Forum Discussion
Vinn2016
10 years agoMember
relationships
ok, I have just gotten off the phone from my husband who took carers leave today to come pick me up from hospital (stayed in over the weeked due to high temperature from last round of chemo) but I have not seen him since he dropped me off this morning. I had to drive to my Breast oncologist this afternoon for an appointment and now I am going to pick up the kids from school. Feeling very light headed and not the best. He has just asked me if I am going to come and help paint our investment property apartment ( which is over 45mins drive in afternoon traffic from home) after picking up the kids. I am still feeling the effects of my last round of chemo and I have nerve damage in my fingers and it feels like my nails are going to fall off any minute. I Just can't believe he asked me to do this. Now he makes me feel guilty for not helping.
22 Replies
- iserbrownMember
Hi - if you want to message anyone in this message click on their name and it will take you to their profile - on the left is a button that says Connect and another that says Message - click on message and away you go - it will come up in your own Messages
Hope that's clear and good luck with your counselling
- jd48Member
If you want to mesaage any members directly that message stay visible just to them and yourself so if you ever wanted to chat with anyone more privatelly (not in the forum) remember we are here and you have that option open to you as well ??
Jel
- DebzaMember
Vinn 2016 I am so saddened the abuse you are going through like others dont know how it was before but there is no excuse for his behaviour.I don't believe this about the cancer it's abt his control and feeling helpless around you.We don't know how everyone reacts to the diagnosis,but,please keep the counselling up All the best with the op and radio please keep us updated for your sanity and we all care how you are going :-)
- Vinn2016Member
thanks, not sure what private messages is?
- jd48Member
Hang in there and we are here any time you need us - in private messages or in the forume here ????????
Hugs
Jel.
- Vinn2016Member
thank you so much guys for all your advice and support, in the end I am the only one that can sort this mess out. I am hanging in there. I just don't have the strength to fight him at the moment. My way of coping is to stay out of his way, that works. I go on my lap top and just shut him out. I also go to bed and watch my favourite TV shows like Dexter for the millionth time, not sure what it is about Dexter but I love it. MMM maybe I am sure what I love about Dexter. LOL
The good thing is I am over my chemo treatment. I'm having another operation in 2.5 weeks time and then start Radiation Therapy after that.
I am hoping to start back at gym next week as that helps me heaps to focus and get my thoughts back on track.
It's really funny last nite he was being so caring and taking my temp for me as I was not feeling the best and did end up not going back to work that evening.
I swear it would be easier to deal with if he was nasty 24/7 at least I would know where I stood all the time. But this one minute nice and one minute nasty is the hardest to handle.
Unfortunately I don't have family that are able to help, my parents are old and don't live close by as for my siblings they haven't even acknowledged that I have cancer which is upsetting.
All my friends and work colleagues say I they can't believe how strong I am and how much I am doing while going through this, working, exercising, looking after the family still.
- CosetteMember
Hi Vinn2016. I'm sorry that you're having a rough time with your husband.
I'm concerned about what I'm hearing regarding his behaviour. It's normal for a partner to struggle with knowing how to support someone with breast cancer. We have a booklet on this topic that you can order or download. But that's no excuse for forcing you to go out, insulting you, or making you feel humiliated. As the others have said, this is abusive behaviour and it's not ok.
I encourage you to seek support from family and friends as well as professional help. You can talk to your doctor. You can also contact Relationships Australia via the web or call them at 1300 367 277. For crisis support, you can call LifeLine on 13 11 44.For your husband, MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online support and information service that is available 24/7 at 1300 78 99 78.
And if you find yourself in immediate danger, please call 000.
- Brenda5Member
Nothing wrong with switching into the public hospital system and its saved many a marriage too. There is not way in hell we could have afforded to go private throughout my treatment.
Your husband is 6 years younger than mine but mine tells me that for years he seems to have been waylaid in the brain somehow with a men's change of life. Of course you know men, won't go to a Dr and get depression properly checked out so me in menopause and on hormone therapy and him with his depression, we just sort of muddle though. Its taken a while for hubby to admit it but now I think we are at a turning point for the better.
The way I look at it, he's lucky he got me to marry him. Also lucky I gave him children. I'm not perfect but together we are a team even if one of us goes down for a while. The vows were in sickness and in health. Remind him of this.
Oh wow Vinn.....Reading the rest of your added comments......I am so sorry you have to deal with this on top of everything else......
I was thinking that yes, maybe it's his way of coping....but I sadly do think it goes way deeper than that with him....sad for everyone involved.
I hope you can find the support you need....hope he finds the support he needs....
I don't know what else to say....except I wish you all the best....
I'm counting my blessings right now......
- Cook65Member
Hi Vinn,
my husband was useless the whole way through treatment. My brother and girlfriends who helped were so angry with him. I was also very angry at him and my boys for their lack of support. He refused to talk about it and refused to see anyone for help. He came to one appointment with me in 16 months. It wasn't until after my treatment had finished that he was actually able to talk about it. He wasn't coping at all and didn't know what to do. As I said, doing something, anything would have been better than nothing. He just wanted things to be normal so he kept his head in the sand. I worked part time throughout 16 months of treatment, including chemo. I look back now and just don't know how I did it as I was just so ill. I was very angry and resentful towards him and he was very angry and resentful towards the cancer but of course he couldn't take it out on the cancer so rightly or wrongly he took it out on me. My counsellor and nurses told me that I had to forget about him and concentrate on myself and what I needed. So that's what I did. I look at things now and I can see that he is depressed ( I believe he has post traumatic stress as does my counsellor). I stand my ground now though. If he says something I don't like, I tell him now. He is far more understanding now 12 months later than he ever was at the time. Look after you. And don't fret about having to go public. I went public and they were absolutely fantastic. I couldn't fault the care I received. Cancer messes with not only your head but everyone around you as well. Maybe it's the cancer or maybe it's just a bad marriage. Now is not the time to worry about that though. You need all your focus on you and gaining your health back. Stand your ground and say what you need. If you are too tired then that's just how it is. Take care of your self and vent on here anytime you need to. Karen xox