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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I right to regret ever sleep walking into becoming my partners carer?

308 replies

RakshaUK · 11/10/2025 20:17

It started with getting up in the early hours to help him put his socks on to go to work. Then he developed leg ulcers, so showers became a performance because the dressing on the ulcers couldn't get wet, so I had to help putting a waterproof sleeve over them.
Then, about 15 years ago he started to develop a lump in his groin, GP thought it was a lipoma, said it could be removed when it became a problem. About 5 years ago - 2020 it was limiting his mobility to such an extent he couldn't walk from his disabled parking space to his desk (they did look at moving his desk under reasonable adjustments but it wasn't thought to be reasonable because they IT dept needed to be able to communicate easily). So the week before we went into lockdown, he took early retirement!
Basically he sat in his chair all day, wouldn't do anything else, and complained that he was losing his mobility. I pointed out on an almost daily basis that if he didn't use it, he'd lose it. GP sent a lovely chap to try and motivate him, he'd agree to all the tasks, then not do anything about them.
He's been referred to 3 different surgeons with regard to the removal of the lump (which is now so big it hangs like a good sized pumpkin between his knees), one took a look at his belly, which hangs infront of it after losing about 5 stone, and declared it was a pannus not a lipoma!
We've since moved and our current surgery are trying to get a MultiDisciplinaryTeammeeting together, including him, and me to act as his advocate, since July! He's spent 4 weeks in hospital with cellulitis.
What is really getting to me is his attitude towards me. E seems to do as little as possible and leaves me to clear up after him.I'm not one of nature's nurses, I feel like a caged animal listening to his moans and cries, and of course he must feel worse...
So WHY WONT HE DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
Even his nurses say he's got to be a squeaky wheel and on the phone to the GP Surgery every day. He does nothing to help himself, or me. I'm 65, older than him, with my own mobility issues (I use a power chair outside if I have to), I'm also type 2 diabetic and recently diagnosed ADHD and Autistic. I also have many incidents of trauma in my life which haven't all been put to bed. His nurse today suggested he make me a cup of tea every day (I have a shower stool out there to sit on when I'm cooking or washing up that he could use) doing that would double his step count for the day!
He passes wind, and doesn't apologise. He leaves shitty finger prints every where (he will go to the toilet for poos, but doesn't wash his hands) Wees he has to do by standing up while I shove a washing up bowl underneath him (the lump means he sprays wee everywhere and dribbles if he's anywhere near wanting to go when he walks) He can't wear underwear or incontinence pads because of the lump, trousers are a thing of the past, so he has a blanket across his knees to hide everything.
I like our house, i like sharing it with my two dogs and two cats. I have just had it up to here with being his carer.

OP posts:
Bloozie · 11/10/2025 20:20

I’m not one of nature’s carers either and this is one of my biggest fears. I know my husband would just lie down and embrace disability.

YANBU.

thestudio · 11/10/2025 20:25

You sound lovely and you can have a much better life than this.

This man, however depleted or damaged or disabled he is, is abusing your goodwill. He's done it for years. Your ND-ness has made it hard for you to see it.

You need to extract yourself, slowly, in line with your own neuro diverse needs.

Who owns the house? That's quite an important question.

wizzywig · 11/10/2025 20:27

I think youre in a no win situation op. I dont think youre married (are you in England?) either

PhuckTrump · 11/10/2025 20:27

You lost me at shitty fingerprints all over the house. LTB.

smilingfanatic · 11/10/2025 20:29

I wouldn't hesitate this leave this man. I'd skip out the door (with the pets).

Autumn1990 · 11/10/2025 20:31

you could ask social services for a carers assessment and as you can’t manage to look after him anymore. They’ll probably put carers in place which he may have to pay for but that’s not your responsibility

Praying4Peace · 11/10/2025 20:33

My heart goes out to you OP

Mumptynumpty · 11/10/2025 20:36

You are entitled to a carers assessment. When you have it do not minimise the burden. Tell them everything and how it is too much for you and you are unable to priortise your own health regime.

You can also tell them you are unwilling to provide care and are planning to separate.

Ballerinacappucine · 11/10/2025 20:37

Do you want to stay with him? It sounds absolutely horrendous. Can you pay for even a week of respite care or find out if there’s any funding available ? It sounds like you desperately need a break from this man , he has made no effort whatsoever to make anything easier. You need to not have him in your life he’s ruining yours for you. Sorry reading your post made me so angry on your behalf. What an absolutely disgusting person he is letting his body and manners fester and rot the way he has only to land you with the disgusting consequences

3luckystars · 11/10/2025 20:39

I understand you probably don’t like change, but in this case a change would be worth the discomfort.

