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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

AIBU to be bugged by DH actions

223 replies

Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 09:31

Apologies for the long post....I'm after some insight into something that is starting to really bug me in my marriage. I'm mentioning a few examples of a pattern has been going on for over 6 months now. It seems more and more that my husband and is kind and caring in public and distant and cold in private.

Background. We've been together 9 years and I have a long term medical condition, Epilepsy, which causes a great deal of stress for him as it has periods of seeming to be under control and then periods of 4+ seizures a week (which is the stage I am at now).

I am also recovering from a stress fracture of my heel bone caused by increasing my gym workout load too quickly (although I didn't know about stress fractures and the causes of them until I injured myself).

When DH and I are in public and people ask how my Epilepsy is at the moment and more recently what I've done to my foot etc, he's been supportive, sympathetic and caring. He helps with practical things as I'm on crutches at the moment and need a little assistance here and there, carrying things etc.

The couple of times I have had a seizure in public and he has been called by strangers who have found me (I wear a medical alert bracelet) he has rushed to me from work or wherever he has been and sat and held my hand, caressing my face, being affectionate and caring towards me especially when I have injured myself and strangers have called an ambulance.

As soon as we have been home, he's been distant, cold and snapping at me for days.

In the summer, I fell off my bike and ended up upside down in a ditch in a nest of stinging nettles and thistles with my bike on top of me. No one was around and I managed to gradually pull myself up (not easy with a bike on top of you). I felt sore all over having fallen against a concrete pillar on my way down and was covered in stings & scratches so I sent DH a text telling him what had happened and asking him if he could please pick me up. I realised it was 10mins before the end of his work day but they are incredibly understanding and fine with him leaving slightly early as long as he goes in early to make the time up and this was the first time I ever asked him for something to do with me.

He didnt leave work until 15 mins after his normal finish time, got to me with a look of thunder on his face, hardly said a thing except "get in" (to the car) and ignored me the rest of the day. Not once did he ask how I was nor in the days that followed and when I finally asked him what held him up at work, he said nothing, he just didn't see what the hurry was. (He only ever works late if hes making time up or stuck on a phone call).

When I have had seizures at home he later makes negative comments which make me feel like he thinks I've been letting the family down. Yesterday's examples "it's not as if you've been there for DS this week" and "well you can't exactly look after him can you?".

Last Friday, the day after I found out I had broken my heel bone, I was tired and in pain and had spent the day making and decorating our DS birthday cake (no excuse but a contributing factor) I said it was frustrating when I was struggling to carry things being on crutches that he hadn't put the shopping away when he brought it home and instead left it out on the kitchen side (he'd gone and sat down and was playing a racing game on his phone) he snapped at me (I probably deserved being snapped at given I wasnt exactly nice in my tone) and started swearing and said "its your own fault you're injured so quit moaning" then shouted he was fed up with all this s**t walked out the door and drove off for hours.

Sorry, this post has ended up being way longer than I thought it would be.

AIBU to be annoyed/worried by this all or just overly sensitive?

OP posts:
Derbee · 06/12/2019 14:28

The first thread I read from you said your husband was bordering on emotionally abusive, your words.

He doesn’t sound very nice, you’ve both had severe mental health problems and you’ve got a fairly complex medical condition.

It sounds like a pressure cooker, to be honest. Is marriage counselling something that would appeal to you guys?

diddl · 06/12/2019 14:32

" DH insisted it was him on my medical alert bracelet and wallet card."

Was that what you wanted?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 06/12/2019 14:34

If you report your post and put in the comments you want the thread moved MNHQ will move it for you.

Aveisenim · 06/12/2019 14:44

This posted twice so c+p my response to your other thread;

YANBU. I'm also epileptic with an incredibly supportive OH (generally - he's my carer so understandably finds it stressful sometimes) and he's NEVER been like this towards me when I've been ill due to Epilepsy or injured in general. If he was like this towards me I'd LTB. He's a jackass. Sounds like he likes the attention he gets in public when you're ill, but doesn't like the reality of living with it. He is treating you terribly.

TheOrigFV45 · 06/12/2019 14:44

Everything else aside, did the gym instructor set you the treadmill program? A stress fracture is an overuse injury so it sounds like you increased the amount of impact work far too quickly if you got one on your 3rd or 4th session.

Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 14:46

I do feel somewhat upset being told I'm accident prone or putting myself at risk on top of my Epilepsy when I've taken up exercise to help my health agreed with by the Doctors, I've done around 1000 miles cycling over 8 months had 3 falls (one seizure, one down ditch and one not injured) and from gym following a regime given to me by my PT get my 1st broken bone in my life (I'm nearly 43) from using the treadmill 3 or 4 times, but maybe my DH was right when he said it
was my fault

Before this I never went out alone and after my seizure on the bike I didn't leave the house for I think, a week getting more and more scared and depressed. My DH has actually supported me going to the gym (I thought he would freak as the PTs are male) and he encouraged me to get back on my bike for the first time since I was a teenager (this was back in May).

I know I'm not a saint. I didn't ask if my DH behaviour was unreasonable, I asked if what seems like the differences between him in public and private should be worrying me so much but I feel like I've been crucified on here.

