h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This specific journal is not created to merely unload frustration, but rather give an explanation to people why I've been lacking in enthusiasm in more than one area lately (last few weeks) especially those requiring at least a little bit of imagination...

Winter Blues (google and you'll see what I mean) - it hit me unusually early this year, in the end of September if I remember correctly. It came as a surprise, because I hadn't expected it to set in until October.

3 weeks ago: bad cold - fever, soar throat, clogged up nose, headache, tired

2 weeks ago: cold followed by sinusitis - yippieee (not), tired

1 week ago: extremely swollen throat, making me feel as if I was wearing a polo jumper(?) with extremely tight collar, tired.

I called a medical advise telephone line, and they said 'probably a virus infection in your tonsils' and 'no need to see a doctor, it'll heal by itself'

Today: Tonsils still so swollen that I have no difficulty locating them from the outside. I asked if I could feel one of my colleague's throat just to learn how tonsils are supposed to feel when they're not infected - and I couldn't even locate hers.

Currently: the 'collar feeling' comes and goes, and my tonsils are still about the size of - uh - quail eggs? Almost visibly swollen, I'd say. Tired? Oh yeah - tired to the bone...

Sounds like you need to get to a there T and get yourself fixed!

I'd agree with that. Especially if you can see white or yellow spots on your tonsils, which would probably mean you have tonsilitis and some antibiotics should sort that out.

I hope you are feeling better very quickly.

That's something that the phone line nurse asked me: what does your tonsils look like?

So I tried, and I tried, pressing down my tongue with a spoon until I almost choked - but I'll be damned if I can see my own tonsils!

OK, so I will make a phone call on Monday to get an appointment with my allergy doctor (private ear-nose-throat-doctor). He'll probably be extremly busy at this time of the year, so it'll probably take a couple of days before I can get an appointment, but if my tonsils are still swollen at that time, then I probably need to see him, right?

Yes, you do need to see him. And when you call, make sure you tell the appointment clerk your condition. That should bump you up on the list. Do you have a fever?

I'll be praying for you to get better quickly, Ti.

Oh your poor thing, T. I was wondering why you weren't your usual bouncy self. Get well soon

In my (limited!) experience echinacea is the only effective prevention/cure for a cold or sore throat. Give it a try, it can't hurt!

Sending lots of long distance s and best wishes. (And do what Caer tells you.)

Hie thee to a Doctor sharpish I would say. And then get better.

Can you take aspirin, T, or is that one of your allegies?

If you can, then gargling with 2 soluble aspirin dissolved in a glass of water and swolling it after you have swilled it around your tonsils thoroughly can be of help. But only if you aren't allergic to it and not taking any other painkillers.

'swallowing' not swolling!

I would try the excuse that my cut finger is all bandaged up, but you would see through that, knowing my usual standard of typing!

Thanks for the s all - really, you're too sweet...

Echinacea - tried that at the beginning of the cold 3 weeks ago, but it had no effect. I find that's often the case with echinacea - for some colds it works brilliantly, and for some colds it just doesn't do anything

Fever - no fever except at the outbreak 3 weeks ago, and then for one day 2 weeks ago when I got sinisitus, and the sinisitus only lasted for a couple of days (unless this more or less constantly runny and clogged up nose means I've still got it but just don't feel it)

Aspirin contains acetyl- acetylsale- that acid, doesn't it? I got a bad reaction once in combination with something else that I've forgotten what it was, so I've been sticking to ibuprofen ever since. Maybe if I try gargling without swallowing?

And what I find most odd is that my throat doesn't feel sore at all - it doesn't hurt a bit. It's just very swollen.

T, I'm allergic to aspirin, and I would not even gargle with it. It seems to do the exact opposite to me then what it is supposed to (increase swelling, pain, make ears ring etc), so if you are allergic to aspirin too, it would make things worse not better.

Try something safer, like gargling with water and vinegar, or salt water. I hope you feel better quickly.

Latest update: I finally got an appointment with a (they do seem to be busy this time of they year) last Thursday.

I had been worrying a little about not feeling swollen that day, fearing that he wouldn't find anything wrong with me (yes, I had one doctor telling me I was imagining things once, but luckily I got a second opinion)

Well... he didn't manage to pinpoint why I feel swollen... obviously my tonsils, pharynx(?) and even... even... *hurls away dictionary in frustration* throat-lid (directly translated from Swedish) looked OK...

...but he could tell from my breathing and my swallowing that there was something... so I got some antibiotics and an inhalator (because he said that sometimes a cold can trigger allergic reactions, and I've experienced asthma before, only it doesn't make my throat feel swollen quite this way).

I did get a 'happy birthday' from the pharmacist when I picked up my medication - that was nice!

I took Monday and Tuesday off this week, and the next three days are considered holidays in Sweden, so I don't have to be back at w*rk until December 29th!

Good to know that there has been some improvement. Take care of yourself.

And i' 2nd that and put gargleing with 2 drops of tea tree oil in salty water but effectiveget better soon

I hope you are well now, and wish you "grattis i efterskott"!!!



Tjing (for blowing nose)
Milla

ps Thanks for card!

Thanks Milla - I got your card too... now I just need to get the photos that I sent to Henriette online, so that I can share them with you and Luckystar too...