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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

What a mess I have caused

15 replies

BuffyBeat · 30/08/2021 11:41

I am totally shocked to the core, devastated and really so upset that I feel ill.
My son has had mental health issues which I have tried to help him with but over the last few years have become much worse.
A couple of times his girlfriend has told him she can’t cope and he’s come home for a few days then gone back.
This time however, he got drunk and started to tell me all his problems were because of me, I thought he meant because I had left his father and I knew that had obviously upset him. He said it wasn’t just that but couldn’t tell me what it was as I wouldn’t believe him and would argue, I promised if he told me, I would just listen but didn’t expect the bombshell he dropped.
This is what he told me: years ago, I asked him to come and pick up his one year old baby, as he wasn’t mine, when he arrived I handed the baby over and said that my daughters 3 children were obviously mine but as his girlfriend had had this baby, it wasn’t mine.

He said he took the baby, drove away and cried in his car.
I have absolutely no knowledge of saying this, not even an inkling of a dream, just nothing.
I told him I accepted what he had just told me but all I could think was that I had a breakdown and didn’t realise, as I would never say or think that of his child.
When I asked when I said this, I worked it out that it was the same year that I was on very strong pain medication for arthritis in my hips, including morphine patches, which I’ve now read can cause unnatural thoughts, he also told me of a few other weird things I’d said at the same time. I’ve asked my daughter if she noticed anything and she said that I was a bit odd and grumpy sometimes but she just put it down to the pain I was in.
Luckily my son believed me and I’ve found the time I was on the morphine on my Nhs app.
He told me that he never came round to see me for a full year after that, which I also can’t remember and his girlfriend absolutely hated me and apparently still does, although she hid it well as I did start looking after his son occasionally after this weirdness.
He also holds a lot of vicious jealousy about how I have apparently favoured my daughters children, I don’t favour her children but I have had a lot more to do with them over the years but “Dil’s” Mother and family always seemed to be on hand and I have always looked after him when they asked me to do.
My daughter involves me more with her family, if there is some occasion, I am always asked along but with my son, he always just tells me about going out with her family, which now I know what I’ve said, is understandable.
Now we all understand what happened, he says they both feel like a weight has lifted off them and I’m really, really glad about that.
The thing is, I can’t forgive myself…. Although I know it wasn’t intentionally my fault, I keep going over and over how much my “Dil” hated me and how my son, while still speaking to me had actually disliked me.
Obviously I’ve massively apologised to him and my “Dil”, I asked could we still be friends, which she agreed to and said they were drawing a line under it all.
My anxiety is through the roof and I’ve had to ring the doctors, I can’t sleep and I’m tearful and sad.
I don’t know what I’m asking here but any advise or words that might help, maybe…..

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 30/08/2021 11:48

Hopefully the doctor can help in the short term.

As you say, it’s positive you’ve all had your say and hopefully happier times are ahead.

bettycat81 · 30/08/2021 12:12

By the sound of it everyone has recognised how out of character it was for you to say that and now that it has been explained it has been forgiven. This, to me, shows what a wonderful mother you really are.

You have a bright future ahead with your family and hopefully the doctors will be able to put you on a path to recognising that.

romdowa · 30/08/2021 12:12

I find it odd that your son never inquired at the time about why you were acting so strange and saying weird things. Surely he would have known that this was totally out of character for you. I really wouldn't beat yourself up though. If I have to be sedated for a medical procedure then I can get very aggressive and tell the hospital staff to fuck off or I can be all nice and tell them that they are amazing. Sometimes I remember this weeks or even months later and I always apologise to my consultant but he says with drugs like morphine and fentyl that this is so common. Even my dp , the quietest man you'll ever meet goes off his head on morphine.

Di11y · 30/08/2021 12:16

You do the best with the information you have at the time. It wasn't intentional and all you can do now is do your best to rebuild the relationship now.

mrsm43s · 30/08/2021 12:31

Are you sure you actually said this?

You say you DS has mental health problems - my DB has mental health problems, and he frequently tells me that I did something that I haven't. Big things like turning up in the middle of the night and punching him or chasing him in the car and trying to run him off the road. These things obviously never happened, its all just a sign of his mental illness. He would absolutely swear they happened though.

moose62 · 30/08/2021 12:36

This is very common with morphine. When my mother was very ill in hospital she was on morphine, then her kidneys failed and she was moved to the renal unit. She was there for a number of days, with her kidneys not functioning properly and therefore the morphine was just circulating around her body. The doctors warned me that she might say things she didn't mean and not to take it to heart. During that time she told me that she had never liked me and that she wished she had never had children. She said the same to my sisters whilst they were there. She was abusive towards the staff and quite racist. When she recovered and left the ward she had no memory of any of it! Normally my mother would never have said anything like that and we know that she did love us really. But, it was hard to get over what she said. My advice is to draw a line under it, accept it happened because of things out of your control and move on!

