This is me...almost. I did have other head cold symptoms - balloon like headache/earache/head pain and some stuffiness, but my throat is BY FAR the worst. No fever. But my throat has been so bad, hard to swallow, painful, etc. Lymph nodes hella swollen. I almost lost my voice and its been tough to talk. Mine did start late last week though so I chalk it up to normal head cold/flu type thang bc I felt pretty bad this past weekend.