HI Plasticat, you're welcome. Thanks for your response and kind words! As you know, I have been there (though different sickness to your own and still have the problem to this day). So I can only encourage you to keep believing in yourself.
Thank goodness for the support one gets from true friends/family. Few as it maybe at times! Focus on them, and any faith you have in God. anything at all to keep you going. Though I believe people who make those comments do really mean well and I can see where they are coming from. I just feel it can be rather misplaced and unfortunate in some instances, as I feel it was in your situation...