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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be angry & upset that DH didn’t want me to go to hospital?

324 replies

ThisWayDown · 26/12/2018 13:04

I’m in South Africa for a holiday with DH and DC. No family here but a friend. Today at the beach the waves were strong. I got knocked over by one and my knee gave way with a loud snap. I tore my anterior cruciatr ligament (ACL) 15 years ago when someone skied into me and had a reconstruction - it tore again some years later and I needed another. The way the knee sounded and hurt and not being able to stand on it made me really worry that I’d torn my ACL again.

DH helped me stand up and hobble over to our towels on the shore. He then said “we’re not going to A&E”. He was being slightly lighthearted but also totally serious. He said that’s because we went to A&E our last holiday due to a hand fracture I turned out to have.

We took the kids to get some dinner before heading back to our rented flat. As we went home on the bus, my knee became increasingly painful and in my view was swollen. DH said “oh shit” when I told him I was in pain and seemed angry. He said he was upset that I may have injured myself. He was caring but when I said I wanted to go to A&E he seemed to shut down, which he often does. He thought it was in my “best interests” not to but to get back to the apartment and rest and decide tomorrow, as it was “highly likely” that I wouldn’t need treatment and that the hospital wouldn’t be able to do anything. And the kids needed to get home. He thought I was being unreasonable going.

He’s not a doctor. I was angry that he’d - yet again - put what he thought should happen above what I did. He thought I should wait to the morning. When we got off the bus I told him to take the children home and I would call my friend to take me there. She didn’t answer. I said I’d take a cab. He said he wasn’t leaving me but he didn’t want to take the children to the hospital as that wasn’t in their best interests, so it was “an impossible situation”. He wanted me not to go. I said I was in considerable pain and I strongly suspected it was torn, and that I couldn’t believe he wanted to override that. We had a huge argument at the bus stop, in front of our kids SadBlush They wanted to come to the hospital. Eventually we all went in a cab.

The triage nurse sent me to wait to see a doctor. My family stayed with me for a while but I sent them home so the kids could go to bed. My friend eventually called but had been drinking so couldn’t drive over to see me.

My DH said again while here innA&E that he hadn’t wanted to go to A&E as we went on the last holiday. I said I didn’t realise there was a quota, regardless of whether someone needed treatment or not Hmm I am so upset that he wanted me to delay hospital treatment to the next morning or, better yet, not seek any. I am so livid and heartbroken by his irrationality, callousness and rigidity (again) that I put my friend and not him as my emergency contact and told DH I’d let the kids know how I was getting on but not him.

I strongly suspect he is on the autistic - one of our children is - and so does our ASD child’s psychologist and the couples therapisf we used to see. He agrees that he has traits sometimes but when pressed will deny he has it and refuse to seek a diagnosis or accept that some of his thinking and actions are, er, different and frankly come across as selfish and uncaring. He says he was worried about me, just felt it was much better for me if I slept on it and decided on A&E in the morning. I said that wasn’t his decision to make.

We’ve had a lovely holiday so far but I am so down with him not respecting my opinion and thinking it’s aporopriate to think he knows best. I’ve been waiting for hours to see a doctor and, apart from my children who have been so sweet and caring, I feel utterly alone. AIBU to think he’s BU?

OP posts:
ThisWayDown · 26/12/2018 16:56

Am now waiting for the paperwork including a note to my airline for the flight home about needing more leg room.

TacoLover If you had properly read this 3/4 page thread, you’d have seen that I thanked a pp for “giving me a kick up the arse” about part of this where I do think I was BU.

However this attitude of DH’s towards medical things is not a one off. He is of the view that doctors “don’t know anything” and can’t do much. The fact that doctors saved my life in the past when I had cancer (I suspect some people on the thread might view that as me being hard work again Hmm) is neither here nor there when it comes to DH’s logic. Likd I said, he thinks rigidly about some things.

