Throughout my career, I've had probably low to average time off overall, however in my 20s I had a minor op (couldn't fly until it got sorted so had to tell work). This was just bad luck and not recurring.
Swiftly following that I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and hospitalised. As is normally the way with these things, it takes a while to settle down, so I had two hospitalisations with steroids, then some arse came into the office with active pneumonia (really) and post steroids, well - I had 3 recurrences before it disappeared. To an onlooker, this could look like I'm fragile, but I'm not - I had 2 years of utter shit. Anyway, I delivered around my illness, came back as early as possible etc. but I came to realise 2 years on that people still saw me as delicate.
I've moved company and people talk about themselves, their families, etc. A few people have talked about Crohns and Colitis. I didn't think it was that common, but I even had someone telling me the different symptoms. I did say I was aware of the disease, but other than that, I nod, I smile and I walk away.
I've been without symptoms for well over 2 years. AIBU to say precisely nothing when others are discussing the disease? My previous experience was that sharing with a truster confidante made minor flares easier 'buggers had to take an urgent call', but having it widely known was career suicide. I should add I work my hours as a minimum, generally more, am considered a high performer and efficient. I just feel a bit like I'm lying when UC comes up (colleagues with family members who are severely affected) and I try to extricate myself asap.