Bizarrely, do you find that sympathy wanes the more people know from their own experience how you are feeling?

There’s a horrid bug going round the UK at the moment (certainly the north of England anyway) and I feel absolutely rotten…. But so do most people I know…

Last year I was really ill, (actual flu that time, so not that bad now) but not many others were. Back then, people were really sypathetic and concerned. Now, if I were to mention how rotten I’m feeling (having trouble breathing, infection has settled on my chest, off to docs tomorrow for a 2nd dose of antibiotics as the first didn’t touch it) people would simply say, ooh if you’ve got what I had last week, that’s nasty.

So, scenario 1: You’re ill, most others are not:
You – “I’m feeling really rotten…etc etc”
Others – “Ooh, you poor thing, that sounds horrid, how awful!”

Scenario 2: You’re ill, but many others are too:
You – “I’m feeling really rotten…etc etc”
Others – “Yeah, I had that last week.”

Have you noticed this in your life?
Does it apply to other things (apart from being ill) too?