OP posts:
ThisWayDown · 26/12/2018 17:00

And I should add for fairness that one of the times that has proven to me without doubt how much DH loves his DC is the (sole) time he suggested we take them to A&E for a concerning issue. They ended up being admitted and being an inpatient for a few days. But that was when things were seriously life threatening so it was quite clear cut.

OP posts:
TacoLover · 26/12/2018 17:00

If you had properly read this 3/4 page thread, you’d have seen that I thanked a pp for “giving me a kick up the arse” about part of this where I do think I was BU.

Yes, I have already said that I was wrong and missed where you addressed this. Which you would know if you read the page properly as well as meGrin

JudgeRindersMinder · 26/12/2018 17:04

Having managed to rupture an ACL myself just, walking down a gentle slope, I remember that pop and the instant agony, you have all my sympathy. Hope you manage to enjoy the rest of your holiday

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 26/12/2018 17:05

İt is hard when the pain of an injury is added to by the unsympathetic attitude of those close to you.

Sending Flowers OP, and good wishes for recovery.

XmasPostmanBos · 26/12/2018 17:11

So you were right to go to hospital and all the negative posters and your dh can stick that in their pipes and smoke it!
At the same time I am not sure going on holiday is a good idea for someone as accident prone as you, perhaps you would be safer on a staycation from now on.

LakeIsle48 · 26/12/2018 17:18

Honestly, some of the comments on here. The OP is in a foreign country, in agony a long way from home. I would be livid if my DP behaved like her husband. He wouldn't though because he is a loving, caring person. Most people would be highly concerned about your injury given your history.

I can understand why you flipped and changed the next of kin details. He is worth fuck all. I guess things will calm down when you finally get home but I hope he has the grace to be extremely apologetic and embarrassed by his behaviour.

You have nothing to rapproach yourself for. Take care of yourself!

ForgivenessIsDivine · 26/12/2018 17:22

XmasPostman., Geez, the poor woman is having an awful time, she does not need to be told that because she has three accidents in 15 years (albeit to the same leg) that she shouldn't leave home ever again!!

Italiangreyhound · 26/12/2018 17:23

ThisWayDown

"Italiangteyhound your crossed out part of your post made me cry (for the first time tonight btw). You’re right, it’s Boxing Day, and I am injured and down and in a strange country and alone at A&E to boot."

I'm sorry about your situation. I didn't mean to make you cry but sometimes it is good to get those feelings put there.

I'd just focus on the medical side now and talk to your husband later.

In his defence he may think it is fine for him to make decisions about your health. In reality this is not ok. I get that so do many others on this thread. Even those saying I would wait etc, should presumably acknowledge that the I me and they themselves would choose.

Bowerbird5 · 26/12/2018 17:24

My son did this three times and it is extremely painful and needs immobilising. I can’t believe how unpleasant some people are on here. My DH would have behaved in a similar fashion. He can’t be doing with the waiting around at A& E. It would different if if was them I am sure.
You have my sympathy. It is a shame it has happened on holiday but you can’t help that.

Next time just ignore him and do what you think is right. That’s what I do now. I expect nothing from him. He stayed to sort out the car while I was taken in an ambulance from a bad smash on the ice. The ambulance crew were a bit taken aback as the car was a complete right off and I had hit something as well. When we left I said “ He’s an arse. It isn’t the first time. “

Kikipost · 26/12/2018 17:25

You were on a bus in SA?!

Wow!

Italiangreyhound · 26/12/2018 17:27

XmasPostmanBos so people with previous injuries should not go on holiday? What a very unusual take on things. A few injuries over a long period of time isn't accident prone!

Italiangreyhound · 26/12/2018 17:28

Ps "So you were right to go to hospital and all the negative posters and your dh can stick that in their pipes and smoke it!" I think you have summed it up pretty accurately!

