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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

Husband issues!

11 replies

PaddlinginLife · 17/07/2022 17:11

I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer 4 years ago…no cure but is manageable. I’m sometimes tired and have pain but generally I’m my old self that I was before diagnosis. It’s unpredictable so no idea whether I’ll live a long life or it will be cut short. I go to a cancer hospital every 6 weeks. My husband has had counselling and support around my diagnosis as have I. I lost my job as my employer wasn’t supportive of the appointments I need to attend so now work from home and earn much less so money can be a bit tight. We’ve been together 12 years, married 8. We are both 53.
My husband and me get on well but there is a drift. Our sex life has all but vanished. It did start dwindling before my diagnosis- it seemed like he couldn’t be bothered or was too tired. This last 3 years it’s been worse and we have probably been intimate twice in that time. I’ve got up close and done the usual thing you do to initiate being intimate together and he says he’s tired. We’ve talked about it umpteen times and he keeps saying it’s because he’s worried about me. I’ve told him that I’m fine and I want to still feel like that with him. We went away for a few days last autumn and I bough some nice underwear…I showed him and he made sexy suggestions for the holiday…needless to say I put on the underwear and he was tired! I’ve given up trying now as the knock backs make my self esteem plummet. He’s affectionate in other ways like a hug and peck of kisses but real intimacy has gone. I feel like I’m house sharing with my friend.
I had a feeling he was watching porn or looking at images and this morning I discovered that he has been subscribing to only fans. He subscribed to one woman twice for £11.98 each time for three times and another for £58 each time twice! We can’t afford this and it looks like it’s on a credit card. I’ve found this by accident as I used his iPad. His history was open on the internet and only fans was there. He even has a photo of himself on his profile on there!! I haven’t spoken to him about it as it’s like I’ve been snooping. I’m so confused. I still have a good figure and look after myself so what’s wrong with me?
I don’t know how to feel or what to think. I don’t know what to do! I feel a bit numb to be honest! Right now I think I’m feeling like it’s all my fault because of the cancer…it’s taken so much and now this. I know no one can answer for me but I needed to say it somewhere xxxx

OP posts:
SunnySideDeepDown · 17/07/2022 17:34

Does it matter whether it's the cancer diagnosis, whether it's because someone's put on weight, cut their hair, been stressed etc.

At the end of the day, he's taken the intimacy away from the marriage. He clearly enjoys sex and has a sex drive. He'd just rather do it to someone making money from it than with you.

That's on HIM. Not you. Don't blame yourself.

You need to expose him.

Can you forgive this? Some people could, others couldn't. That's for you to decide. But if your relationship is going to improve, he has to stop watching it and start having sex with you. A relationship without sex, is usually, a bad sign.

Good luck OP. It really isn't your fault.

Hiddenvoice · 17/07/2022 18:20

I agree with the pp, it shouldn’t matter if you have cancer or not. As you say, this started before your diagnosis.
I’m sorry but you’ll need to talk to him. You don’t deserve a life of feeling rejected and not good enough, he’s damaging your self esteem.
Do you want the marriage to work? Speak to him, tell him you stumbled across the only fans and then you found out about the credit card and the payments. Expect him to get annoyed as he will think you were snooping but you know the truth.
Ask him why he is doing it and why he won’t be intimate with you even though you’ve really tried. If he throws the ‘I’m worried about about you’ thing then call him out on it. The worst thing he can do is let the diagnosis take over your lives. You intend to carry on as normal so he needs to respect that and try harder. Tell him exactly how he is making you feel and suggest you take a break for a while. He needs to realise that he is losing you and pushing you away. It will give you time to think about what you want from this marriage and hopefully make him realise how lucky he is!

Joey69 · 17/07/2022 18:33

When my Dad was diagnosed with Cancer he became a different person to me, he was still my Dad, but I did lot to stop him worrying or having to do certain things as the cancer was ever present

your husband might be seeing you as different person now, a cancer survivor rather then a lover, Just a thought.

PaddlinginLife · 17/07/2022 18:49

I have considered that he now just sees me as a cancer survivor.
To be honest I’ve done my best for that not to happen but I can’t control his thought and feelings …only so much I can do 😢

OP posts:
PaddlinginLife · 17/07/2022 18:51

You are right…it shouldn’t matter.
He clearly has a sex drive or he wouldn’t be paying to view things. I really don’t know how only fans works so I’m presuming it’s just pictures?
I’ve found other porn sites in his history…I snooped after finding the only fans. Now I feel guilty as hell for looking! X

OP posts:
Thefriendlymoth · 17/07/2022 18:57

Unfortunately with only fans (particularly at £58 a got, I’d assume it was more than just photos. It’s usually live videos or custom videos if you pay more. Obviously only fans prices vary and it well could just be pics but I would brace yourself for something that may feel more intimate/break more boundaries than just watching a porn video depending on how you view it. :(

im so sorry he’s putting you through this after everything you have already been through, OP. Take screenshots/photos whilst you decide what to do going forward.

Blue4YOU · 17/07/2022 19:05

OP - only fans is often live camera action with cameras working both ways if you see what I mean, do more involved than just looking at images (though possibly some of them could be).
Do you feel able to address it with him at all?

PaddlinginLife · 17/07/2022 19:41

Oh! I feel sick! So he could have been being intimate over the camera?
im no wallflower and will speak my mind when needed but I just don’t know how to approach it as I feel like I’ve snooped now…but he’s done much worse with this!
part of me wishes I hadn’t used his iPad now!
It’s making me wonder what else might be going on!
please don’t think I’m weak …@Blue4YOU @Thefriendlymoth

OP posts:
ItWentDownMyHeartHole · 17/07/2022 19:54

He’s unilaterally decided to end your sex life together. It’s unkind. If he can’t see you in the same way as before your cancer diagnosis then he does need to talk to you about it. Very sorry you’re having to deal with this.

Blue4YOU · 17/07/2022 20:09

Definitely do not think you are weak OP!!! I’m not sure if know what to do in this situation

OldFan · 17/07/2022 21:05

By their 50s a lot of men's libido gets a bit lower. It might take more for him to get turned on etc and the porn is just easier, with no pressure.

But it is a bit unappealing, and probably won't be helping your shared sex life.

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