I have the "infernal" chronic cough since I was ohhh about 9 years old but I don't think that qualifies as a chronic illness. I am a singer so my nice attractive hacking through songs is EXTREMELY annoying and unattractive.

One time I stomped into my doctor's office (annoyed as usual because I hate going to the doctor), and told my dr., in my usual overly dramatic way, that I was "dying" of emphasyma. She said, "no you're not. you just have a cough, due to your asthma, that will not go away because there's no cure for asthma."

ETA: BTW, I am usually overly dramatic in case ya'll hadn't noticed by now.