I have had a wicked sore throat since Monday.  Swallowing is extremely painful.  So much so that I’ve lost five pounds this week. I gargle with Listerine several times a day, drink warm water (gross but it helps) and hot tea, and sleep close to the warm-mist humidifier with little relief.

The stuffy nose and occasional cough are inconsequential to the absolute rawness of my throat.

So I went to the clinic today.  No strep throat.  No pneumonia.  Just acute pharyngitis a.k.a. “sore throat”.

My orders are to drink plenty of liquids, gargle with warm salt water, take one dexamethasone today and tomorrow to help relieve the inflammation in my throat, and start the antibiotic (which I didn’t fill yet) in a few days if the symptoms get worse or don’t improve.

Perfect time for a Birthday Wish from my friend Leah.  I knew I was saving this for something “special”.