But when I got to college, the strep throats got more frequent. Then I got a really nasty case of tonsilitis, with my tonsils swollen so tightly I could hardly breathe, much less eat. I subsisted on protein shakes and antibiotics, and even managed in my misery to accompany my mom to see a show of "Cats" a few hours away from home. (I'd gotten her the tickets months earlier for Christmas.)
Eventually, not being able to swallow without agonizing pain wore me down, and I went to a real doctor. (I'd been visiting the Student Health Center, who blood-tested me for mono and pregnancy eight times, those being the only two illnesses college girls get.) The GP I saw took a quick look at my throat, vomited in her mouth a little, and sent me to a specialist. The specialist asked about my symptoms, took a look, and gave me a diagnosis.
