To think that being "sick" is sometimes a convenient way to cancel plans with friends?

[WaterBird]

This might sound awful, I'm just a bit frustrated, though I understand if I'm U here.
I completely understand that viruses are rampant especially for this time, but it's just something I've noticed has happened to me quite a bit. I'l make plans with friends, and everything will be fine until suddenly the morning of the plans, they've just woken up sick. The most recent time, a friend texted and said "I just checked my temperature." That's not something you plan, it's not like you think "What should I do tonight? I think I'll cook tea, read a bit, and perhaps... check my temperature?"
Again, I'm prepared to be told I'm being unreasonable, and have also been feeling really lonely lately so that just adds to it.

I think I could be seen as a flaky friend... a lot of times I’m so overwhelmed with day to day life issues and managing the kids, one of which has additional needs that it gets to the day/evening and I just can’t face it but I hate letting people down so I come up with what I think is a more acceptable reason to cancel... rather than say I’m climbing the walls and need to be by myself and then facing questions or people checking up on me.
It is pretty selfish now I’m thinking about it. I think I’ll try harder to be honest next time.

I plead guilty to cancelling things when feeling a bit under the weather, or just not being able to face the event or evening concerned. Not very often, and not to the same people repeatedly though.

I hope no-one has taken offence.

Have a ‘friend’ like this. We make plans and then she texts on the morning of said plans to say she’s been up all night feeling ill.

I’ve stopped bothering now.

@WaterBird - 'actually prefer the company of others, and like it when people try to convince me to go somewhere with them.'
I think a lot of people like to be wanted, or invited out, but don't actually want to go,,ikywim. Gotta say, I hate going out in the winter once I'm already home.

I don't think confrontations in these situations ever end well tbh. I have backed away from a couple of people over the years who were like this. I invested more effort in the friendships, and its disapointing when they don't show, whatever the reason. My friends now are more like me. We show up unless there is a genuine (and rare) reason not to. I'm not saying anxiety isn't a reason, it's just very difficult when someone doesn't give that as a reason, and cancels plans a lot. We all need thing back from friendships.

Let's face it, when someone here posts that they don't want to go to a prearranged event loads of people post back advising them to develop a convenient last minute illness.

Sorry you're feeling lonely.

Thanks for the replies, and yes I definitely understand wanting to make up missing some events.
This week (it happened again for tonight's plans, but that's just life), it seems like people are having full-on fevers, rather than just colds or flu.