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Relationships

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

What would you do about an ill dh?

51 replies

TransfiguratingLily · 11/07/2007 08:44

My dh had an angiogram yesterday and they are saying he had a minor heart attack which they stopped with treatment before damage was done to the heart but there are two blockages, so they are going to decide if he needs angioplasty or intense medication to deal with the blockages. So he is staying in hospital for another couple of weeks at least.

He lives and works 300 miles from me and the children and travels up every two weeks for a few days. It's two and a half weeks since I saw him and a week since his heart attack.

He told me not to come. To cancel the flights and come down after my sisters wedding which he knows is in August. (And never intended to go to it anyway-no change there)

He doesn't want to see me until he is better. And he doesn't want me to tell his brother in England what happened.

I am doing what he asks and not what I want to do at the moment.

I'm hurt that he doesn't want me and needs me to stay away.

It would be really hard for me to go down there with the children while he is in hospital. But if I thought that was his only reasoning I would do it anyway if he needed to see us.

Am I doing the right thing? Would it be just selfish of me to go against his wishes? Should I tell his brother?

OP posts:
spongecake · 11/07/2007 21:37

hi rosy, big hugs- agree would go and see him, sure his family would expect you to as well. Could you send him a lovely letter as well? just telling him you love him and miss him like crazy..

hope you feel ok yourself as well.

smalltowngirl · 11/07/2007 22:33

He is probably 'married' to someone else too. Ring the ward anonymously and ask if he has had any visitors.
You would be surprised how many patients do this!

teafortwoandtwofortea · 11/07/2007 22:46

NOT helpful smalltowngirl!

Lily - I would go, for my own sake even if DH didn't want me there. We have (strangley) discussed this and he said he wouldn't want me there but I told him it wasn't up to him and he understood that I'd need to be). Hope he's on the mend soon, I have worked in cardiac rehab and actually sometimes a minor heart attack can be a good way of reminding people to take care of themselves and they often meke a full recovery and live long happy lives.

TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 08:28

We've been txting and talking. We have good friends in Limerick who are keen to help. He has friends down there who have been visiting him, bringing pyjamas etc.

Smalltowngirl, we do know people who have a wife in every port so to speak.

Dh has had female friends over the years and I've been jealous of their friendship. So if he had a female friend visiting now I wouldn't be surprised and I would be extremely jealous. (but he puts up with my friendship with my xdh.)

He's not 'married' to anyone else though and neither am I.

I know our long distance relationship is hard for others to understand.

I have recovered my composure about it now after talking it through on here and with rl friends amnd family.

I do think I should drive down with the children for a few days.
Just have to build myself up to that now...it's won't be easy, but it would be good for everyone if I can manage it I think.

OP posts:
TimeForMe · 12/07/2007 09:23

Hi Lily

I'm pleased to hear you have now rationalized things and regained your composure

I certainly don't find your long distance relationship difficult to understand.
Relationships come in all forms, shapes and sizes and whatever works for you as a couple is a relationship regardless of what anyone else things.
Just because some couples don't fit the 'normal' criteria doesn't mean it's not a happy, successful and workable relationship.

Each to their own!

TimeForMe · 12/07/2007 09:24

thinks not things

divastrop · 12/07/2007 12:16

i think someones's been watching too much holby city

i would have had the same attitude as smalltowngirl 10 years ago,but where i live now there are loads of women who's husbands work away.there is very little work here and the house prices are low,and many women my age have parents/grandparents and siblings living nearby,and choose to have the support of their family and the nice house that they wouldnt be able to have if they were to go and live where their husbands work.

take care if you do drive down(brave woman!but i would probably do the same in your position).

my dad was from limerick,i would love to go and visit my vast family there one day

TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 14:02

Arghhh. I keep changing my mind
Dh says What's the point of driving the whole way down for an hour of visiting, he can talk to me for longer than that on the phone

Stuff it, I don't know what to do. The journey would be hellish.

