-------------- Original message --------------
From: Phil Scovell <[log in to unmask]>

> A little over a week ago, I got my first actual cold in two and a half
> years. That is a record for me. Wednesday, I felt so good, I thought I was
> coming out of it but I awakened Thursday morning, early, and every muscle
> hurt and I felt as if I had been run down by a truck. My throat normally
> doesn't feel sore or raw any more with a cold but it just hurts, literally
> hurts, as if someone has hit me with a baseball bat in the throat. I still
> have my tonsils but I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.
> Anyhow, yesterday, Gretchen walked passed my office desk where I was typing
> and noticed I had a rash on my lower neck. She came and checked and it was
> spreading down below my collar on to my back an d chest. Sandy said it
> sounded like a strep rash. I didn't want to go to the hospital on a
> Saturday night because the average wait now on a busy night is literally six
> hours. Unless you can speak Spanish. Sandy found a nearby clinic where
> some of the same docs from the hospital work evenings and it cost less for
> the co pay plus we were only there for 60 minutes. They did a strep culture
> and I don't have strep. Benadryl was recommended to help the rash, which
> has helped some, but I hate taking benadryl. I will also be getting some
> steroids today because the rash is beginning to itch and the doc gave me a
> prescription for that in case it started to itch. It seems to be starting
> to do exactly that now. Anyhow, I went to bed so hot, I slept on top of the
> blankets but four hours later, I awakened freezing cold and got under the
> covers and tried going back to sleep. That didn't hel p and I didn't sleep
> much more so I finally got up before 6 o'clock and climbed into a hot shower
> for 30 minutes before I felt warm again. Anyhow, I'd appreciate your
> prayers for more than just one reason when you think about it. I'll try and
> live but I don't much want to.
>
> Phil.