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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think my husband's strayed...

84 replies

user1479812890 · 22/11/2016 11:30

Longstanding mumsnetter but set up new account as don't want this attached to my normal one. But naice ham, PippaPavlova, Yoni etc, etc.

I am aged 38, my husband is 46. We have a four year old son and 3 month old twins.

Last Saturday I looked in an email account which is normally used by my husband only to buy gaming treats for our four year old. There was a receipt in there for a packet of Viagra from an online pharmacy 4 weeks ago. I confronted him and he said he had bought them to use with me because he had difficulty getting an erection after having a drink but had not mentioned it to me. I find that difficult to believe, as he drinks every night and has never had difficulty achieving an erection with me, but he insisted. I said in that case we should go and find the packet together to see that none were used. A look of panic crossed his face and he then began claiming that on the one occasion we had sex during those four weeks he had used Viagra so one was missing. There was no evidence of Viagra during that encounter but he says that is because it didn't work. I would also be very hurt if he had used Viagra to have sex with me without telling me but that's another story.

The problem is, one evening over the past few weeks as he was undressing for bed on a week night he had an erection for no reason. This has never happened in the 17 years of our relationship. When I mentioned it at the time he got very defensive and told me to leave him alone so I let it go. Now I have discovered about the viagra I believe that he had sex that evening on the way home from work which he used viagra for. He doesn't have time for an affair so I assume with a prostitute. I find it pretty unbelievable that he would not show any sign of Viagra use when supposedly using it with me but show signs at another time apparently coincidentally.

When I put this to him he said because I suffer from anxiety and depression I am delusional and imagined the whole erection incident. But he is also saying that the erection incident was a coincident which seems contradictory. He's also now changed his story about why he bought it. He's no longer saying he bought it because he couldn't get an erection, but saying he got it because he wanted to last longer and for recreational reasons.

He has form for telling quite major lies (normally over money) and continuing to deny the truth even when it's entirely obvious, only finally confessing when there is 100% incontrovertible proof.

He says there is absolutely no reason to assume he is having sex elsewhere and nobody without my mental health problems would suspect him on this evidence. He says I'm being silly.

I say that I think most people would strongly suspect the same and would think I was being a mug to accept his excuses. But even though I'm saying that to him I'm really doubting myself now.

I've considered AIBU? Could I imagining it? Am I reading too much into this? Am I am mug for having doubts?

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 22/11/2016 13:29

hes been a liar for 12 years people dont just change

u cant stay with someone u dont trust-kids or no kids

stop letting him have access to your account when its not mutual with his

JustSpeakSense · 22/11/2016 13:38

His story just doesn't add up, you are not overreacting or being silly.

You need to do some more digging and get to the bottom of this, but rest assured your suspicion is valid.

squaresnotcircles · 22/11/2016 13:40

Every one has the time for an affair. Sometimes they aren't at work when you think they are.

^ This, plus the attack on your MH and the secretivity. Have you checked that gaming treat account again, OP? It's deleted I'll bet.

FatOldBag · 22/11/2016 13:44

I think you're spot on OP. Don't doubt yourself, his explanations are stupid and contradictory whereas yours make perfect sense. Get your ducks in a row and ltb.

AcrossthePond55 · 22/11/2016 14:04

Setting the possibility of infidelity aside, I wouldn't stay with anyone who consistently lied to me. Having to constantly worry about whether or not bills get paid, if he is where he's saying he is, is cheating on me, or even if I look fat in my jeans....I couldn't do it. I can't imagine living where I had to second guess every aspect of my life and where that life might tumble down at my feet at any moment.

If I were you, I'd seriously consider separation, even if it meant I had to cut my maternity leave short and return to work. Even if I had to move home to my parents. I want to be able to live my life honestly, knowing what is true and what is not.

And FWIW, yes, he's cheating on you.

user1479812890 · 22/11/2016 14:05

Re him taking one on his own. Well if that's the case surely he would have told me that when he knew I was thinking he had strayed elsewhere? But he didn't, he said he'd used it having sex with me.

Also re: an affair. He honestly doesn't have the time for it. He is either at home or at work apart from a few hours which he claims he is working in which are a grey area. And that's about an hour each evening and 4 hours on a Saturday morning. Unlikely to be a colleague as I think there's no women there or max one. I guess it's possible but very unlikely. Apparently Saturday is a busy time for working girls so no problem there. He works most Saturday mornings and gets very angry if I suggest that he might limit them to spend time with the family. Much more than is appropriate TBH.

Another reason I think it's hookers is because we both pay our assigned bills then everything else is paid ad hoc except he mainly pays for groceries. I have felt a lot that we didn't seem as a family that we had as much money as we should given our salaries. This made me worry money was going elsewhere and I thought this may be where.

The bank account thing wasn't deliberate at first. When we got internet banking we thought it was sensible to swap details so we could pay the odd bill or do transfers in emergencies or do a bit of admin. That was all I used it for, and if I needed a transfer from his back account I would ask his permission so it was easier just to ask him to do the transfer. As a result I hardly ever used his and eventually forgot the details. He was constantly using mine so never forgot them. And now he doesn't want to give me his and gets angry if I ask for them.

