(This post is part of Chronic Link-up Friday hosted by Being Fibro Mom!)

Most people who are chronically ill have heard something along the lines of “But you don’t look sick?” at LEAST one time in their lives but the phrase that bothers me the most is when I am on the telephone discussing my health conditions with someone and towards the end of the call they say, “Well, you sound good.”

I could be telling them anything. That I’m having a Lupus flare, that I just went on a manic tear, or even that I have been experiencing chronic nausea since September and the doctors can’t figure out why.

I’m sure you’ve heard it too. To me it sounds like my friends or relatives are trying to brush what I said off or have completely not paid attention to what I have told them.

I know in reality they are just looking to end the conversation on a positive note. I know it can be awkward speaking to chronically ill people who never seem to have any good news to report and they just don’t know WHAT to say to us.

I think what I’d rather hear from them is something like, “Well I think of you often” or “Well your in my thoughts and/or prayers”. Or even just ending the conversation as you would with any well person, “It was good to talk to you.” Most sick people aren’t looking for sympathy or positive spins on our conditions, they just want to be treated like everyone else.

Have you ever heard “Well you sound good?” “What would you rather hear?