Sittingonabench · 30/08/2021 12:41

I’m so sorry reading this. You weren’t in your right mind at the time and shouldn’t hold yourself responsible for it - although that is easier said than done when you feel you have hurt those you love. The only advice I would give is to give them time to adjust their feelings and be supportive, be aware of the hurt but accept there was nothing you could do at the time and reassure them and their children that that is not how you feel and you are upset that such a thought would ever be associated with you

BuffyBeat · 30/08/2021 12:47

Thanks so much for all your kind and understanding replies…….romdowa you seem to have experienced similar to me.
He told me he did try to broach me about what I’d said but I told him he was lying and why was he saying that to me. Obviously within the same time frame, so I was still “crazy”.
He said when I handed my Grandson over that day, I was speaking very calmly snd matter of fact and saying, I hope he understood but other times he said I had run at him with my teeth bared, telling him to get out of my house.
His father who I was and am still friendly with came with him one day and saw my behavior and told my son I had gone totally insane at last.
Because after I had my son, I had unrecognised postpartum depression and was told I behaved weirdly with friends calling round, telling them to get out.
Then same with daughter, still undiagnosed but not quite so bad because I had a lot of help.
It was only when I told my daughter after she had her last child, that she told me what I had.
I’m going to have to try to pull myself together though as I’ve already cancelled lunch with a friend yesterday and don’t feel up to getting ready for another “do” today.
Sorry, I’m just rambling really but I’m ashamed to discuss any of this with my friends…… my daughter knows and is really supportive and says it’s ridiculous that I would say something like that, in my right mind but I haven’t told her how shaken up I really am.

OP posts:
MakeItRain · 30/08/2021 17:38

I would question whether you actually said it too. It's strange to say he didn't want to tell you because you "wouldn't believe" him. You say you're still friendly with his father. Does he back up what your son says you were like at the time, and agree that he said you'd "gone insane"? If it were the morphine that changed your personality, it doesn't sound as though you had much support at the time and you don't have anything to feel ashamed about. I think calling the doctors for support with your anxiety is a good idea. Flowers

saoirse31 · 30/08/2021 18:17

I don't know if I'd be totally convinced you ever said it tbh, could it be possibly connected to your son's mental health issues? I'm not sure I'd be too quick to believe that it's exactly as he says, especially when clearly other than being a bit grumpy from pain your daughter never mentioned you saying anything that odd and out of character. And what your ex supposedly said, that you've gone mad at last- I don't think he's a friend assuming that he did actually say it.

I suppose I'd take it at face value now and try and move on.

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 30/08/2021 18:51

I agree that I'd double check this with your sons dad. But yes morphine can really change someone's personality.

If you were on heroin you'd expect to be changed wouldn't you? And morphine is basically heroin with impurities.

It sounds like you've handled this very well once your son made the revelation. I hope the doctor can help with your anxiety. It's really horrible to realise so suddenly that you've hurt someone badly, someone you love so dearly.

To look at the positives - everything is now in the open and you have the opportunity to create a closer bond with your DS, DIL and DGS. 💐

BuffyBeat · 30/08/2021 18:52

I do believe I said it as he’s told me other very odd things I’ve said and done, from the same time frame.
He’s told me that I told him I had organised a celebration and bought a cake for his birthday but as I knew he didn’t like birthdays he wasn’t invited, instead I would make it into a party for a friend of mine whose birthday is the same time. 🤔🤪
So apparently he told “Dil” and of course fuming said they were going to turn up at the restaurant. They might have been wanting a confrontation but he said when I walked in with daughters family, I looked thrilled and told him great, your here, get the drinks in and gave him some cash. I told him that him and my friend could share the cake and blowing the candles out but he was still seething and said to let her do it.
No knowledge of this……. Daughter does vaguely remember a “do” for my friend but doesn’t remember me saying anything about son not being invited.
To be fair, I did try to organise a 21st party for him and he went away on holiday and told me it was because he was embarrassed about the party.

So perhaps I had bizarrely organised this party but told him he wasn’t invited…. or did I tell him what I was doing and he said he didn’t like parties, so I then switched it to my friend, instead of cancelling.
I’ve no idea……
My ex who said I had “finally gone insane”, now unfortunately has slight dementia and wouldn’t remember.
I’ve just cancelled the daughters family “do” today as I just feel as if I’m acting weird and can’t behave like I normally would do, as I’m quite tearful.
Hey ho! I must pull myself together…

OP posts:
Dragongirl10 · 30/08/2021 19:00

Op l would get a letter from your GP explaining this is possible due to your medication at that time, that it is not uncommon etc.

Write to your son and Dil and say how extremely sorry you are and that you have no recollection of these things but you do believe them, and think it was the medication.

Acknowledge how much hurt it has caused and say that you would never even think these things. Say how much it is distressing you.

Apologise unreservedly and ask if you can start over. Put the Drs letter in with it and send it, then leave alone for a week for them to digest it.Hopefully they will understand.

Jesskir89 · 30/08/2021 23:05

Op this is shit but if a line is being drawn, take it. You absolutely MUST treat all your grandchildren the same with the same amount of effort. This needs to be clear to your son and DIL that you're being fair to them all going forward

Apollinare · 01/09/2021 16:17

Buffybeat, my husband was put on Fentanyl morphine patches for Rheumatoid Arthritis some years ago.They were a nightmare and caused years of pain and distress to us all. It was absolutely like living with a heroin addict and all that entails. They are subject to several class actions in the States as allegedly the manufacturers knew of potential serious side effects but chose to release them anyway.
There seems to be a lot going on here, but don't under estimate the terrible effects of the patches. My husband never recovered from the withdrawals when he was taken off them.

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