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AIBU

I am so upset

(45 Posts)
busyb Tue 30-Apr-19 18:41:10

This may seem trivial but it has really upset me. My husband was ill about 2 years ago and since then will do nothing but sit down and watch tv. He won't come out with me and doesn't really interact with the rest of the family. I do everything for him even taking his meals to him in front of tv as he wont sit to the table (being 'too poorly').
I have been away for a few days ( we have 2 adult sons who live with us so could keep an eye on him) and he decided to shampoo our new carpets which have left them damp and dull and murky looking, of course the stain guard is now destroyed as is the stain warranty! He rarely moves so why did he do it? and how if he is too poorly to even dust or help (I still work part time) he is actually better now but enjoys being an invalid. He is now not talking to me because I said he knew not to do it. AIBU to be upset.

loopyloo Thu 02-May-19 11:15:21

I think tackling this gently might be best. Perhaps ask him to go for a short walk with you each morning. Or take him out for coffee. Or ask him if he could make tea for you as you feel tired. Or take him to buy some new clothes
Gradually get him moving and give him the idea he is helping you.

Ohmother Thu 02-May-19 11:24:16

He sounds depressed and needs to stop navel gazing.

One of the best things to lift the spirits is a bit of voluntary work. This may seem a long way off yet but start by encouraging him to take responsibility for tea making when you’re around. Tell him it’s a lovely cup of tea and how grateful you are. Proceed from there.

Don’t feel guilty that you are hurting him by asking for activity from him; your hurting him by patronising his condition. ?

sarahellenwhitney Thu 02-May-19 11:48:05

What was the nature of your husbands illness two years ago.? If his present attitude started after the illness and the fact he has been treated for depression came after this illness then I would have no hesitation in seeking advice from your GP or your husbands GP as soon as possible. You cannot continue like this and I hardly think your husband enjoys his present life which is putting such pressure on you.

Annaram1 Thu 02-May-19 11:54:12

If the carpet had been treated with stainguard why did he think he should shampoo it? Even if he had spilt coffee or something on it, wouldn't it have been all right? Sorry, but I don't know about new carpets and stainguard.

bingo12 Thu 02-May-19 11:57:55

Can you offer to take him to a good doctor for a thorough health check with written report - so you both can know whether he is sick or not? Only a doctor can say! He made decide he isn't sick after all!

vintanner Thu 02-May-19 12:26:15

He is using you (to put it politely).

Stop waiting on him, make him get his own meals, etc.

Go out more often.

He's made a mess of the carpets, tell him to get them sorted or replaced, his money of course, if he hasn't any, tell him he was fit to damage them so he is fit enough to find work.

Get harder with him or he will never change.

Think of yourself, he's obviously only thinking of himself.

busyb Thu 02-May-19 13:00:20

Thanks all for your kind words. I can see by reading through the answers that I have enabled him to behave like an invalid. Sarhellenwhitney, it was sepsis and pneumonia that he had 2 years ago, he collapsed suddenly on a weekend away and we nearly lost him. After a good recovery time I have tried to get him to do small jobs, eg dusting but he refuses and I haven't nagged. So the carpet cleaning which is very strenuous was a complete surprise to me. One son (his stepson) did tell him again that the carpet shouldn't be cleaned but he did it when they were at work. We all try and engage him in conversation but he isn't interested in anything other than talking about himself.
Namsnanny, yes I do think this was a kind of payback for going away, cleaning windows, mowing lawn etc would have been helpful, this was not.
Showerfreshgel and Dillyduck, yes I am going to start looking after myself and putting my needs first thank you for your support, I have to stay with him as its my house and I can't see him going anywhere, but I need him to be at least a pleasant companion. I was so looking forward to retirement together (he retired 14 years ago so has been waiting for me to retire as I am younger). Fresh day tomorrow, for a start I am going to put his invalid table in the garage!

SparklyGrandma Thu 02-May-19 14:08:32

I hope you don’t mind my suggestion, it might be an idea to see his GP on your own and tell her/him about hubby being inactive and liking to be waited on. It’s bad for his physical health to be like this.

Good luck.

EthelJ Thu 02-May-19 15:43:28

I'm a little confused about why he would shampoo the new carpets. Did he say why? Seems a very odd thing to do especially as he normally does nothing at all. Is this normal behaviour for him or completely out of character? I was just wondering if something else is going on.
It sounds a very difficult situation and I'm sorry you had to face it after a break.

trendygran Thu 02-May-19 17:31:48

Agree with everything showergel fresh has said. She says exactly what I would say.

nannypiano Thu 02-May-19 17:39:13

I learnt rather too late in life that people only treat you badly if you allow them to. It would never happen to me now. So don't put up with anything that makes you unhappy.

grandtanteJE65 Thu 02-May-19 18:31:17

OP, I have experience something a little similar med my DH.

I think that many men tend to become depressed when they are ill, feeling that they can no longer pull their weight. This may not be anything a doctor would diagnose as depression, but more what we all used to call "feeling depressed" when we were young.

You need to help him get out of the rut, he is in. If I understood you right, his back is a little better now, and yes, start by getting him back to the table for meals.

Then point out that as you are still working, you would appreciate a little help with the housework. Frankly, asking a man to dust is NBG, as they don't see dust.

Ask him what tasks he feels up to doing, and let him get on with them. If they are not done in the specified times, point out to him that you are waiting for him to do them.

If you can, get him out for a walk every day. We have just bought new electric bicycles and it has made an immense difference as DH is fonder of cycling than I am, but I am happy to go on my bike, as it means he is exercising.

Pudding123 Thu 02-May-19 18:36:30

You have been in my thoughts all day busy b.Has he always been quite selfish. ?

Barmeyoldbat Thu 02-May-19 21:49:33

Go for it big time busy b.

hugshelp Thu 02-May-19 21:52:23

I think he may be depressed but also that a bit of tough love might help.

Sleepygran Thu 02-May-19 22:53:44

If he seemed smug and defensive then he probably has spilt something,many people appear smug when they are in the wrong,my sil has a husband who does this.
He sounds lazy but he may be seriously depressed? Many people who are depressed become very selfish ( I don't want to upset anyone here who may be depressed,but it is hard to consider others feelings when you're in your own pit of despair )

Sunny75 Fri 03-May-19 08:25:21

He’s made you a slave. He can walk so stop taking his meals to him for a start. Lazy .......!

Floradora9 Fri 03-May-19 18:22:27

I know a husband who dropped a take away curry on the carpet. Instead of telling his wife when she came back she found he had rearanged the furniture to hide the stain.

crazyH Fri 03-May-19 18:26:29

That's made me laugh Floradora ????