the only trouble is that he never goes to the doctors. i cannot remember the last time hes been. he refuses to think he has anything wrong so he just doesnt go. even with this bump on his head, he just says "oh, ive had worse in the past and survived, i'll be fine" and i said to him in reply "you didnt clean the wound all evening, it can infected, it doesnt matter how 'hard' you are, open flesh wounds can get infected" and he just repeated "im fine, i've had worse and survived" which he said with a sarcastic grin on his face. its pride. its all it ever is. he lives his life based on pride. and he thinks by going to get the wound checked out people will think he's being a coward and that they will lose respect for him. ive told him that isnt the case and that he just needs to get it checked, but he wont, he just acts like nothing has happened. hes like that with the dentist too, hes never been, has hardly no teeth left and no false ones. but he refuses to go there, because he thinks it will damage his pride!!

the alzhiemers you mentioned. has got me concerned, i hadnt thought of that. the trouble is he WILL NOT go tot he doctors. i dont even think he has a GP. not that i know of. he will laugh at me if i suggested it could be that so if i tried going at it from another angle, he still wont. because he never thinks hes ill enough to go. he doesnt even take pain killers until he is really bad, and even then he'd rather not. again, he sees it as "my dad wouldnt do it, so i wont" and his pride steps in too. its so annoying to be his son because i know that in the future, when he gets older (hes 54 now) his health will more than likely detriorate, and i know that he wont get it sorted.

what do i do?! there is no way on earth i can get him to that doctor. do you think it will be worth me going to see my GP and talking to them about it, without him there. i dont know, i dont know what to do. i just hope it isnt anything serious.

simon