Gary, I don't know why I did not write immediately in response to your prompt and most encouraging message. I suppose I was waiting for others to possibly join. Your message brought a first spark of joy in months - someone does understand how I feel!
The soreness in the throat hasn't gone yet, but now I'm more confident it is a matter of time and nothing else. I've had some blood tests as well and the results do not look very bad. I sometimes have sleepless nights or get nightmares if I do sleep, but I want to postpone taking "sleepers" if I can help it. But that doesn't make me less crazy because of having to confront the disease.
I'm really looking up to you for having thought of putting us all in a family. For a diseased person can no longer communicate with the healthy - they no longer have a common code. I hope I do not sound very depressed.