Today I am feeling like crap, the fifth day of crappiness, starting Monday last.

I am coughing up phlegm like it was a business and I could sell it for a profit.

My head is completely full of other phlegm so I went to the doctor and he had me go get X-rays and gave me a prescription for anti-biotics.   This is a bit of a ritual.  I think he did the same thing the last time I felt this way.

Basically, unless the cause of this is a bacterial infection, the anti-biotic doesn’t help and I don’t thin he’ll discover anything new from the X-rays.

But at least this way, he has done something and can tell me at the end that I had a viral infection if it goes away by itself.

The last time I remember feeling very similar to this was when I was in Geneva at the UNCHR and a sudden snow storm and cold snap hit.   I had the same symptoms but in Europe, they told me to rest, drink plenty of fluids and take this strong expectorant.  I eventually recovered.  But I think it was like this for several days.

I don’t really sleep.   I drop off for an hour or two and then start coughing.  This keeps me up for a bit and I do it again.  A few nights, I was up for an hour coughing my guts out between 2 and 3 a.m.

This makes it hard for me to concetrate.   My head feels like it is stuffed and I have a burning sensation around the eyes.  Where did I catch this little condition?

Well I went to a number of different places last week and shook hands with everybody.  Then in an old habit, I overexercised on Monday and stayed up late.  That was it.   I wore down my immune system and exposed it to viruses.  Nothing to it really.

Well, it just means I’ve missed a week of work.  Am unable to concentrate and feel awful.   I’ve got 2 more days to get back to normal.   Good luck!