1 It's a bug. It's been going around Tucson. I seem to be in the last stages. Fortunately it is not too severe. I was "under the weather" about a week, but never really got full-blown sick. It's one of those things though, if you can't get the rest you need it usually blows up into something worse. So sleep, sleep, whenever you can. And drink plenty of citrus juice.

2 You let your resistance drop and a virus saw its chance to pounce. You have to stay well-rested always. As a bonus, recent studies indicate that 9 hours sleep may lower your body fat levels and improve general fitness. I suggest that everyone of our age keep on the lookout for shingles. I had it in July/August and it's not an experience I'd like to relive. Warning signs of an onset? Look for swollen/painful glands--like in the armpits and neck and itching and pain on the skin of your midsection. A few days later, red spots will appear--and in a few hours become pustules. YOU HAVE TO GET YOURSELF TO A DOCTOR AT THIS POINT AND GET A PRESCRIPTION FOR ACYCLOVIR. It won't stop it completely, but it will shorten the duration and may prevent SOME pustules from completely forming. It will try to encircle your body like a belt. Anything you can do to stop this will help, because you will not be able to put any pressure on those areas, like you have to do when you sleep. I had to stand/sit upright for almost a week at one point. IT is not a new infection. If you've had chicken pox, this is the sequel. That virus that caused chicken pox--herpes zoster--hid among your nerves and spine waiting for an opportunity to resurface. AND THIS TIME, there's no mercy! The pustules you see are NERVE FIBERS INFLAMED--nerve fibers that travel deep inside your body.The pain will last 24/7 until your body can get rid of them--eight weeks in my case. In the meantime, all nearby nerves respond sympathetically--GIVING YOU DEEP PAIN!!! For weeks! Deep pain, like when you have an inflamed appendix/pancreas/gall bladder--your body doesn't know the difference. Consider this a baby-boomer warning!!!!! You'll thank me for that presciption, I assure you!