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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:
Userengage · 11/10/2025 23:23

I bet he wouldn’t stay with you if the shoe was on the other foot. He has zero respect for you, you’re just his skivvy. I think I’d hate him if I were you.

You do not have to continue to look after him; get out and look after yourself.

Homegrownberries · 11/10/2025 23:29

One way or another, this has to stop. The current arrangement is bad for both of you.

HauntedBungalow · 11/10/2025 23:32

Why isn't the NHS treating this man? Who are these nurses going on about squeaky wheels? Why aren't they getting him treatment?

abracadabra1980 · 11/10/2025 23:35

I was part of a family caring for many years for my DF. It was hard enough on all of us and that was in a clean, loving environment. It took over our lives both mentally and physically and I vowed I would never, ever get involved in caring to that extent again. I adored my DF but the way my family went on has driven me to what I can only call ‘compassion fatigue’. I simply have very little left. It’s also one of the reasons I shall never, ever be in a relationship again just in case I end up in this very scenario again. The shitty fingerprints and no washing of hands would be the end for me in your scenario. We all have a limit and your has been pushed to the extreme. Put yourself first, we only live once.

ResusciAnnie · 11/10/2025 23:40

RakshaUK · 11/10/2025 21:42

I have a better idea. We have an insulated cabin in the garden that could easily be a semi self contained unit for me and the animals. Could use the kitchen and bathroom in the house.

That’s in no way a better option.

Hankunamatata · 11/10/2025 23:50

Op that sounds horrendous for both of you
I would say I cant believe the nhs would leave a man in that state - unable to wear underwear or bottoms or be able to wee. His shame must be overwhelming but as you said he isn't doing the bare minimum to help himself
Do you have carers coming in? I would be pushing hard for disability social worker and carers coming in 4 times a day to manage his needs.
I dont think your unreasonable to have a good stern talk with him about basic hygiene.

Blueink · 11/10/2025 23:55

The fact he has capacity to but doesn't wash his hands is really disrespectful. I couldn't live with that. For that alone it would have to be a split and YANBU.

If you don't want to be a carer then don't engage with the process at all, tell them you are not his carer and actually planning to separate, so he will need to make alternative arrangements.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 12/10/2025 00:01

He would have left you in a heartbeat if the situation was reversed

Needspaceforlego · 12/10/2025 00:01

Lots of things to consider.
The house sounds perfect for you.
He sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen.

But it also sounds like he has MH issues.

I would try and ask for Social Services support. Even if he does need to pay towards careers.
And I'd be questioning where he in on the waiting list.

Namechangerage · 12/10/2025 00:22

PhuckTrump · 11/10/2025 20:27

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

Yep!!! This is totally disrespectful, unnecessary and disgusting. No matter how much mobility he’s lost, he can try and keep his hands clean.

ThisPithyJoker · 12/10/2025 01:13

Oh love. I honestly don't know what to say to this but I also didn't want to read and leave. This doesn't sound like a life for you, at all. Do you love him? Do you feel loved? Perhaps the answer to those questions will give you the solution x

BankfieldForever · 12/10/2025 01:19

I love my husband but if I found myself in this situation I’d take the pets and leave. No question.

You can’t stay with him without the expectation by SS and NHS that you will be his full time carer. Tell whoever you need to that you refuse to provide any care at all and go. Anywhere, just go.

Its the only way.

duckfordinner · 12/10/2025 01:41

He is mentally torturing you. Don’t be a martyr. Leave.

Subwaystop · 12/10/2025 01:42

This is so sad to read. Sending love to you and the animals. I’ve been in a caregiver role with a very sick family member, which involved a lot of toilet cleanup. I often thought how deeply you must want to make another person’s life better to give so much of yourself. I’d never do it for someone who made me feel so awful. I hope you find a way to spend a lot more of your caretaking energy on yourself and the dogs and cats.

OriginalUsername2 · 12/10/2025 01:52

I think the poo on the walls would be the last straw for me. This is unacceptable from a man with full mental capability.

Have you started mentally making an escape plan yet? Do you work, have savings, any friends that could borrow the pets for a while?

PardonMeNot · 12/10/2025 02:01

stichguru · 11/10/2025 21:40

Unless he's got severe dementia, sod him, even sod the pets, just run. Just set your self somewhere up to go, gather what you need and go. He's disgusting by choice. If he can pee in a washing up bowel, and walk to the loo for poos, he can wee in the loo and hit it. Walk away.

Most of us who have pets love them and consider them family members. “Sod the pets” is a terrible thought.

lambdressedasspam · 12/10/2025 02:07

If the doctor had of been more proactive with leg when you first went in, do you think it would have led to different circumstances?

Badger32 · 12/10/2025 02:38

My friend was in a similar situation with her husband,he had her doing everything for him ,he couldn't drive because he kept having fits ,he couldn't walk and used a wheelchair..the list goes on ..he became completely dependent on her for personal care tasks .
She managed to get him to stay with his mum for a weekend saying she needed a rest .
She packed all his stuff up , dropped it of at his mum's and changed the locks .
Within a year ,he was driving himself and had got a flat by himself, managing alone ..funny that ..
The more you do for someone,the less they do for themselves

IShouldNotCoco · 12/10/2025 02:43

He sounds like my dad! My mum feels the same way you do but she married him, knowing full well that he’s like a child. I told her kindly she can’t expect him to change and he certainly won’t at 79!

Badger32 · 12/10/2025 02:49

Co dependent relationship
Your dependent on him as much as he is on you ( in your head you are )
Your autism has you stuck and unable to see a way out .
Your using your animals as an excuse for not leaving
Get to citizens advice bureau and find out how you force a sale through and yourself out of there
You might be able to get on the council list for a flat or get him on ..have you a social worker..you need one who can advocate for you ,not him .
For a start they should be putting carers in to wash and dress him ,not leave it to you ..if you start refusing to cook for him ,wash him ,or help him , social will have to get involved.
This will have to reach crisis point before he gets the help that will replace you
This is no life for you ,you must get help to get out of there

Franjipanl8r · 12/10/2025 03:13

There are no medals for women who spend their lives as servants to useless men. I’d have threatened divorce a long time ago.

spoonbillstretford · 12/10/2025 03:24

Leave him.and let social services/his GP sort him out.

CarlaLemarchant · 12/10/2025 03:26

I’m not as sympathetic to you as everyone else.
You shout in your OP “Why doesn’t he do something about it”. You are no better, you also have the power to change your living situation and you are not, it’s dragged on years. Leave or carry on as you are, it’s your life, you are choosing to stay and be his carer as much as he is choosing to refuse to improve his living situation. Someone above said co-dependent. I agree.

JadedSoJaded · 12/10/2025 03:34

What do your sons think of the situation? Presume they live away from home?

Idontknownowwhat · 12/10/2025 04:19

My advice to you, do all you can to get the support in place you need now.
Right now. MIL took on the lions share of caring for FIL until he died, which was quite similar to your situation.
I wonder, do ypu think it's possible that there's some Alzheimers in the background? FIL stopped realising he needed to wash his hands when his Alzheimers was worsening. He's in a terrible state by the sounds of it, but the way things are with our NHS, they'd allow you to pour into your partner until it puts you in a grave prematurely.
MIL was caring for FIL and they even let her go home to be his carer within hours of her waking from a radical hysterectomy.