She's renting a room and is supposed to be respectful of that, it just sounds like she can't handle it! Get rid, change the locks and get somebody else in! It's the time of year where students are backing out of their rooms/houseshares because they don't like them any more so you'll find somebody!

[AlienananaReflux]

I couldn't live like this, from a friend of years maybe (not the hand holding period bit though!!) but someone you have just met? big fat nope!!

The fact she refused painkillers to make the situation better is very telling, you sound much more tolerant than me though!

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

The film Single White Female has sprung to mind!!

She sounds a bit odd.

[PessaryPam]

Seriously get rid NOW!!!

[LessMissAbs]

Please don't mention single white female!

I thought I was going to be told I was being unsympathetic towards her - but I do agree she sounds like shes playing on it, to see how much attention shes going to get out of me. Perhaps she does it a lot. But how can someone know their period pains are going to last exactly an hour?

this morning, we had a minor drama over a blocked toilet. She came rushing ino my room, full of the dramatic news, telling me I'd need to get a plumber. I'd just put a bit too much toilet paper down the loo wihout flushing properly, bcause I have a cold and had been blowing my nose (big point made that I'd given her my cold). I simply stuck a long wooden spoon down the cistern and moved it on, problem solved. She then started fussing about throwing the wooden spoon away, no I said, I'll just wash it.

then she announcd the hot water wasn't working. I ran the tap, hot water appeared - she simply hadn't run the tap long enough.

Forunately she manaed to get on her way to work, despite all these traumas. Miracle she gets there on time since she refuses to wear a watch. I asked her how she knew what time it was, she said she just asks other people to look at their watches for her!

[HecatePropolos]

hang on - you're not going to use that spoon for cooking, are you?

[HecatePropolos]

oh. cystern. Sorry. for some reason I got the idea you'd shoved it down the loo

Never mind.

[HecatePropolos]

i not y

[HappyNewHissy]

Please, please, please, get rid. she is BATTY.

Give her notice, today.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

God, she sounds like a fecking nightmare. Get rid of her before she sends you as bonkers as she is.

[Arthurfowlersallotment]

I have two friends with endometriosis and they do not go on like your housemate..

She is strange. Don't feed her drama!

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

She's a weirdo. Get rid.

[Lavenderhoney]

Batshit crazy:) you should advertise for a chef- always at work doing double shifts or sleeping:) plus if they do get up they can cook! Perfect

can you give her notice? What is she going to do when you aren't there? Phone you at all hours maybe?

Sorry, I would be saying its not working right now- but she hasn't signed anything yet has she? And I guess you both agreed a month probation in case it didn't work for either of you?

[LessMissAbs]

I did shove the wooden spoon down the loo. It was perfectly clean, it was just toilet paper blocking it and it took on small shove. I must say what to do with the spoon was not my first concern, but in view of how she seamlessly moved onto a new fuss, a little bit of evil glimmered in me and I told her I was going to wash it. I'll probably buy a new on today.

[EuroShagmore]

I have extrememly painful periods and do sometimes need to be persuaded to take drugs (more because I can't face moving from wherever I happen to have hibernated to get tablets and water than anything else). I kind of go out of my mind with pain and lose proper priorities. I've never asked anyone to sit with me through it though. I find that a bit

[milf90]

Yes, she sounds like a drama queen and an attention seeker. Sounds like she's going to be hard work!!

[OnTheBottomWithAStringOfTinsel]

She won't have a TV in her room? Looks like she's looking for an excuse to pester you talk to you in the evenings.

Until you get rid, perhaps put the TV in your room and go there yourself after work - I think giving up the living room temporarily would be a small sacrifice in order to preserve your sanity! Or if you have Netflix or Lovefilm watch it on the laptop/tablet with headphones.

Also throw some textbooks around and tell her you're studying for something so you've a bona fide excuse to absent yourself. I had a lodger 10 years ago, for less than a year, who, on looking back, was actually OK - but I like my own space and company and he drove me nuts.

Oh, get exactly the same sort of wooden spoon, and hide the old one in the middle of the rubbish, and don't tell her (and then update us on the meltdown )

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

Bit late to ask I guess, did you happen to have a "settling in" phase in mind, say a month just to find out how well you got on? Maybe by the 4th weekend you could take a deep breath, tell her it's not working, "It's not me, it's you" and ask her to be out by a certain date?

[digerd]

She is probably a very highly strung person who panics about everything and relies on others to sort out her problems - and you oblige - stop.
That period thing is ridiculous to ask you to stay with her. Bet she had tried that on others and you are the only one who obliged.
She is taking advantage of your helpful nature..

[WhereYouLeftIt]

She just gets worse, doesn't she? She's taking high-maintenance to the level of an art form.

"... she refuses to wear a watch. I asked her how she knew what time it was, she said she just asks other people to look at their watches for her!"
I do feel that this is actually a good summary of her attitude. She expects other people to deal with the necessities of life so that she can abdicate all responsibility for herself.

Can you serve her notice OP? How soon can you get her out?

[complexnumber]

Why are you reading her Facebook statuses? That's creepy landlord behaviour or maybe you have blurred the boundaries.

You know somewhere that she is posting "Uuuuuuurgh! my landlady just pushed her toilet blockage down with a spoon and now she's put it back in the kitchen." People on the other thread will be saying LTB.

[LessMissAbs]

Because shes one of my FB friends complexnumber.

there was nothing blocking the toilet but toilet roll. I draw the line at calling out a plumber to do something so easy.

I must say I have never in my life been accused of being creepy!

[MirandaGoshawk]

I worked with someone who had awful periods. Once she looked so green and was doubled up in such pain that I called an ambulance. She wasn't a drama queen. I'm just posting this to say that period pains can seem awfully serious. However, your lodger does seem a bit...bonkers needy.

[Birdsgottafly]

"Roommate" is running on Sky most nights this month, don't watch it.