I think it shows that status can be contextual. If a small group begins competing over who has the worst illness, then illness becomes a de facto status marker in that gathering. It doesn’t mean that illness is a global status marker among humans in general. In context, it may be no more than saying “I am the most superlative!”
In Poland there’s a whole genre of jokes based on one-upping such ad hoc status markers. It could well be “my husband is so stupid that he...”. “I’m so ill that...” fits the genre perfectly.
I think it shows that status can be contextual. If a small group begins competing over who has the worst illness, then illness becomes a de facto status marker in that gathering. It doesn’t mean that illness is a global status marker among humans in general. In context, it may be no more than saying “I am the most superlative!”
In Poland there’s a whole genre of jokes based on one-upping such ad hoc status markers. It could well be “my husband is so stupid that he...”. “I’m so ill that...” fits the genre perfectly.