AIBU to be heartbroken the cleaner ruined my platypus?

[RightYesButNo]

I have a few painful autoimmune conditions, so we have a cleaner once a week. Currently, I’m in a very bad flare, sleeping through the pain, etc. I asked if she could change the bed and I’d just stay in the living room until she was done. I fell asleep on the sofa in just a few minutes and then I awakened when she was kindly telling me I could get back in bed. Already embarrassing.

I sleep with a stuffed platypus every night. My condition causes really painful trouble breathing so hugging him makes it a bit better. He’s just the right size, etc. He’s been on countless hospital visits, hospitalizations, even a few surgeries with me.

I didn’t notice until the cleaner left and I found him drying on top of the hanging sheets that were also drying. I’m ashamed but I cried; his fur is a bit ruined, his insides are all balled and smell wrong; I think it may be time for him to go to the “beloved stuffed friends retirement shelf” with DH’s one-eyed childhood teddy.

But I can’t believe how upset I am. I feel just so sad. I know this is definitely some HUGE hospital PTSD, and fear of facing more pain without a comfort object. Erm… AIBU to ask if anyone has a stuffed friend who helps your fears at the age of mumble mumble over 30? And if you might cry (a lot) if they were semi-destroyed?

Totally get it, I'm mid 40s and have a stuffed cow that I bought myself when I was single, depressed and lonely - I was devastated when we moved and I thought I'd lost him! I don't sleep with him every night but I need to know he's there when I need something to help with the pain/loneliness/ anxiety (I'm married now but sometimes I don't need DH trying to fix the problem, I just need to snuggle with my comfort creature and stroke his ear!!)

Op I have seen a TikTok of a soft toy rejuvenation business. They clean, fix the fur and restuff.

Not at all, I fully understand your pain, literally as I also suffer from autoimmune conditions, the constant pain and fatigue takes it toll. I would be just as upset as you. I completely lost it and was balling my eyes out one day just because my husband got me eye drops for an eye infection instead of ointment.

As for your cleaner I wouldn’t worry about falling asleep, I’ve fallen asleep when I’ve had tradesmen working in the house and I snore very loudly. Pre covid I also had a cleaner and one day I was so tired I told her to leave my room as I was going to sleep and just let herself out. She knocked on my door to say she was going and I said “ok, love you” 😂

Don’t retire him. He’s the same old platypus. [

I think it's totally normal, if not talked about much.
I have a little doll who has been with me since birth. She has gone everywhere with me and I've always slept with her next to me until I was 22 and I moved in with my husband.
She came back into our bed when our first child was born and spent 5 weeks in the nicu. He wasn't much bigger than my doll so I cuddled her while sobbing for my baby. She's also been by my side through 3 miscarriages and severe liver issues.
She is in remarkable condition for a nearly 30 year old doll but I've always treated her so well that she may outlast me.
My eldest is autistic and has his comforter from when he was a baby. Hes threadbare, patched and sewn up but he is my little boys best friend so I'll mend him forever if I have too.
I'd seriously look at a toy hospital if your platypus can't be fixed at home, I'd do that for my sons toy but he won't sleep without it

Please don’t retire him, look into the options PPs have suggested. And cuddle him until he smells/feels right again.

I absolutely do not have a much cuddled soft toy who needs to be washed frequently as ddog is jealous and occasionally pees on him

And I’m not googling toy hospital numbers

These stories. It’s amazing how the little bits of comfort become part of our lives. This evening so far Chez RightYesButNo…

1. I’ve already been messaged by a very kind MNer offering to help who makes toys and has extra toy stuffing, which is so, so kind (thank you!). I’m hoping I won’t have to take her time though because…

1. I found DH brushing platypus with one of the hairbrushes in the house (the one with bristles closest together) while watching YouTube videos about fixing fur on stuffies, and I swear I thought I heard him say, “Cmon… cmon…” It was like Casualty But DH understands; I had to have a pretty wicked surgery when DH was stuck in Hong Kong and Platypus went into hospital with me. DH is pretty stubborn so we’ll see.

1. I’m going to just ask the cleaner to be careful about never washing them again, ever, because I do think either it was a mistake (caught in the sheets) or she must have thought it was helpful somehow. We went through seven (seven! I still can’t believe) cleaners who all took the piss in various ways over the fact I’m too ill to watch them the whole time they’re here. This cleaner is amazing, and once actually cleaned my bedroom around me when I was too ill to get up (and when it made me cry a bit said, “No, shh, shh, it’s all right,”) and she cleans REALLY well. No piss-taking. So yeah.

Oh I understand I would be devastated if somebody washed my Teddy who I still sleep with every night in my 30s. He is probably my most precious belonging, completely priceless; you are definitely not alone in feeling so strongly about it.

Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry I really hope you can get him fixed somehow.

I have three friends in our bed and I would cry like a baby if any of them were ruined, especially the one I have had since I was 7. The one I have had since I was 7 is all matted and I know he should go somewhere safe to be preserved, but I am really struggling with the idea of not having him in bed with me after nearly 25 years!

