One of the things people say most often when they see you is ‘how are you’, an innocent enough question to most people, but when you have a chronic illness are they asking exactly how you are or just being polite? How many people want the full low down of how we’re actually feeling?

My stock answer, even with people I know well, is ‘Oh I’m fine thanks’ and I’d be pretty sure a lot of other people with chronic illnesses are saying the same thing. So why do we give this answer?