He says his family in pakistan were so worried they've given away a whole load of goats. And were all very happy to hear his voice when he rang them.

Must admit, I am hoping we can reaarange ourselves and be together more after this.

Also this crisis has made me very aware of how much I love him.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 12/07/2007 14:04

Why does worry make his family give away goats? (sorry a bit of an aside but am interested)

If I were you I would go and see him

TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 14:12

I don't know, I presume it's giving charity and an extension to all the praying for him that they are doing.

My niece rang me and exclaimed 'auntie don't worry about anything we are praying for your family' They are very sweet.

I'm definately going on 8th of august. Flights are booked, I'm just itching to go before that, and it's not very practical...

I'll work it out eventually.

OP posts:
divastrop · 12/07/2007 17:01

you will probably end up chucking everyone in the car and going as soon as your ds1 gets back

what religion is he,if you dont mind me asking?just curious about the goat thing.

TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 17:16

Islam.
I might wait a week til he is out of hospital....dither, dither.....

OP posts:
teafortwoandtwofortea · 12/07/2007 20:04

Is there any way he could give permission for the ward sister to talk to you - perhaps talking to one of the health professionals looking after him might reassure you? The are plenty of issues that come up after someone's had an MI, emotional and physical - they should be used to alaying (sp?) fears and giving you the right advice.

Glad you're feeling more together.

smalltowngirl · 12/07/2007 22:16

I wasn't being a horrorbag lily,
My dp works overseas and i am wondering if he has another 'wife'.
We are having a bit/lot of a shit time at the mo.
hope he is well

foxcub · 12/07/2007 22:28

Sorry to be flippant, but I really like the term "horrorbag!"

I'm a horrorbag when I have PMT

What do you think you'll do then Lily?

I think you should just get down there as you won't be reassured until you see him. He is your partner after all - go on, you know you want to [big hugs]

TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 22:33

smalltowngirl, it does happen. Do you have reason not to trust your dp? Or are you just feeling insecure because of being apart from him?

I've had a chat with dh's brother now and he is respecting dh's choice and not ringing him just passing a message that they are thinking about him.

I've been chatting to dh about his wish to deal with things on his own and he seems to be grateful that I'm being understanding.

Though I continue to say I want to go to him and he continues to tell me to stay put with the children....

OP posts:
divastrop · 12/07/2007 22:46

lily-i am going to go on site stuff and ask MNHQ to start a topic called 'am i being too reasonable?' just for you!

if you are owt like me you will continue to do what you consider to be the 'right' thing then suddenly think 'oh b**cks to it' and do what you feel is the right thing.

well,i hope you will.

smalltowngirl-have you thought about starting a thread about your dh,or have you already done so?sounds like you need to get things off your chest.

MadEyeMisdee · 12/07/2007 22:49

transfigurlylilly, do you know what i would do?

i would take him an overnight bag, mobile with cerdit on it, some goodies and surprise him

TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 22:52

Well, it's not hard for me to be talked out of going, it wouldn't be much fun.

I think I'll change my mind 10 times every day for a few days....

OP posts:
TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 22:55

Yes, surprising him is a nice idea.

OP posts:
MadEyeMisdee · 12/07/2007 22:59

just tell him you want to make sure he has plenty of clean pj's, and some slippers.

TransfiguratingLily · 12/07/2007 23:08

I'd probably arrive at the hospital and he would be up here trying to surprise me! He likes to do that kind of thing.

He says he has to see his doctor up here once he comes out.
I can just imagine us passing each other on the road to cork.

OP posts:
pollydoodle · 13/07/2007 00:59

Hi Lily

I can understand what you're going through a bit - my dh had a heart attack 4 days before my ds was due, although at least he wasn't on the other side of the country.

