Acute and chronic illnesses

[Reenypip]

If you have chronic illnesses, do you find you get less sympathy and support from friends/family/strangers than if you had a short acute illness?

I'm ill 24/7 and suffer severe and pain and lots of other debilitating problems, but people seem to forget that / and don't show sympathy/support/offer help, etc as much as when someone gets a short illnesses, even minor ones like a cold.

Even now when I had an 'acute' problem last week I had to have an emergency operation to remove my appendix. But because I'm ill all the time with my chronic health problems, it didn't seem to make no difference, and they all carried on like normal.
It's either they think she ill all the time she use it, or it's boring me now she's ill all the time, or do they just forget or just plain rude that I need on going support?

.....
And if someone in the family or friends had an acute illness, such as a cold, flu, virus or even say what I just had an emergency op to remove appendix, they seem to get all the support and extra help they need, and a huge fuss and sympathy towards them

Yep I know this one well - couldn't attend a family wedding because I couldn't access the venue (few years ago)

Totally, I so know what you mean. Endless drama all Christmas about one family member's eczema. No mention of why Breastmilk was sometimes not able to get our of bed.

I think people just feel embarrassed by their own lack of understanding or shortcomings of empathy. Or else they think that people with chronic illnesses don't mind (I don't know about you or others but yes, I do mind) or that sudden, acute illnesses are harder to cope with (IMHO, not necessarily).

But people can be selfish, yes. I'm sorry you're suffering. How are you managing now?

My sister was diagnosed with a chronic life limiting condition just under two years' ago and a lot of what you're saying chimes with her experiences. Her immediate family are pretty supportive but her in laws and a lot of her friends seem to have got sympathy fatigue very quickly.

You have my sympathies :( How are you recovering from your op?