This made me cry. I am very overinvested in you and Platypus making it, OP. Please let us know how he gets on.

I have autoimmune diseases too and it’s a pain like no other. We take our comforts where we can.

I found DH brushing platypus with one of the hairbrushes in the house (the one with bristles closest together) while watching YouTube videos about fixing fur on stuffies, and I swear I thought I heard him say, “Cmon… cmon…” It was like Casualty

Oh, this is so sweet. I really hope old faithful platypus comes good. He will have had his own hospital journey and life-threatening complications that he survived, after this.

Oh OP, I get it. I have an old teddy who is basically just two ears and a few manky bits of threadbare rags inside his total skin graft (now threadbare old dressing gown of my mum's in the very vaguest shape of a head and body). Once when we were getting rid of stuff my youngest DC said he would "put mummy's old hanky in the giveaway bag."

I hope platypus is feeling much better very soon.

Ah glad to hear he might be on the mend!!

Not my toy but I was gutted when DS’s babyhood teddy went in the wash and tumble dryer and came out with a Tom Jones style perm instead of his lovely soft fur!

Please don’t tumble your platypus just in case .

I’ve been fluffing up body pillow which is an absolute godsend when I’m having a flare up. It wasn’t washed, just getting a bit compacted from use, so I took all the insides out and have been brushing it with the cat brush every evening bit by bit. The stuffing has doubled in size! Definitely worth a go doing that part and with the brushing I’m sure he’ll be good as new in no time.

I washed my own Ted recently (by accident) - he’s already in need of repair and this time all his insides came out . I stuck him back together and dried him on the radiator. He’s here in bed with me now! Need to find a toy hospital for him.

Hopefully your little guy will be okay and your DH sounds lovely!

Ok, he’s dry enough that I can sleep with him tonight, I think, and since he doesn’t have any tears, it won’t damage him further, I don’t think. Platypus, you’re on the road to recovery! (slooooowly… just like your owner)

Your Platypus has had quite the adventure today! I think he will be glad of the sleep. I have a penguin, which now my sons look after when I go to places too dangerous to take him. I’m so glad your DH took care of your stuffie. What a lovely man!

I don't sleep with a stuffed animal, but I have some keepsake items from over the years that do basically the same job. I think there is a particular stigma about stuffed animals because they are seen as childish. Your platypus isn't much different to my ancient almost empty tub of Atrixo hand cream that belonged to my nana. I keep it in a drawer and sniff it when I miss her.

Hospitals actually give kids stuffed animals sometimes to help when they are having trouble with breathing or need to work on their lungs. Same thing for when they have adults hug a pillow.

He might be rehabbed, but it also might be possible to track down a duplicate online. Even older stuffed animals can still sometimes be found new.

2. I found DH brushing platypus with one of the hairbrushes in the house (the one with bristles closest together) while watching YouTube videos about fixing fur on stuffies, and I swear I thought I heard him say, “Cmon… cmon…” It was like Casualty grin But DH understands; I had to have a pretty wicked surgery when DH was stuck in Hong Kong and Platypus went into hospital with me. DH is pretty stubborn so we’ll see.

Oh oh oh - this absolutely dissolved me. I'm sitting here with fat tears rolling down my cheeks - your DH is fucking brilliant!

Oh, he is GORGEOUS! I can understand how loved he is. Hopefully night by night he will grow to smell more familiar and comforting.

I totally get this thread. I’ve had a stuffed bear since I was about seven and now in my 40s. He’s got me through many break ups, operations, painful periods and exams over the years. He know officially belongs to my daughter but I have to admit I sneak him back occasionally if I want a bit of comfort!

Oh poor you that's rubbish. Try the tumble dryer and resquashing his insides and see if that's helpful - failing that try sending him to a teddy hospital I'm sure you'll find them online

I 💗 this thread. Platypus is lovely. Your DH is wonderful.

I just asked my DH about his favorite stuffed friend from childhood then ran upstairs and brought down two of mine. He’s never met them until now! (We just moved in together last year.)

I nearly cried last night when we couldn’t find DS’ beloved bunny anywhere. YADNBU.

My dog is overly attached to one of his toys - it's a simple brown stuffed bear. He gets quite distraught when he cant find it and will pace up and down, refusing to settle until it is found - no other toy will do and he has plenty. Although his large toy fluffy unicorn head is becoming a favourite.

As for me, I have an old stuffed Bagpuss that has seen me through some awful times and I can never ever part with him. Actually, I have a few bears that I have collected over the years - each one tells a story. Another favourite of mine is a stuffed Moomin (dont know who remembers the Moomins but I love them), he is sat on my desk next to a bear that my Mum bought for me before she died.

Bears/toys can be so important and significant to so many of us - including our pets.

Your platypus may be worn and weathered, but I reckon he has lots of life in him yet. This washing machine incident is just another badge to add to his tales of resilience. It's like that old story 'The Velveteen Rabbit' where you love something so much, the fur comes off.

Now