There is pain. Not quite like a spike being driven through my ear; more like an occasional jab with a blunt knife, plus someone applying a vice to my teeth (referred pain, how I wish you hadn't been invented). Two strong pain pills: nada. Third pain pill now taken. I think it's time for the hot chocolate. (goes off to make hot chocolate).

Thank you, everyone for your concern. I got to sleep eventually, and I've called in sick to work. I'm still feeling rather shaky. I think today will be spent alternating between distraction (probably more HP fanfic) and trying to snatch naps. Distraction is more effective than painkillers.

Bah! Side-effects of antibiotics! Bah!

Looking at the Dreamwidth jargon page, I found out why a number of people on Dreamwidth were referring to "spoons". The Spoon Theory (originally from www.butyoudontlooksick.com) explains, with spoons as a metaphor, what it's like living with a chronic illness. Go, read, and be enlightened.
( and read this after you have )

Testing out the Dreamwidth cross-posting facility.

I made some assertions in this post which I am now realizing were unfounded, to wit, things about insulin reaction and sucralose. Now I can't even recall where I got that information, but on further reading, looks like insulin reaction with artificial sweeteners is not straightforward at all.

Some sources say "no calories, no insulin reaction". Other sources say "sweet taste triggers an insulin reaction" -- in other words, it's psychosomatic. The implication of that is that it would occur with all sweeteners, or with none of them. And also that it would vary from individual to individual.

So, the plus side of that is that I feel a lot better about sucralose, which is good, because it is much cheaper than Xylotol and Stevia. I still like all three of them, though. And I am still determined that, even after my strict dieting is over, mine is going to be a sucrose-free household.