You are an unpaid nurse here. Getting abused.

Absolutely no way would I do this for anyone. No way. you only get one life. If you stay you are making just as many bad choices as he is.

Branleuse · 11/10/2025 20:41

Id leave and not go back.

AgnesX · 11/10/2025 20:42

I'm seriously shocked that he's let things drag on this long. What's happening about an operation to get rid of the growth?

Itiswhysofew · 11/10/2025 20:42

Honestly, what gives him the right to expect so much from you? I'm all for helping, but there's a limit. Where's his dignity? Leaving a foul mess for you to see to and not making any effort, is not on.

Is there any type of social care he qualifies for?

Vaxtable · 11/10/2025 20:44

You need to speak to your GP and get SS involved. You tell them you can no longer be his carer because of your own disabilities and you want a package put in place as it can’t continue

Why is it that you continue to have to manage with your own disabilities but he can give up and expect someone to run round after him? I can’t abide people who won’t help themselves and give up. You can’t do that so why should he

Anewuser · 11/10/2025 20:53

As others have said. You need to speak to social services and ask for a Carers Assessment. A social worker will visit you, where you can clearly explain what help you need. Also, inform your GP of your carer status and apply for a ‘Carers Break’ from them. This is a payment of £300 to be used for your well being. You could book a couple of days away to show your partner how much you do for him and force him into the position of looking after himself or finding other care.

Alternatively, just let him know you’ve had enough, then just move out with your animals or kick him out.

Glistening · 11/10/2025 20:53

This sounds so hard. What are his actual disabilities? Would he be mobile again if he had the lump removed?

Practically, who owns the house or has their name on the lease? Could you easily support yourself without him (I assume he gets benefits or a pension)?

The shitty fingerprints thing is beyond sickening. I wouldn’t even want to share a lift with someone like that, never mind share my life.

If you can practically go it alone, do. You won’t look back.

Justbecauseyoucandoesntmeanyoushould · 11/10/2025 21:01

You are not obliged and cannot be force to care for another person. Contact Adult Social Care and ask them to do a Care Needs Assessment for him and a Carer's Assessment for you. You have mobility problems and there are so many hygiene issues that you could argue that your living situation is unsafe. Tell them that. You need to stop or your health will deteriorate further. Good luck.

gmgnts · 11/10/2025 21:02

This sounds absolutely hellish for you, OP. I hope you can escape somehow - you need to be a squeaky wheel, too, and tell nursing, hospital and GP staff just how badly this caring role is impacting your life. Try to make plans to leave if you possibly can Flowers

MidnightPatrol · 11/10/2025 21:06

Can you organise a plan to leave / for him to leave?

I can see how you’d fall into this kind of situation, and that it could escalate to a point where you are little more than unpaid help with no relationship remaining .

What’s his excuse for the lack of hygeine (fingerprints) and not engaging re surgery when he can’t even wee? That sounds repulsive.

RakshaUK · 11/10/2025 21:09

We both own the house (if one dies, their share passes to the other)
I've just had my carers assessment, through Carers First who do it for Lincolnshire Council. None of the questions actually encourage any kind of reply along the lines of I'm fed up to the back teeth.
The removal of the lump would remove about 15kgs of weight and reduce the stress it places on knees and hips - both sites of pre existing arthritis. The recovery process is long and difficult and would require a lot of care to prevent another occurence of cellulitis.
I don't leave because I'm fearful of losing my animals who are my only reason for living at the moment. And yes, I suspect he knows that.

OP posts:
Needaglowup · 11/10/2025 21:13

Branleuse · 11/10/2025 20:41

Id leave and not go back.

Me too.

Whyherewego · 11/10/2025 21:18

OP you have to drop the rope here. You cannot do all these things for him. All the energy you are putting into care for him is energy you are not putting into care for yourself. And there's a reason you put your own oxygen mask on first.

You need to stop the care. Tell your GP and adult social services you cant do it. Go away for a few days if necessary to prove the point. But you absolutely have to draw the line and stop it all. If you dont then they will beseech you or guilt you into continuing.

It sounds hellish. Im sorry

Papyrophile · 11/10/2025 21:21

I couldn't even bear to read to the end of your post, and I don't have anything helpful to add, but best wishes and good luck x

lifeonthelane · 11/10/2025 21:21

This sounds really, really grim. The shitty fingerprints 🤢 i could probably resign myself to the care aspect if I really loved him, but the poor hygiene would be the end for me.

Buffypaws · 11/10/2025 21:25

You need something I saw at the filia conference today.

Am I right to regret ever sleep walking into becoming my partners carer?