XmasPostmanBos · 26/12/2018 17:32

Just trying to be light hearted #too soon for jokes.

fleuriepeninsula · 26/12/2018 17:33

Whilst I think you are being a bit dramatic (they can’t /won’t do anything for you except brace, crutch and painkillers) you do need some kind of doctors report as you’ll need a fit to fly cert & your travel insurance will need something to justify making alternative travel arrangements if you can’t bend your knee & sit in a normal airline seat.

I’m also amazed that Medicare will do an MRI for you in A&E overnight for a soft tissue injury, well done Australia.

IwantedtobeEmmaPeel · 26/12/2018 17:34

This comment by Bowerbird5 says all I wanted to say to you Op
Next time just ignore him and do what you think is right. That’s what I do now. I expect nothing from him. He stayed to sort out the car while I was taken in an ambulance from a bad smash on the ice. The ambulance crew were a bit taken aback as the car was a complete right off and I had hit something as well. When we left I said “ He’s an arse. It isn’t the first time. “
I'm sorry for all the shitty comments you have received on here and hope you are now back at the hotel and that the pain killers have kicked in.

TenForward82 · 26/12/2018 17:35

@kikipost OP has said she wasn't in SA, RTFT.

@TacoLover, way to focus on the completely wrong thing in this post. I don't blame OP for what she did as she was feeling utterly alone and unsupported. I'd be wanting to say "fuck you" in a similar way to my DH if he was behaving this way. Wasn't her best moment but NOT the most important part of her problem right now.

OP, glad you've been seen and supported properly in hospital. Hope you manage to enjoy the rest of your holiday as best you can

Slothslothsloth · 26/12/2018 17:39

OP I’m so sorry this has happened to you. Of COURSE your DH is being unreasonable. He comes across as if he has no concern for your wellbeing at all. It’s a horrible situation you’re in, with the pain, the worry about the damage and your holiday being impacted. Your partner should make things better in such a situation, not add an additional stress.

Clearly you were correct to go to a&e. I don’t believe all these posters who claim they would spend the night in agony. Are they really such martyrs? Why?

Get well soon, OP. Here’s hoping you can still have a lovely holiday Flowers

mirialis · 26/12/2018 17:41

I think you are being a bit dramatic (they can’t /won’t do anything for you except brace, crutch and painkillers)

What are brace, crutches and painkillers if they aren't something?

fleuriepeninsula · 26/12/2018 17:44

All items that can be easily obtained at a pharmacy, not A&E.

mirialis · 26/12/2018 17:50

Oh please, you expect the OP to take herself off to a pharmacy and buy a full thigh to ankle brace, which is what the hospital have given her, without a doctor's assessment? She's had multiple operations on the knee. The first time I did my ACL - no previous history - the knee was x rayed too to make sure no bone damage. At no point did anyone make me feel like I was being a dramatic time waster for going to see a doctor rather than self-diagnosing and popping off to the bloody pharmacy. Hmm

TooManyPaws · 26/12/2018 17:52

All items that can be easily obtained at a pharmacy, not A&E.

Yeah, right. Of course they are, bollocks.

I don't know a pharmacy anywhere around here that would provide a thigh to ankle brace as opposed to a knee support, nor one that supplies crutches, especially one that is open on Boxing Day. A&E provide both, plus stronger than OTC painkillers.

Jack65 · 26/12/2018 17:59

Sympathies, Asperger husbands are just bloody impossible sometimes no matter how much we love them (slowly pulling my hair out today over mine) . . .. Good luck with the leg, it sounds shit, but at least the sun is shining there.

TacoLover · 26/12/2018 18:02

Wasn't her best moment but NOT the most important part of her problem right now.

Didn't say it was the most important thing at all... I've also mentioned that the husband is being unreasonable.

helpmum2003 · 26/12/2018 18:07

So sorry to hear about your injury OP.

I think you took totally the right course of action. You need a diagnosis to take the right course of action. You knew it wasn't trivial due to previous experience.

My experience is that in some countries they will operate ASAP on ACL injuries. Sometimes you will get better treatment abroad because they aren't rationing as much as in the NHS.

Hope you get better soon.Flowers