I see my primary care physician in 11 days, which is soon enough.

The allergy medications aren't doing what I hoped they'ld do. I did more on-line research. What I found out was that it could be a muscle spasm in the eustachian canal (connects the middle ear to the throat.) That allows fluid to accumulate in the middle ear. The fluid transmits vibrations from a small nearby blood vessel to the ear drum. So, I just took an anti-spasm medication that I use once in a while for my back.

I count myself as very lucky. Chronic tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can involve sounds that are very distressing to the person with the condition. Mine is a soft sound that I do not find the least bit stressful. If it stays with me, permanently, I could live with it just fine.

Meanwhile, now I'm sick with a sore throat, swollen glands, and a miserable cold sore on my lower lip. I think the worrying I did, previously, weakened my immune system. My depression is amazingly relieved. Emotionally, this is the best I've felt since Nov. 2010. What a relief.

I would much rather have the flu than be really depressed. I wonder if other members of PC find that physical discomfort can be easier to tolerate than emotional discomfort. (?)