Well, they gave me the double-barreled strep test (quick test, then the culture), and both came up negative. But because there is so much pain, and it is not getting better with just the pain meds, gave me an antibiotic anyway. The treatment summary sheet says the primary diagnosis is "Acute Pharyngitis". IIRC that means I have a really bad sore throat.

It started on Friday, when I spent the whole day hanging out in the home of people who smoke. They tried to be polite about it, but somehow I always end up downwind of it.

Windsparrow, did your doctor suggest a warm salt water gargle or anything like that?

Way ahead of you there, sj. I tried the warm salt water gargle before I ever called to make an appointment. Didn't help. Chloraseptic lozenges have helped a tiny bit, but seem less effective after the first couple of uses.

It is getting a bit better, so I'm sure that I'll be ok soon. Fortunately, there aren't a bunch of other symptoms. It's just the sore throat, and lack of sleep. I'm really thankful there isn't a cough to go with this.

The Chloraseptic spray is marvelous, I wonder if it would be more effective than the lozenges? I hope you get some relief soon one way or another. How awful this all sounds.

Windsparrow, that's awful. I hope you find some relief soon.

Andi, I hope you feel better very soon.

I just bought this for my mother for xmas: [link]

TJs just opened near her, and she's a little obsessed.

TJs just opened near her, and she's a little obsessed.

um. yeah.

Thanks for the encouragement and good wishes, all.

I'm confident I'll be feeling better soon. And now I'm ready to go try for more sleep.

Y'all have good days, whatever you are up to. And if you can't manage a good day, then I hope there are as many warm hugs as you like at the end of it.

Hil, Windsparrow, and ita, I hope you're both doing better this morning.

TJs just opened near her, and she's a little obsessed.

Sparky, that reminds me--TJ's pumpkin bisque (the one in the box, not the one in the plastic container) is indeed fully vegetarian. I don't know how good it is, but it is vegetarian.

I just like my interpretation to some things better. Even if it's lame.

While literature classes can give the impression that there is a "right" interpretation for poetry, the right interpretation is your own. In a lot of ways, you get from poetry what you bring to it. It's a good thing to learn what other people see in poetry, but it doesn't make your interpretation lame. In most interviews I've read with writers, they answer a question like "Did you intend this to be a sexual reference to your mother?" with "Hell, no." Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Andi, if your throat is that sore, see if your doctor will prescribe a mouthwash with lidocaine in it. Also, I will share what I learned from my month of laryngitis a few years ago: do not talk and, most importantly, if you have to talk, try to actually talk and not whisper. Whispers are hell on your throat.