…the doc i saw tonight told me to toss out what i had, dosed me with a shot of solumedrol, & started me on a 13 day, 51 pill steroid regimen.   seems like an awful lot of steroids for one person, but hey… 

thanks for your reply, Gene.  still feels like some loony toon is pumpin my head up with a crazy toontown bicycle pump as i type this…but tomorrow’s another day