Thank you to you who were helpful with your comments, I'm still as confused as ever. I am on the waiting list for a new counsellor as mine has moved away recently

OP posts:
Bouncer4me · 06/12/2019 14:50

He’s abusive!!! My husband has epilepsy and I’d never ever treat him like he’s treating you!!

Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 14:55

@Derbee
I didn't really think about it. Was filling in the online form to order my medical alert and asked him if I should put him or one of our parents. He said something along the lines of well I am your husband it has to be me, so just input his name and number

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 06/12/2019 14:56

I think uou need to show more empathy to each other. Your health issues are very hard on you. But at four times a week, with accidents thrown in, it's also hard on him as he's effectively your carer. I think showing each other some empathy would go a long way.

Your approach is, I'm ill, he needs to step up. Do you ever thank him for what he does? His approach is to get annoyed about the fact he's being called on again. Does he ever ask you how you're feeling?

Overall you need to be kinder to each other. And that includes you to him.

Aveisenim · 06/12/2019 14:57

No, you asked if you were unreasonable to be bothered by how he's been behaving towards you.

You're not.

He is showing one face in public and another in private. Combined with the fact he pinned you down (regardless of what he passed it off as) he IS abusive. It can be very easy for carers to fall into abusive behaviours with those they are meant to be caring for. (I've had recent-ish experience) where a family member was financially and emotionally abused by the person who was supposed to be caring for them - They were found guilty in court. It DOES happen.)

YOU are NOT at fault here. HE IS. Yes, it's stressful caring for someone with disabilities, but, that does not make it okay for him to treat you the way he has. It's abusive and wrong and you need to get out of there ASAP. You will find a way to cope that works for you, even with your medical condition. You may even find your seizure rate goes down as you're not as stressed out. As for your neurologist. They can suggest medication to take. It is completely up to you whether or not you agree to the change in medication. Research side effects etc before agreeing.

diddl · 06/12/2019 15:02

"(I thought he would freak as the PTs are male)"

What???

That's not normal!

Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 15:02

@diddl meant to reply to you not another user...I didn't really think about it. Was filling in the online form to order my medical alert and asked him if I should put him or one of our parents. He said something along the lines of well I am your husband it has to be me, so just input his name and number

OP posts:
diddl · 06/12/2019 15:05

Well I can see how that came about, but obviously it doesn't have to be him just because he's your husband.

Especially if for example there are people who can get to you more or just as quickly without having to leave work.

Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 15:07

@diddl I don't know, I just had a vision of him getting jealous which is something apart, from one throwaway comment he made about showing off my legs a while ago, I don't think he's ever shown any signs of jealousy

OP posts:
Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 15:10

@diddl my parents live 20 mins away and DM going through her own health problems DD (grown up) lives 45 mins away with a baby and Inlaws often out and about whereas he works 5 mins from home so at the time I guess it made sense as there isn't anyone else who drives

OP posts:
Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 15:17

@TheOrigFV45 yes a PT did. Hospital were a bit baffled as it wasnt a lot of impact work but I went from no high impact as was mainly cycling to 22mins 3 or 4 days in a row.... think the MIU said they're going to write to GP that I get a blood test to check no underlying issues which made me more prone

OP posts:
Clumsywith2leftfeet · 06/12/2019 15:19

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude thank you I have done that and now the comments have slowed down I can more easily answer people

OP posts:
SunshineCake · 06/12/2019 15:24

Sounds like he's stressed. ??

Bloody hell. More like sounds like he's a horrible person as while we can all get fed up with practical caring he's putting on a show in public then abusing the OP in private. I wouldn't stand for it. In sickness and health and if he can't divorce the fucker.

Aveisenim · 06/12/2019 15:32

@Clumsywith2leftfeet what do you take for epilepsy? Some of the medication can cause osteoporosis.

Lizzie0869 · 06/12/2019 15:34

I don't think you should worry about him being jealous. It wouldn't even occur to my DH to be concerned about PTs at the gym, and it doesn't sound as if your DH would either.

Everything can seem overwhelming when you have major health issues and you can find yourself worrying about anything and everything. I understand that, because that's how it is for me. Then so often I find that the reality really isn't as scary as I thought it would be.

I agree with other PPs that you should ask other family members for help sometimes. I'm sure they'll be very happy to step in, especially if you're honest about how things are with your DH.

ThanksThanksThanks

TheOrigFV45 · 06/12/2019 15:38

Factors which increase risk of stress fractures are:
Being low weight
Being female
Being asian (I read that somewhere)
Being older
Menstrual disturbances
Low bone density
Poor nutrition

Aveisenim · 06/12/2019 15:50

@TheOrigFV45 epilepsy medication can as well depending on what you're prescribed, some are worse than others.

Fairenuff · 06/12/2019 15:54

I think you should ask him if he wants to separate. Not blame and argue with him but just have a calm chat about it and give him the chance to choose that option if it's what he wants. It sounds like he has already detached himself emotionally which is often a sign that there is someone else involved. Or it may just be that he doesn't want to be in this relationship any more.

If he really does want to be with you, the fact that are wondering about this might be enough for him to wake up to what's going on and have a chance to show you how much he cares. But it does sound to me as if it's over, at least on his side.

TheOrigFV45 · 06/12/2019 16:02

Aveisenim that's interesting. I would assume the PT would be well aware of this, and would have taken it into account.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 06/12/2019 16:19

I doubt a PT would be aware of the specific risk linked to epilepsy medication