DEAR ABBY: How do you deal with adult "children" who ignore issues about their health? My 30-something son had a root canal a few days ago. His face is swollen, he has lost sleep and is in pain. His wife has tried everything to get him to get it checked out, and she just called me in desperation.
Why does he do this? It isn't the first time she and others have begged him to take care of himself. She's pregnant and they have two other small kids. He has insurance, so it's not about money. It's just so stressful for those of us who love him. He works for himself and is a high-energy guy and a great dad. -- QUESTIONING MY SON'S SANITY
DEAR QUESTIONING: Some men feel that acknowledging pain is showing weakness. They think that if they just "gut it out" a while longer, things will get better. And while many of them do, many also don't.
Pick up the phone and tell your daughter-in-law to call the dentist who did the root canal and ask whether what her husband is experiencing is normal. And if the answer is that it's not, she should tell her husband that "the surgeon wants him to come in for a recheck" to be sure his wounds haven't become infected.