DEAR ABBY: Twenty years ago, my wife was diagnosed with a life-threatening health issue. We both rebounded from it and have had a good run. Over the last three years, though, her health has turned south again. She has heart, lung, liver and stomach issues that prevent her from being active. Most of her time now is spent just sleeping or sitting. She cannot walk farther than 20 feet without becoming exhausted, and this is with supplementary oxygen. She has other issues as well.

When people ask me how my wife is doing, I tend to respond, what I consider to be humorously but also pragmatically, “Well, I haven’t buried her yet.” But when I do, people become offended. Most of them don’t realize we deal with this every day, and I have no desire to recount every detail of her problems to satisfy their curiosity. At the same time, I realize most are asking out of genuine concern. Is there a better answer? — WISE GUY IN FLORIDA

DEAR WISE GUY: I think so. Try responding, “She’s doing as well as can be expected,” or “Her condition hasn’t changed; I will tell her you asked after her,” and then change the subject.

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.