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?

What a heartwarming, lovely thread. Hope Platypus has fully recovered now OP (and at Furious P - what a brilliant name!).

I have an Emotional Support Pangolin named Dave. I got him on the day my dad died last year. I was genuinely sad last week when we arrived at our holiday cottage and realised he’d somehow been left behind!

@CatkinToadflax Pangolins are amazing creatures! I’ve seen them in a David Attenborough type documentary and I love how they walk as if they’re always slightly embarrassed. Cannot believe they’re the most trafficked animal in the world; I signed a few petitions on World Pangolin Day this year (February, I think?). Dave sounds great! So glad he was there when you needed him and so sorry for your loss Also, not sure if you’ve seen how they carry their babies, but it’s lovely.

@RightYesButNo thank you so much for your kind words. And that photo is AMAZING - it makes me love pangolins even more! ❤

Did you know that the platypus on Tasmania are three times the size of the mainland ones? They'd give a lovely hug!

I have an old blanket that is more rag than blanket now. It was a normal single sized blanket when I was 5 or 6 and I've twiddled and rubbed it in to the size of a handkerchief. It goes everywhere with me. I also have two bears that I have in bed with me most nights.

Aah OP I'm so sorry! Totally understand why you're feeling sad about it. I hope he's able to be salvaged with some of the great tips from previous posters.

I'm 37 and have a stuffed Eeyore on our bed that I bought myself a few years ago. After the end of a my short but horrific marriage I went to Disneyland Paris on my own to attend a sports event, and fell for his big sad eyes in the gift shop - I think he reminded me of myself. Now he's a reminder of the pride I felt in going out and doing something for myself when I was still struggling and the fact that the trip was a turning point in my recovery. He'd be the 3rd thing I rescued in a fire, after the cat and DP (and in fact I'd assume DP could save himself, so maybe 2nd thing).

We're never too old to have things that have special meaning to us x

This is just a lovely thread ☺️ Glad the platypi are ok.

@CatkinToadflax I have an emotional support pig called Gammon who I bought when my dad died a few years ago. It's a real comfort at the time, isn't it?

Pangolins are fabulous!

Here is my video of a platypus swimming in our local wildlife park for your delight. No one is allowed to swim with the platypus, because of the nasty venom that his heel spurs contain.

@HeyMicky love that your pig is called Gammon! Brilliant name! Yes it’s such a comfort having a cuddly emotional support animal. to you too. (And I love the plural - platipi!)

Still sleep with eeyore every night. Also in my 30s. Eeyore has been with me through a lot of heartbreak

I am late to this thread but it has warmed my heart. Have the platypuses dried out fully now? I love the platypus love- DP calls me puggle, which started as an affectionate diminutive of pug because of my sinus snuffles, but when he found it baby platypuses are puggles, it just made it so much better because they're so cute. I ask for a puggle snuggle if my anxiety is bad and he knows what I mean.

My from-babyhood dog sits on the ottoman at the foot of the bed. He comes to bed if DP is away. He's had a few stitches and his eyes are devoid of paint like Little Orphan Annie eyes now, but he is perfect. He sits with the matching seals (Sealia and Lusealle) DP and I bought each other, our first birthdays together. Mine also comes to bed if DP is away, he takes his away overnight and she kept him company every night before he moved in. They are incredibly precious, as are the little white cat I got at boarding school, who was my school-bed friend and the ginger and white puppet cat I got at Chartwell, not long after leaving home and missing my real pet cat. He comes alive to cuddle and wipe tears. I was devastated when he started smelling mouldy in a previous house, which had a nasty damp problem. He had a very gentle handwash, delicate cycle wash and drain and spin in a bra bag after much googling. The cats live on the ottoman window seat in the office, to keep DP company wfh. They all mean so much and bring much comfort. I'd be devastated if anything happened to them!

@Pinkywoo Really! Am Googling Tasmanian platypuses right now as I had no idea.

@ThumbWitchesAbroad Aren’t they adorable? Though apparently their sting is so painful you’ll want to die (I saw an incredibly tough old Australian suuuuper “blokey bloke” on the documentary talking about how it happened to him and he goes with a straight face, “He got me good.” Still deadpan face. “It was the worst pain of me life. Thought I was havin’ a heart attack. I wanted to off meself.” And he’s just totally nonchalant telling the camera man about how this little 35 cm platypus almost did him in. It was so awful and so so funny). Thank you for sharing!!! Oh and apparently when they dig their beak down in the sand, it has electric sensitivity in it that helps them find worms and such in the mud. They’re crazy little creatures.

@OurChristmasMiracle Ah, I always loved Eeyore in the original Winnie the Pooh stories. Sometimes he was being morose, sure, but sometimes I think he was just being a hilariously sarcastic arsehole when you read it as an adult. (“Oh sure, don’t mind me, I’ve only lost my fucking tail. Sigh. The Cat in the Hat never had to put with this shite in his books.”

@MrsToothyBitch That’s lovely about actually BEING a puggle, ha! And yes, know exactly what you mean. Very mysterious as I go to get ready for bed if DH is ever gone and when I come back, bed is full up with platypuses and every other stuffed animal in the house so it doesn’t feel quite as big (DH and I would both love a real animal but his allergies are shocking, even around “hypoallergenic” breeds).

I’m glad Platypus didn’t have to go through that alone. Furious P, having been previously deployed and thus brave and highly experienced, surely comforted her throughout all cycles.

It's all go on the platypus front at the moment!
video of female platy being handled (and echidna) [[https://www.facebook.com/163000207975/videos/335952221566612]]

Argh bloody link doesn't work!
I'll try again.
www.facebook.com/163000207975/videos/335952221566612

@Hannayeah

I’m glad Platypus didn’t have to go through that alone. Furious P, having been previously deployed and thus brave and highly experienced, surely comforted her throughout all cycles.

This is such a nice thought.

I think all the platypuses are very brave (and OP).

[quote ThumbWitchesAbroad]Argh bloody link doesn't work!
I'll try again.
www.facebook.com/163000207975/videos/335952221566612[/quote]
Ha, the platypus just trying to get away the whole time. I was thinking, “Someone should definitely have brought the platypus treats for this.” I also had to look up yabbies! (I was wondering if it was a type of shrimp or worm or even fish, though that last seemed unlikely; turns out it’s a type of crayfish).

@Hannayeah

I’m glad Platypus didn’t have to go through that alone. Furious P, having been previously deployed and thus brave and highly experienced, surely comforted her throughout all cycles.

This almost made me tear up a tiny bit and it’s very true. Furious P saw months without either showers or telephone calls. It was pretty shite for a platypus, but he’s battle hardened now. As DH says, we joke about how he’s retired to a spoiled life of (candy) worms with us.

@RightYesButNo

You and your DH sound like the most wonderful people. This is such a happy thread.

Given what you’ve written, Furious P probably turned it into an adventure /spa day experience for her.

Platypuses are wonderful animals. Either God is having a laugh, or they are the creationist's worst nightmare. Prey detected by EM radiation... venomous males... no teats on the females... adorable babies. Apart from the name 'monotreme', which is a little bit... descriptive to be cool, everything about them is a delight. No wonder the Europeans didn't believe they existed until one was sent back whole (not alive, pickled, but well enough preserved for a dissection to be done). Then there was the business of finding out whether the eggs are reptilian or avian. My favourite animal. I hope their furry avatar is doing OK.