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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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My Dh died this morning and I don't know how to go on

999 replies

JuanPotatoTwo · 27/02/2017 19:18

But I will because I have to, because I have 4 incredible dc he loved.

I'm so so sad, didn't see it coming this time. Been lots of occasions in the past when we thought we'd lose him but he fought back and pulled through. Too much for him this time. One month today we would have been married 24 years.

Being self indulgent posting but I'm trying to put on brave front for dc even though 3 of them are adult and trying to be brave for me. We all loved him so much.

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JuanPotatoTwo · 18/03/2017 18:39

book that seems like a good way to phrase things. And you're not at all rubbish at putting things into words.

daisy it is a wonderful offer and I know that people truly want to help. I find it difficult accepting help but, you're right, they want to do something to smooth the path.

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DramaAlpaca · 18/03/2017 18:49

That's such a lovely, generous offer from your friends and I echo what book and daisy have said. Don't worry too much about making decisions, this is what your lovely friends are for at times like this.

book's way of phrasing a response sounds perfect.

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 18/03/2017 19:16

Juan love, you're being far too hard on yourself. It's far too soon to even be thinking that you need to be crying less, doing more, making decisions etc. All you have to do is get you & the DC through the day. That's it. That's a successful day, that's plenty. M thinking a day in bed was a wasted day was fine, because you were all there, he was wringing the life out of every day - this, this is different. You need to 'cope' for a while and look after yourself & if that means retreating to bed, then so be it.

I couldn't stomach the smell of food either, which was another reason the tiny sandwiches were good.

DD's boyfriend sounds like a 'keeper'. I hope he's as lovely as you portray him.

I was crying reading about you going into M's treatment room to get the drugs & seeing everything in situ. The cheese he bought in the fridge...it just cuts right through you doesn't it. Several years on my Dad's slippers are still where he left them (they do get lifted to hoover 😁) and his jacket is still on the peg in the hall etc. We see no reason to move them.

At first I didn't like having dreams, but now I treasure them. It hurts waking up, but I'll take that pain for the moments where it feels like he's stilll here.

WRT the food , I think that's a good reply to your friends. Whatever gets done, will be 'the right thing'. It's about the worst time in your life to have to make decisions, yet you have to make so many decisions. Delegate any you can.

Please don't be so hard on yourself, nothing you are feeling Is pathetic, nothing. It's normal. Don't pressure yourself to stop crying, or 'do things' or 'get on with it'. Take the time, grieve without guilt, be kind to yourself.

Chasingsquirrels · 18/03/2017 20:03

Love to you all Juan

TheConstantCakeEater · 18/03/2017 20:11

Sounds like you are doing brilliantly under the circumstances. Take your friends up on the offer. They are trying to lighten the load as you would do if the situation was reversed.

Hope you get some sleep tonight.

building2017 · 18/03/2017 20:51

Juan, when my friend's dad died I lived quite far away and was very poorly myself so couldn't really help at all practically or emotionally. But I could give money so I did. I wouldn't have offered if I couldn't manage. People know there is so little to be done to help.

JuanPotatoTwo · 18/03/2017 21:42

Thank you for such supportive messages.

I feel panicky right now :(. I'm trying to acclimatise to this but don't think I'm succeeding. I know I need to take time to process it all. It's so unbearably painful. I feel sick with sorrow.

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bookbook · 18/03/2017 22:30

It is not surprising you are panicky - its all too much, and its an enormous void you are trying to fill.
Can you do some breathing exercises - sit very calm, try to empty your mind , and concentrate purely on breathing air up one side of your nostril to the count of 3, hold for 3, let the air out of the other nostril slowly for 3 ( its simple rhythmic circular breathing in yoga) you may need to hold your nose to do it. Just repeat a few times .
Warm drink - lemon and honey or camomile if you have it.
I wish I could reach through the screen and give you a hug xx

JuanPotatoTwo · 18/03/2017 22:53

Oh book, thank you. Tried your breathing exercise - do feel a bit calmer now.

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magimedi · 18/03/2017 22:56

You really don't need to succeed.

All you need to do is KBO & put one foot in front of the other.

And keep breathing & try to sleep (hard) & try to eat (less hard) & keep drinking some water (quite easy).

And know that we will all be here for you (very easy).

My love to you, as ever.

(((xxx)))

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 18/03/2017 23:03

Such good advice here. All I have to add is that I'd definitely let your friends organise the catering, even if you don't end up letting them pay the entire bill, because it's one less thing for you to think about and sort out. You need to husband your strength for what only you can do, which at the moment will be mainly to do with your family, I expect.

How did the shopping go? How kind of DD's boyfriend to take that on.

My final thought, for what it's worth, is that if it had been the other way around, I'd lay money that M would have been just as shattered as you are now.

Time for bed now. I hope you have a reasonable night.

2017SoFarSoGood · 19/03/2017 03:11

Hope you are fast asleep dear Juan and will wake up just a tiny bit stronger. Not much is needed of you now, just to keep going. One foot at a time. Nice and slow.

That's the way.FlowersFlowersFlowers

daisychain01 · 19/03/2017 06:16

❤️💝❤ this is such a warm and fuzzy thread ❤💖💖

Hope you manage to rest, Juan. We're right here for you x

TheConstantCakeEater · 19/03/2017 06:35

I don't know what your thing normally would be but I've been struggling with anxiety and find it useful to listen to mindfullness videos on youtube and also yoga with Adrienne which also has things for anxiety/stress.

