Why do some people feel the need to compete with illnesses. I was out with my husband and a steward was showing us and others to our seats at a show. My husband mentioned how his knees were hurtling due to arthritis to the steward and before I knew it there was this full one upmanship conversation going on between two total strangers. I'm just sitting there thinking well I know you are both in pain but I have been through a lot too but it isn't something I want to boast about.
Although I haven't said anything to my husband I found it quite difficult to sit and listen to them complaining away when I am constantly trying to push my fears of a cancer reoccurrence out of my head.
Now I am feeling really selfish as I know my husband is often in pain but he won't do anything about it, other than take paracetamol. He then is very dismissive of our daughter when she is in pain due to her endometriosis.
Meanwhile I quietly take my medication, cope with the side effects of the medication, and have my regular follow-ups without making a big song and dance about it all.
Are my feelings unreasonable? Is it my fear of a reoccurrence, have others felt like this. Is it just me trying to adjust to my new 'normal'