OP posts:
eatsleephockeyrepeat · 22/11/2016 14:08

Do you have any friends nearby who might fancy some Saturday sleuthing?

NotTheFordType · 22/11/2016 14:13

If he has a lunch hour from work, then he has time to see as many sex workers as he wants. The majority of my clients are "popping out for lunch".

Look for a second phone. Try the glovebox of his car, inside pockets of any work bag/laptop case/briefcase/gym bag.

OzzieFem · 22/11/2016 14:24

Change your bank details so he cannot access them, he should not be using yours constantly when he has his own.

ShowMePotatoSalad · 22/11/2016 14:31

Based on the schedule you have said he has, he definitely has time I'm afraid. People can make time for anything if they try hard enough.

amusedbush · 22/11/2016 14:40

He definitely has time for an affair, sorry to say.

SouthWindsWesterly · 22/11/2016 14:44

Change your password to your online banking and any accounts linked to the card. And change your pin to your card. The finances are too one sided...

Fluffsnuts · 22/11/2016 14:52

Op, I agree with you that he's probably using sex workers.

How do you feel about this? What do you want to happen from here?

For me it would be a deal breaker, but then again it would have been a deal breaker when you suspected him 12 years ago.

You need to work out what you want and move towards that. If that's leaving him then do you have any family or friends for support? I can't imagine it can be easy for you with the children, but it IS possible.

mypropertea · 22/11/2016 15:01

If he is using sex workers then he is less likely to have any sti than if he is sleeping about (they are usually very into safe sex) but please get a clap test, just in case.

Goingtobeawesome · 22/11/2016 15:24

I really hope he isn't cheating but he does have time for an affair but more importantly he's being cruel to you. He's using your fragile mental health against you. You, his wife, mother of his DC, just horrible.

Trifleorbust · 22/11/2016 15:28

Bit of a leap from Viagra to affair to prostitutes Confused

Is there anything you have missed out that would lead you to believe he is paying for sex?

Trifleorbust · 22/11/2016 15:29

Sorry - I needed to read the drip feed, didn't I?

crayfish · 22/11/2016 15:46

If I so much as had the tiniest suspicion that DH was using prostitutes, our marriage would be over. I appreciate that you have young babies but really, what are you getting out of this relationship? The gaslighting and weirdness with money are big enough red flags without throwing in the viagra and prostitutes. Seriously, consider your future because he sounds horrible.

228agreenend · 22/11/2016 16:36

Is he defiantly working when he say he is? Sorry to sound so,supicious.

HuskyLover1 · 22/11/2016 18:22

I suspect that most men buying viagra, would feel embarrassed about it. You say he can maintain and erection, even after drinking. Maybe he has been taking viagra for ages, and didn't want you to know? With 3 month old twins, and a FT job, surely he would too knackered for prostitutes? And it's not like he's not having sex at home, so why bother? I could maybe stretch to that conclusion, had you said your sex life together was non-existent. That said, you say you've brought this up with him before. So you've accused him of using prostitutes? What was his reaction? My DH would be horrified, utterly horrified by that accusation. So would anyone that was innocent.

But you clearly need to put your mind at rest! As a PP suggested, could you get a trusted friend/sister to actually follow him on a Saturday morning and see where he goes? Quite easily done, I would think.

Naicehamshop · 22/11/2016 18:22

Does he have any good qualities op? Confused
He sounds absolutely horrible.

AcrossthePond55 · 22/11/2016 18:23

If someone wants to cheat, they'll make the time to do so. Don't ever believe that 'they're either here at home or at work' means they aren't cheating. My lovely cousin found that out to her extreme sorrow.

RubbishMantra · 22/11/2016 19:49

As Ford pointed out, paid sex can take place during lunch hours, on way home etc. Viagra ensures they get maximum "bang for their buck", and I expect "appointment sex" is probably a bit awkward, as it has none of the usual social cues that would usually take place leading up to non-paid sex. So a sort of insurance policy to ensure that their money isn't "wasted".

I'd be suspicious OP. Sorry. And do get yourself checked out, many sexual diseases can be spread through unprotected oral sex.

The whole situation is worsened in that he's using your mental health in an attempt to doubt yourself. That's not what a loving partner does.

artiface · 22/11/2016 20:19

I'm so OP sorry - you must be feeling wretched.
I would agree a private detective is the way to go. It won't be cheap, but you will find out more. And, yes, please change your bank details.

TheLegendOfBeans · 22/11/2016 20:28

trifle the OP has a lot of stuff to tell aonuta been done over a few posts, it's not drip feeding ffs.

Agree with PPs, please get a PI on this. If your husband has a "regular" office job and is "at work" every Sat for a good few hours then this to me is the biggest red flag.

Think a PI would probably get to the bottom of this sharpish.