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husband has had a stroke

(22 Posts)
JenniRen Tue 21-Jul-26 10:49:49

No, you do not have to let him come back if he is going to abuse you.
He should be appointed a social worker who can help you too. Could he go into a care home, it could be for convalescence then see how it goes.

JaneJudge Tue 21-Jul-26 10:47:01

Did you talk to the GP about how you feel and what has been going on?

JenniRen Tue 21-Jul-26 10:46:46

Have your daughters got room for him at their homes if they are so keen for him to come home? Will they step up to the mark and care for him?

We looked after my mother after she'd had strokes (Dad had died a few years before) but she was not difficult at all except for getting upset that we had to do all this for her.
It's not easy.

If he asks why you're not visiting just say it's too difficult to get there or tell a white lie, that you have a cold and don't want to bring it in to the ward or just say you don't feel well, which is true.

labazs Tue 21-Jul-26 10:27:50

My panic attacks are getting worse so the GP has upped my propranolol which has helped a bit.
Now I am getting the bungalow how I like it and I do not like to think of him coming home but my daughters all keep saying he is family nothing is too much trouble for him makin me feel awful. He has got cross a few times in the ward.
My sister said she is taking me out to lunch today then the hospital I know I will be in agony later.
I have started to get things sorted but all the bills are in a right mess but he said that I did not know what I was doing so no right to know. I am battling through but its in a terrible state.
My neighbor has been so kind to me. She has a lot of MH issues but she is so kind to me.
I love the peace here and the dog too he feels so calm now he is rescue and lots of issues but he is so much better. Starting to come out and explore.
I can't say he has to go elsewhere but its nice to sleep without being mauled sorry or days making me cry. He has no one else so I have to let him come back

butterandjam Mon 20-Jul-26 23:02:18

He's going to be in a distant hospital at least 7 weeks. Frequent or daily visiting is impractical. Meanwhile you have a break from his unpleasant behaviour, and the house to yourself.

This is a rare opportunity to focus on yourself, resting at home, relaxing, improve your own physical and mental health. Eat well, go for a walk, get some fresh air, sleep well at night. Make the most of this time to yourself and see it as a positive. You can start this right now.

Stop worrying about him, he's in good hands and it's now up to him to accept treatment, do whatever the physiotherapist, be responsible for his own rehabilitation .

Take care of yourself. It's long overdue.

MissAdventure Mon 20-Jul-26 21:16:43

labazs, this could be your opportunity to make your relationship a workable, respectful one, so I would aim for that. You can have input from people who are there to help you both, so try to ensure you have their backing.

Primrose53 Mon 20-Jul-26 20:55:58

I would tell the hospital social worker that you are not prepared to have him home until he’s had a mental health assessment. Make the most of the time you have to yourself while he is in hospital!

The way he is now sounds very like my husband. He can only use one arm/hand (the wrong one), he can only walk with a quadstick a few steps indoors, the rest of the time he is in a wheelchair, his speech and memory are affected and he now has diabetes. He also had similar very high blood pressure but he DID take all his meds. The high BP caused his Stroke even so. He had a second stroke 6 weeks ago. Difference is he is never nasty to me so we cope as best we can. He gets very frustrated as he can do so little which I understand.

In your position I would not be living with him if he carries on like that.

JenniRen Mon 20-Jul-26 19:51:45

You must look after yourself and making a GP appointment as a first step is a good idea.

JaneJudge Mon 20-Jul-26 18:55:46

Oh my.love flowers
What a lot to cope with

I would visit when you feel you can but don’t put yourself out. You need to be well for your own operation

valdali Mon 20-Jul-26 18:44:41

Perhaps he was acting fine - valuing your relationship & knowing he'd got to be "nice" to keep your love - but at his age I don't think peoples' characters suddenly change.
Its more likely that the stuff around his mum has made it more difficult for him to hide his true self.
And anyway, when you've just lost your mum, the loss is the big thing - the fact she wasn't some "perfect" wife, but had an affair (in who knows what circumstances?) - difficult to deal with , yes, but she's still the same person & surely a well-balanced person would still greive for her as that person.
Not suddenly become twisted & start taking it out on his own partner?

MissAdventure Mon 20-Jul-26 18:35:03

Whatever your husband found out about his mum doesn't give him the right to abuse you.
Nothing does.

I'm not surprised you struggle with your mental health, in the circumsances you're putting up with.
The question is, what do you want to do about it?
If you still want to stay, then nobody can really advise you.

Have you seen the gp for yourself, recently?
Why not make an appointment and tell him/her whats going on (for you)

Maremia Mon 20-Jul-26 14:16:58

As JenniRen said, you must look after yourself first.
Find support, from organisations or friends or family.
Your partner is in safe hands just now.
That will give you time, for you.
Good luck.

labazs Mon 20-Jul-26 13:53:51

Thank you all yes I have walked out on abusive relationships but he was fine until he realised his mother was not an angel but a lying cheating person it destroyed him.
I am just sat here today at home but all of sudden I start to cry and I am scared of having panic attacks or having a breakdown so cannot support him. I woke up with panic attacks I don't want to take diazepam I do have some but I have no appetite haven't really eaten since friday except bit yoghurt apples and some weetabix which mainly went to the dog

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 20-Jul-26 12:44:38

He sounds a nightmare and a bully. I feel for you OP and hope the hospital or your daughter can help you get some much needed support.

MissAdventure Mon 20-Jul-26 12:37:10

Facilitate the taking of his pills.
A glass of water, the pill next to it, then leave it up to him.
Negging and pleading just gives him control, and it sounds as if he has been controlling you for years.

