Creeping Sore Throat

Shana, holy cow, look at the time!

Mom, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m in college; which means I’m very busy.

Is that sooooooooo……Doing what, scanning the internet for The Rolling Stones?

Mom, you must be positively psychic because look at this!

Do I have to?

Yes, it’s the latest release by The Rolling Stones!

What??? Mama mia! Wait a minute! Are these people releasing a new record every five feet? What is going on here?

Mom, it’s another masterpiece of overall brilliance! I’m not sure which is better, this or “Doom and Gloom”….

Oy vay!

Anyway, here it is, the latest single by The Rolling Stones!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iecBKNWn6hc

Well, Shana, that was reeeeeeeally bad!  But, be that as it may, we have to move on. It’s time to do The Death Report!

The song is not bad!!!!!  Did someone die again?

I’m afraid so.

Who is it this time?

Cleve Duncan of The Penguins.  (That’s Dootsie Williams, their manager, in the center.  Cleve is to his right.)

OMG! The group that sang “Earth Angel”?  (Did you say “Dootsie Williams”?  That’s the funniest name I ever heard!)

Yes, it may well be….. Oops!  This just in!  That’s not Dootsie Williams, that’s Johnny Otis!  What’s he doing in this picture?  Anyway, Johnny Otis’ big record was “Willie and the Hand Jive”.  (“I know a cat named Way-Out Willie….”) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM0gE9sh_FE. You got it Shana! “Earth Angel” came out in 1954 (once again putting to rest the myth that Elvis Presley “started” rock ‘n’ roll in 1956!) Anyway, “Earth Angel” is truly an iconic song, everyone knows it! It’s one of the most recognized songs in the world! “Earth Angel” was written by founding member Curtis Williams while he was in the army in Germany with, guess who?

Who?

Daddy!  Here’s Daddy in his Army uniform from 1951 (Rick Lewis):

Curtis and Rick were both in the Army together, along with Jesse Belvin…

Really?

In fact, Jesse and Curtis co-wrote “Earth Angel”. The three of them, and one other fellow named Gaynel Hodge, were in a gospel group together in the Army called The Swords.  Here’s a very rare photograph of Jesse and Gaynel in a group Gaynel founded called The Turks in 1958:

It just so happens that The Turks did one of my most favorite records of all time called “Father Time”, written by Gaynel Hodge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC08f93BPT4

Anyway, Curtis was the founding member of The Penguins; BUT, he and Gaynel were both in the Hollywood Flames first. It just so happens that the Hollywood Flames are responsible for my most favorite song of all time and here it is: “Just For You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jba7hcGn4t8

Below are The Penguins with Cleve Duncan in front and Curtis Williams all the way in the back:

You know what Jesse Belvin is famous for, right? “Goodnight, My Love”. Every dance used to end with that song. But, I’m digressing. Here are The Penguins from a PBS concert in 1999 with Cleve Duncan on lead singing the iconic “Earth Angel”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBnsNTBqzWQ

Goodbye, Cleve! Catch ya later!

Do we, by any chance, have a quiz?

I guess so. They don’t pay me to play records around here, unfortunately. Come to think of it, they don’t pay me at all! I’m going to have to ask Dr. B for a raise!

Who’s the patient this month?

That’s a good question, Shana; because I have failed to come up with a fictitious name! Do you want to try? Anymore dorm names you haven’t used yet?

How about the dorm I’m standing in front of….Berks Hall?

Fine! So, this is the case of Berks Hall! So, Miss Hall is 40 years old. She came to me complaining of some sort of virus and I told her to fill out the questionnaire, here it is:

1. Describe the complaint

Very sore throat that’s been creeping up on me since last weekend. Sharp pain when I swallow. Hurts worse when it’s dry. Green solid mucus in nose. As of this morning, I’m also dealing with strong stomach cramps and diarrhea with trembling/fever/chills – that was sudden.

2. Etiology–this means the CAUSE, if you know it.

Maybe travel in damp weather? My roommate is enjoying the exact same health experience right now (although she is dry-coughing and expectorating a lot, I’m not). We went to Block Island last weekend, which was cold and damp (though gorgeous). I spent a lot of the time being motion sick from the ferry in bad weather followed by some car rides on not enough sleep.

3. Sensation–

Throat: Sharp pain in back of throat, lump in throat when I swallow.

Slight constant ache in left ear with left ear tinnitus.

Nose: Dry chunks

Belly: Continual cramps in mid-gut, just…ow. Stool feels like it’s poking me in the anus sharply from the inside out.

4. Appearance–

Well, I don’t look happy, that’s for sure! And my back is very slumpy.

5. Location–where on the body is your complaint located?

Throat, nose, and guts.

6. Modalities–

Throat, better: hot liquids, swallowing food.

Throat, worse: cold liquids feel better in the moment but then increase mucus; dry air

Nose, better: warmth (showering), picking.

Nose, worse: lying on left side (right sinus is slightly congested)

Belly, better: slumping over while sitting, pressure in and toward navel on left side of navel. Belly, worse: uh…life

Everything: better for open air, worse for being in the direct line of the fan

7. Concomitants (other symptoms that are “along for the ride”)–

I think I covered everything so far.

8. Discharges–

Do we need to talk about the hard green mucus again? It’s dry.

9. Generals–

I’m sad and whiny and I want/don’t want comfort.

10. The mentals:

I woke myself up making whiny noises this morning.

11. What have you been saying?

Mostly just things like “mmmmmmffffffffffwheeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh,” and also, “I’ll go make some white rice.”

12. What are you doing?

Moaning and groaning, whining.

13. Describe your thirst and appetite–

I’m thirsty but afraid to drink anything for fear of setting off the angry intestine monsters. Hot mint tea sounds good. Maybe hot rice in a bit. I’m hungry but afraid to eat anything.

14. Fever?

It just happened with the first round of diarrhea but seems to be gone now. Hot feeling, trembly all over, light sweat, especially on my forehead.

15. Sweating?

See #14. No stain.

16. Odors?

I don’t think so but I definitely have morning breath for sure.

17. What is most striking, peculiar or identifying about your condition?

I just feel so whiny.

18. Is there a diagnosis?

It seems like some sort of flu/cold thing.

19. Describe your energy–

Quiet, reluctant to move, sleepy, collapsed, whiny, so whiny…sooooo very whiny and morose.

Try _____________________ 30C in water, 5 succussions before each dose, 4 times a day, if not better by tomorrow, it’s probably not the right remedy. Let me know.

Dear Elaine,

I took a few sips during the night, woke up with a fever and some more free-flowing nasal mucus. The diarrhea is gone.

That’s good!

The sore throat is gone, I feel slightly perkier.

I guess this is a striking improvement then.

My neck glands are swollen, and I feel like I got run over by a truck. But I also feel interested in being out and about, and came to work because I just couldn’t handle the idea of sitting on the couch for one more minute.

OK, keep taking the remedy, you’re not quite over it yet.

I may in fact be rejoining the living. I haven’t re-dosed the __________________ since this morning when the alarm went off (6:45am), and while I’m still wiped out with swollen neck glands and the slightest computer-strain headache, I think I’m slowly on the mend. I’m at about 65 – 70% improvement now.

_______________

OK everybody, what’s the remedy? Write to me at LEWRA@aol.com and let me know! The answer will be in the December ezine!