At the end of the day, you know your husband best but having been through it, it was definitely good for both of us that I was able to visit him in hospital. As I was admitted later that night to a different hospital for pre-eclampsia, I was so glad that I had seen him and was so worried that something would happen to him while I couldn't see him.

however, one of the things that having a HA will do to you is make you incredibly tired - not to mention depressed and emotional. So it might be a good idea to visit him first without the children as it may well be that he'll see you and then need to sleep after 10 mins or so. then wake up 30 mins later and chat for another 5 mins etc. It will also give you a chance to see your husband and deal with all your emotions before your kids see him.

There is definitely a male 'I can cope on my own' attitude that seems to kick in, in these circumstances, combined with the emotions and depression, as well as an embarrassment that it has happened to them. Which may well be why it seems like your husband is pushing you away. however, he may also be thinking that he is telling you these things because that is what he (as a man) is expected to do and is hoping or expecting you to visit him - or maybe he knows that he is not physically up to seeing his kids but doesn't know how to explain this without it sounding bad and so says for you not to come.

From a purely practical point of view - I know this might come across as horribly morbid - but have you both got your wills up to date? Heaven forbid anything bad should happen but if he should die intestate then you are going to be in a much worse position and have a whole load more stress than if he does have a will. It doesn't have to be big or complicated - just something to say that he is leaving everything to you and that it is properly signed and witnessed etc. It can be changed by a deed of variation later but this can't be done if the will never exists.

Same vein - does he have any sort of critical illness cover? These often have to be claimed within a month or so of the person first falling ill - which is exactly at the worst possible time that you don't want to be sorting these things out. but the stress that you and he would both have on discovering that you have missed out on the payments would be huge. believe me .

However - the good thing is that your dh is in the right place and the fact that he is there and that there is no permanent damage could well mean that he has an excellent prognosis. More than 2 years down the line from my dh's ha, he is to all intents and purposes, fit and healthy. As T42&24T says, it can be a blessing in disguise - a wake up call to a healthier lifestyle and a long life beyond. In some ways, you could say he will end up being better than someone who hadn't had the HA as he will know the condition of his heart, he will know that it has been sorted, he will know he has to take care of it and he will be on the right drugs and monitored by GPs etc.

And you will also discover that it is not that uncommon a thing - it is amazing the number of other people that I have spoken to that have had a friend or relative or themselves have a HA at an early age - most of whom are now enjoying life to the full - and really making sure that every moment does count.

Finally, don't underestimate the time that your husband will need to rehabilitate physically, mentally and emotionally - it is a long hard slog for all of you, but especially him of course. And don't underestimate the effect it will have on you - it can knock you for six too. So make sure you get some back up in there for you too.

Hope I haven't gone on too long. Reading your post brought back memories. I knew one person who had been through it previously with her husband and it was a was a help to talk to her, I think I have said most of the things that she said to me when I first spoke to her and found useful. But if there are any more questions that you have just shout.

thinking of you and your husband - hope that he has a swift recovery.

TransfiguratingLily · 13/07/2007 07:42

Thanks Pollydoodle, that is helpful. He has been really tired and couldn't quite understand it. He slept loads at first.

We don't have wills done, we are the most disorganised couple ever, and that's a very good point. If he popped his clogs there would be complete and utter chaos to sort out.

I do agree that it is lucky really that he has had a warning about his heart. Hopefully he will be able to control it now and live a long healthy life. He is 46.

Dh acts tough but he is a very soft person who gets really upset if others are upset.

I suppose he wants to know that we are just getting on with things in our usual routine so he doesn't have to worry about us.

He keeps on down playing the seriousness of what's happened.
I have instintively been really calm about things with him. trying to protect him from my distress because he doesn't need that, though he knows I care.

I'm probably moving in and out of denial along with him!

I worry that me seeing him all broken and vulnerable would be bad for him, like chopping his balls off.
I want to nurse and mother him but that might make him depressed.

Usually I'm the one in a muddle and he comes and rescues me. I could cope with a role reversal but I don't know if he could.

OP posts:
TransfiguratingLily · 13/07/2007 17:16

He's coming out and saying 'come on down'. I'll be driving down the road as soon as I can find my car keys. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
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