Being sick.

About 3 weeks ago, I was winding down for the evening when I started to feel an exceptionally sore throat. I couldn’t ignore it, so I grabbed a flashlight and took a gander. I gasped as my eyes widened to a vision I’ve never had. Cobblestone throat. It was so inflamed, the walls of my throat were closing in. Wtf is that?

Well, when the body fights an infection or irritant, the lymph nodes and lymph tissue fill with fluid and become swollen. Swollen lymph glands can cause the cells under the skin to swell and look bumpy, which doctors call pharyngitis.

Viral infections cause 60–90% of pharyngitis cases. Bacterial infections may also cause bumps at the back of the throat. Bacterial infections are more common in winter and early spring. Children and teenagers may have a higher risk of viral and bacterial throat infections, including those that cause bumps at the back of the throat.

Sometimes, pharyngitis can be a chronic problem that lasts for weeks or months, causing the cobblestone appearance to linger for a long time.

It was alarming, but just a symptom to be checked out by my doctor. The diagnosis was tonsillitis, coupled with ear infections in both ears which backed fluid up into the entire sinus cavity. For months, I thought I was neurotic for constantly feeling like there were things in my ear. They itched like crazy, and often I’ve scratched too hard with q-tips because I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve got allergies. My city has a lot of pollution which carries who knows what in the wind. After a full round of antibiotics and steroids, my gut health defenses are down as well as my immune system.

The effects last about 3 months, or longer if you don’t take care of yourself. On the same day I went to the doctor’s office, I also trudged to the store (because I was crazy sick but determined) and stocked up on these gut healthy groceries: garlic, bananas, brussel sprouts, kombucha, almonds, yogurt, and sourdough bread. I also got some bacon, as well as dark chocolate (still beneficial) because they’re delicious and I don’t like to deny myself most cravings.

Here’s a kombucha toast to your health and mine! *Salud*