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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think we shouldn't have had children and the only way now is down.

6 replies

lecce · 30/07/2013 13:57

Ok, this is a total pity-party so feel free to ignore.

Dh has MS. He has had it for 10 years and been lucky enough, up until now, to have one two-week relapse per year with no symptoms in between. This year, our luck has run out and, following his usual bout in Feb, he has never been 100% . On the plus side, from this Sept both dc will be in school so the SAHD years are over, but on the negative side we have recently moved and increased the mortgage and his earning power is now less. He has done online marking throughout the SAHD years, but has done less this year due to illness and his plans to get some sort of school-hours-friendly job is looking ropey due to his health.

I earn a decent amount (teacher of 8 years with extra- responsibility) but we are utterly skint at the moment. Dh is tired all the time, though has no pain, he says. We are all at home with no money to do anything and dh is being grim. I know I am being completely selfish and awful but I can't help feeling resentment. I am scared more than anything, but it is coming out in anger/irritation. If I ask how he is, he snaps, "I've got a disease, dear, it's called MS." and if I don't ask for a while, he pulls me up on that. I know it's worse for him than for me, and he must be scared, but I can't seem to find it in me to play the compassionate wife Sad.

I am worried about money constantly. If I could just pack the dc up for a great day out, it would help, but I can't. We usually camp and could just about afford that (at a stretch) but his health won't allow it. I am considering booking a few days in a pod on credit, though that is probably a bad idea, but we are stewing here.

He has agreed to go to CAB to see if we are entitled to anything, but if ever I mention making the appointment, he bites my head off and doesn't make it. I know we probably aren't, anyway, but would like to try. He just goes around with a 'set', grim face and I feel so awful for the dc. My father had depression while I was young and spent an awful lot of time in bed. The feeling of oppression in the house was awful, and the way things are now reminds me of that time Sad.

I think the dc are ok, but feel so bad we can't give them a holiday, or some good days out. Ds1, always a thumb-sucker and hair-twiddler, has pulled out a huge chunk of hair this week, and I feel this must be related to the atmosphere at home. We hardly know anyone here, so no friends to meet up with another source of guilt. I feel we have made an awful mistake in moving the dc away from an, admittedly small support-network and that we shouldn't have risked moving, but it didn't look so risky at the time.

Apologies for the self-pity and doubles typos - am typing in a hurry.

OP posts:
CocacolaMum · 30/07/2013 14:07

I am really sorry, your situation sucks. For all of you.

Have you considered some kind of counselling? You somehow need to get through to your DH that although yes MS is awful, he needs to be there for your dc too.
I am not sure what else to say, I didn't want to read and run.

Sonnet · 30/07/2013 14:11

Hi lecce,

i don't have any experience of this but didn't want your post to go unanswered.
The strain that you are all under must be horrific.

Surely getting out of the house will help (even if just you and the DC). Could you:
pack up your lunch and go to a local park for a picnic? or even just an ice cream?

You say you are new to the area - could you set out to explore the local town and countryside?

Any free museums/events on?

Maybe if you plan little outings for the week ahead you and the Dc will feel a little better and ut may lift the oppressive atmosphere a little

merrymonsters · 30/07/2013 14:12

Re benefits, have a look at Turn2us.org.uk or gov.org.uk - both sites have benefits calculators so you can see online what you may be entitled to.

PenelopePipPop · 30/07/2013 14:21

Chronic fucking illness. What an absolute pisser for you all. I am really sorry.

Your DH is being a bit of an arse because he is at least as scared as you. Which is fair enough. Things will get more stable again. But learning to adjust to the realities of life with a chronic illness takes longer than anyone ever tells you, and if he has only had short relapses up till now maybe he has also been massively in denial? The nasty sarkiness is a bit suggestive... Tell him he does have a responsibility not to be unpleasant to you, even though you realise this is a pisser for him.

Get to the CAB yourself just so you know whether you have applied for everything. Has he claimed DLA? That can be a useful gateway to other help - but filling in the forms is a big psychological hurdle and he should do it with a CAB adviser or a helpline adviser from one of the MS charities if possible.

Commit to building a support network for yourself. Get yourself and/or the DC out to anything cheap where you can meet some other adults and just chat about inane stuff. Community stuff, classes at the childrens centre etc.

Call any of the MS charities - don't know owt about MS myself. Post on the health boards here and someone may know more about which of the MS charities are most helpful with what kinds of information.

Since I don't know your finances I can't advise on how good or bad an idea taking a break is (will paying it off stress you out more when you get back). But i'd agree that taking a break should be a priority if you can manage it. I've had a hellish couple of years and we've prioritised having holidays which have always helped, even if they have been a stress in themselves at the time. Just getting away makes it easier to see your situation clearly.

But YABU to think the only way is down. It is a bloody awful situation and I wouldn't presume to know your future. But for many of us with neurological illness life does gets stable and happier again. I had encephalitis followed by severe epilepsy a couple of years ago (the prognosis is totally different to MS which is why I'm not presuming to know what will happen for you) but we got through some incredibly rough times and I was horribly depressed and I'm happier and stronger now.

Mogz · 30/07/2013 14:43

Where abouts are you livng now OP? Sounds like, along with all the above advice, you need to build up your friendship circle and support network. Why not see if anyone on MN is in your area, or knows of any cheap/free groups you can join.
Good luck with everything, I hope things get easier for you soon.

glasscompletelybroken · 30/07/2013 15:43

The MS Society will help you. Please call them and you will find someone you can unburden to who will understand and who will offer practical help.

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