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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to feel that parenting is not something you can opt out of, even if you are ill

199 replies

naggynora · 26/06/2019 09:19

Hi All,
Name changed for this as may be outing.

Last week, my dp had his tonsils taken out. Now, I have read the literature and understand that although common, it is fairly awful to undergo as an adult. The recovery period can be extremely painful and being signed off work for 2-3 weeks is the norm.

However, since having it done 8 days ago, dp has spent the days sleeping in bed. We have 3 dc and he has barely seen them since his op. No mornings, no home from school/ nursery greetings, no bedtimes, nothing.

He is unable to wash even a dish. He then spends his nights awake in the bedroom, watching tv. He gets up about midday, maybe has a shower and attempts to eat/ drink before retiring to the bedroom to go back to sleep. This has been going on for 8 days now with no sign of let up.

Meanwhile, I am run ragged trying to cover everything. I am exhausted. I would love to speak to him about it yet he tells me it's too painful to speak and then runs off.

I am perfectly willing to accept that iambu yet all I can think about is the fact that in all my years of parenting, I have never had the opportunity to sleep in bed for 2 weeks when ill and do no parenting. I can only compare his op to giving birth as both involve tubes of some sort that need to heal. But I was straight into the fun of breastfeeding all day and night as soon as we got home from the hospital whilst taking care of 2 other dc.

Basically, I cannot understand pain so severe that u cannot do any parenting at all and that renders you to sleep most of the day yet still be deemed fit enough to be discharged from hospital. Aibu to still expect him to parent??

OP posts:
whatsnormalanyway · 26/06/2019 19:51

Mega it's not just a "sore throat", the man might have an infection in an open wound and is recovery from surgery. Your tonsils are one of the most vascular parts of your body - it might be a routine op but it's still to be taken seriously. I know someone whose wound haemorrhaged when they bent down to get something out of the fridge a few days post tonsillectomy and they lost a lot of blood!

GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 26/06/2019 20:05

Have been following the thread and was completely on your side until I see he’s in a&e!
Hope he’s not too bad and recovers quickly Flowers

NoSauce · 26/06/2019 20:14

Bad idea posting on fucking MN OP. Jesus you were always going to get posters saying yanbu and he is being a mardy arse man.

YABU. Totally so. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and have a heart eh.

NoSauce · 26/06/2019 20:16

Chuck him some pain killers and leave the kids home while you go out for the day

Stupid and ignorant comment. Yeah OP go out for the day with your mates for a spa day. Hmm

ProteinshakesandAntonsbum · 26/06/2019 20:18

@MegaPants didnt bother to read the thread then?

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/06/2019 20:24

Im glad you’re getting your dh some help now. It was clear he was either taking the piss or very ill. You’ve found out unfortunately that it’s the latter. There really is nothing to feel guilty about. You’ve sought help now and that’s all that matters. Update us when you can I know many people would like to know how he is.

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 26/06/2019 20:31

@eggsandwich What a horrible thing for that nurse to say!! I had similar after an op and it was the worst thing that could have been said to me. As this thread shows, no two people respond the same way to the same surgery. You were just luckier than those two women, not better, and they deserved sympathy.

Snowy81 · 26/06/2019 20:31

@MegaPants Did you miss the part that OP was told to take him to A&E? Obviously someone with more medical knowledge than you, thought that it was more serious than chucking him some painkillers......

puppymouse · 26/06/2019 20:35

Tricky. Never had tonsils out but when I had acute appendicitis, surgery to remove it and nearly a week in hospital to recover from the infection I came home very, very fragile. DH had to do everything for the first week. I just lay on the sofa. Couldn't pick DD up or drive. Week 2 I started watching her, making some meals and did a couple of school runs.

I think some people take longer to bounce back but I'd be saying go to docs.

naggynora · 26/06/2019 20:49

Quick update: we're back home now after an eventful day!
Dp has an infection and has been given antibiotics. The lethargy and weakness stemmed from both the infection and dehydration/lack of food. Dp seems contrite and Slightly bewildered by the whole thing.
He's has some food and we've talked about (I've basically told him) sticking to his regular routine as much as poss so that he gets food and water on a regular basis.
Thanks to all those posters that urged me to call 111, despite reservations, as I probably would have spent the day seething before realising that things were not quite right. The empathy and support from those who felt he may be milking it was also much appreciated as I felt less evil!! Gotta love mn.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 26/06/2019 20:51

That’s good. Glad you were dealt with relatively quickly. He really does need to thank you when he’s feeling better.

NoSauce · 26/06/2019 20:54

Thank god there were those who spoke sense and weren’t all bitter and twisted, for your husbands sake if nothing else.

Hope he recovers soon.

SimonJT · 26/06/2019 20:54

He may be exhausted, I felt like I had really bad jetlag for almost two weeks when I had mine out. Yet when I had emergency surgery for a burst appendix I felt fine but sore within a day or two, despite having an open wound.

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/06/2019 20:56

NoSauce
That acerbic comment was truly enlightening Hmm and actually it was a good thing op posted. It gave her the impetus to seek medical assistance. She can feel sorry for herself if she likes. She’s exhausted.

puppymouse · 26/06/2019 20:56

Oh blimey. That all makes sense then. Well done for taking action!

CmdrCressidaDuck · 26/06/2019 21:00

I'm glad he has been seen and you're also feeling better. The smell and green saliva really did not sound normal.

Hopefully he will feel better soon with medication, food and water. It's very hard to recover physically if you aren't eating and drinking.

BullBullBull · 26/06/2019 21:09

Why are people who’ve never had their tonsils out disregarding the posts from people who have? They’ve said he’ll be in a lot of pain but because he’s a man, he’s milking it. Why are men never allowed to be ill on Mumsnet?

Fyette · 26/06/2019 21:21

Glad he got help and good on you for dragging him to A&E! Don't be too hard on yourself; you're obviously exhausted too. Wishing him a speedy recovery for both your sakes!

DismalDaughter · 26/06/2019 21:32

Just to say my friend had her tonsils out earlier this year and the recovery was horrendous. She was signed off for an extra couple of days after the initial fortnight was up.

Merryoldgoat · 26/06/2019 22:06

Why are people who’ve never had their tonsils out disregarding the posts from people who have? They’ve said he’ll be in a lot of pain but because he’s a man, he’s milking it. Why are men never allowed to be ill on Mumsnet?

This.

TheDarkPassenger · 26/06/2019 22:22

My oh did this for me when I was seriously ill and just come out of hospital. I basically forgot 3 weeks of my life. So I would do it for him. I’d hate every moment as he probably did but I’d do it. That’s what it’s all about isn’t it, picking it up when the other person is struggling

Cassort · 26/06/2019 22:25

You never heard of women and men?

Yabbers · 27/06/2019 08:15

but simply couldn’t after the second as he’d just started a new job having been made redundant from his previous one. He needed to earn money and pass his probation period to pay the mortgage as the only breadwinner

Was he refusing to help you because he was lazy? Was he not doing anything about the house? Refusing to help with the kids when home? I said not allowing a partner to be ill, to recover, i.e making choices which suit him and not the rest of the family.

If you want to make that about your situation, that’s up to you. It’s naive of you to assume that others have no experience of disability and the difficulties it can cause in a family.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 27/06/2019 09:50

Glad he's been sorted out and that you've had a chat too and feel better too.

Sounds like a good result all round; hope he gets better soon and you get a break!

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