Make sure that doctors and nurses speak to him, and let him tell them he has no intention of taking his medication, if that's how he feels.
Things are bound to be difficult, given the stroke, but it's time he took responsibility for himself.

valdali Mon 20-Jul-26 12:10:23

labazs

I have begged and pleaded with him to take them especially as his mother had a stroke from which she did not come back. I have known a lot of people with strokes with varying degrees of recovery. People keep saying this will be a wake up call but I do not think it has changed him. I honestly think once he does get home he will still go on his own sweet way

Don't beg & plead. To me he sounds contrary and stubborn, the more you ask him to do something the less likely he is to do it. Some men are just like that. & he will feel even more resentful & hard-done by now he's had a stroke (he won't realise he contributed to it, he'll just feel hard-done-by)
I would just say to him, 'these are the tablets the doctor told you to take, I'll leave them here if you want them. If you can't find them, ask me. I'm not going to nag or remind you.'
I hope he does make a good recovery, it is always hard early on with bleeds to predict how it will go, fingers crossed for you both.

J52 Mon 20-Jul-26 12:00:17

I’m sorry you’re in such a difficult position. The advice from Luckygirl13 is good.
Apart from your husband’s medical situation, you are in an abusive relationship and being physically abused is not acceptable. It sounds as if this has been going on for a while, of course what you do about it is entirely up to you, but you should get some professional advice and make contact with Woman’s Aide and possibly report the abuse to the police. Now is the time to care for yourself. Good luck.

JenniRen Mon 20-Jul-26 10:45:14

I'm really sorry to hear about your husband, labazs.

However, the saying "Fasten your own oxygen mask first" comes to mind so please take care of yourself as a priority. Your husband is being cared for and then you say will be sent to your local hospital. If it is proposed that he comes home at any point, tell them you cannot have him home until a care package is set up.

Please look after yourself and accept any help offered.
His outbursts were perhaps due to his high blood pressure and a reminder to us all, they are not prescribed for nothing.

Luckygirl3 Mon 20-Jul-26 10:45:11

I am sorry that your circumstances are so difficult.

When the time comes for you to discuss your OH's discharge from hospital you need to be very open with those helping you to organise his care about the sort of man he is and the problems you face: physical, mental health and also the abusive behaviour from him. They need to have the whole picture in order to help you make the right decisions for both of you.

In the meantime you can contact your local Age UK and DV services just to get some information up your sleeve - knowledge is power! That way you do not go into the next step knowing nothing and feeling powerless.

Take some days off from going to see your OH and recharge your batteries.

labazs Mon 20-Jul-26 10:36:55

I have begged and pleaded with him to take them especially as his mother had a stroke from which she did not come back. I have known a lot of people with strokes with varying degrees of recovery. People keep saying this will be a wake up call but I do not think it has changed him. I honestly think once he does get home he will still go on his own sweet way

Cossy Mon 20-Jul-26 10:32:38

Morning, I’m so so sorry to hear all this.

I hope you find the help you need both for him and for you.

BP tablets are always there for a reason. My friends sister did the same as your husband, didn’t take her pills, had a stroke.

Good luck thanks

labazs Mon 20-Jul-26 10:20:51

i do not want to make this all about me as its not but i am needing some advice.
firstly me. i have a long history of self harm depression anxiety etc but have been fairly stable. I have recently been diagnosed as having arthritis in my knee with intense pain as they think I am having the same in my hip but am waiting for an MRI scan to confirm. A steroid injection in my knee did help and again waiting for an apt to go to theatre to have injections in my hip.
Saturday morning me and Ron my partner were going to go out to lunch. Since he lost his mother and father 4 years ago finding out his brother is only half brother he has had a really awful temper on him. He has hit me before now he has really changed many times I have wanted to leave but not being able to access benefits I stayed recently moving to a lovely bungalow that has all we need but is a good mile out of town,
One of those tele sales rang up on about dog food I whispered to him our dog hates it but he ignored me and signed up. When he had finished I said honest I was trying to tell you Moo our dog hates it. He went mad throwing things etc then said he was goin to the bathroom. As he came back through the door he was staggering all over the place and sort of fell on the sofa but his bottom was on the edge and he slumped sideways then rolled onto the floor. His speech was slurred and he said his leg was dead. He started crying get me up but I rang an ambulance as I thought he was classic stroke symptons. It turns out the blood pressure pills he was given 10 years ago and has never taken were for a good reason. His blood pressure was 225 over 160 because of this veins in his head had popped and he had a bleed. Its been a total nightmare he is diabetic 2 and he lives on chocolate and red bull never takes his pills again. He has lost his right arm feelin his speech is terrible they say today they will be getting various people seeing him like diabetic nurse physio speech therapist etc etc.
The only way I have to get to the hospital which is a good 60 mile round trip is my sister and daughters. My one daughter is a nurse there but she brought me back last night but it was gone 9 having been at the hospital since 10.
I am told he could be in for 7 weeks then maybe moved to our local hospital which though I cannot walk to would possibly be able to get community transport to as they only do this area.
My sister is taking me tomorrow and buying me lunch as its my bday wednesday my one daughter taking me wed and I shall have a day home thursday then my other daughter working friday so another long day.
I woke up this morning and had a panic attack I'm on pills for that and do not want anymore but yesterday I kept feelin sick and panicky. It could be shock as sat I was running on adrenaline.
Its not goin to be good he won't be able to drive etc so I just do not know what kind of life it will be for him or me. I know I should not look that far but its hard for him. He does not read listen to pod casts do puzzles etc which I do so would be fine! I can see him getting angry and frustrated takin it out on me again.
How can I stop my mental health failin me? I am putting too much on my hip and knee but need to do it so also how can I factor in any apts I have like for the MRI eventually
Thank you for reading