Hope your Sunday is a bit calmer x

Chasingsquirrels · 19/03/2017 07:27

So many wonderful people posting such heartfelt and I should think (from my own current position) helpful and welcome messages.
I can only my thoughts Juan, for the little they are worth.
I hope you slept and have the strength to get through the day.
xx

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 19/03/2017 10:30

I have to agree Juan that if people are offering help with the catering, then please take it. It's one less thing for you to fret about, and they've offered, so clearly they want to do it for you and M - do let them. xx

ssd · 19/03/2017 11:25

I hope you managed a bit of sleep Juan. In the early days, when I was panicky and overwhelmed, I found solace in reading. Nothing high brow, Danielle Steele if we're being honest! Sort of easy to read, easy to follow books. I found when I was sat, stomach and mind churning, I'd go to my room and try to read a few chapters and just getting involved in the book for a wee while took my mind away from what was hurting me. I don't know if that would be any good for you and its something I discovered over time, not something I tried to achieve quickly. I think at your stage the hurt and panic is overwhelming and the sense of "this can't hurt so much there's something wrong with me". I truly truly believed I was going mad, I didn't think my experience was anything like normal, only now do I look back and see how utterly normal it was.

Thanks
Willow2017 · 19/03/2017 13:16

Juan
If friends want to help I would let them, the less you have to worry about the better. I know its hard to accept help sometimes. Perhaps if you let them know the cost and say that you wouldnt expect them to pay as much it gives them the option to say yes or no. If they say yes then let them. People want to do something to help but can be worried they do the wrong thing, maybe dont want to be bothering you all the time in case you arent up for visitors and so on.

You just need to get through 'right now' there is no time limit, no race to the finish, you need to do whatever it takes to get through this minute no more.

Let your friends and family rally round and help to carry you over the things you havent got the energy for.

Hope you slept better last night. Flowers

ChippingInLovesWoollyHugs · 19/03/2017 13:56

Just popping in with a ((HUG))

Really my lovely, you have to stop putting yourself under so much pressure. It's going to take time, quite a lot of time, to get anywhere even approaching 'acclimatising' to this. It's an awful lot to cope with, especially on one hand knowing M was very ill & yet him dying being unexpected & sudden. Don't dismiss the fact that you are still in shock.

Eventually, in time, you will learn to live alongside this terrible loss & sadness, but it takes a lot of time to get there. For now, just get through 5 minutes at a time, let yourself grieve.

The anxiety & panic is truly awful. I couldn't do any of the 'calming' things (thoughtful breathing, listening to stuff, reading etc) it just made me worse. I had to force myself to go outside, even if it was just standing in the open doorway & talk myself down. The most helpful thing I read was to say things like 'This is JUST a feeling. A FEELING cannot DO anything on it's own. You CAN control it. YOU determine how YOU feel, not it. Take control, over ride it. It's JUST a feeling'. Somehow that really works for me.

bookbook · 19/03/2017 19:46

Just poking head round the door - thoughts and prayers for a calm and restful evening Juan - will be back later if you need a hand hold x

DramaAlpaca · 19/03/2017 20:57

Sending love as well.

I'll also be around for a while if you need to offload x

JuanPotatoTwo · 19/03/2017 21:24

Thank you for all the advice and handholds and hugs - it's like having a whole troop of lovely aunties urging me on.

I accepted my friends' offer and they seemed pleased to be able to help.

Took ds3 shopping this afternoon for something to wear to the funeral, and we went for lunch afterwards. I got upset because it was somewhere I've been with M - but almost everywhere I go I will have been there with M so I'll have to get used to it. Looking through bank statements earlier was upsetting as well as they told the tale of his/our last week leading up to his death :( I am so so dreading Wednesday, I don't know how I'll get through it.

The first lot of little red cardis have been dropped off - they're actually little red jumpers and they're so sweet.

My Dh died this morning and I don't know how to go on
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DramaAlpaca · 19/03/2017 21:35

Oh just look at those adorable little red jumpers!! They are so cute.

I'm glad you've accepted your friends' offer, I'm absolutely certain they are happy to be able to do this for you. You have some wonderful friends around you.

Wednesday will be tough, there's no doubt about it. We'll all be here, wishing you strength. You will get through it, and you'll give M a magnificent send off that he'd be proud of.

Many hugs, Auntie Drama xxx

magimedi · 19/03/2017 21:46

You will get through Wednesday because you have to - and I don't mean that to sound harsh. It will be over & then it will be Thursday........ it will happen & it will go and it will then be over & a memory.

As Drama said we will all be here and all your real life friends & friends of M will be there for you. I think it will be better than you are imagining and I hope & pray very comforting.

The wee jumpers are just lovely - make sure you & each of your DCs keep one.

Much love (as ever) from Granny (too old to be an Auntie) Magi.

(((xxx)))

bookbook · 19/03/2017 22:08

gorgeous little jumpers .
as magimed has said, the thought of it will hopefully be worse than the actuality.

Whatever happens on Wednesday, we shall be with you, giving strength and love . xx

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