Question: I have a very bitter taste in my mouth. It becomes extreme when I try to drink cold water. Warm beverages, water and tea, are bearable, but still bitter and unpleasant. I have become dehydrated (dark urine) and am forcing myself to down some warm water. All food tastes bitter and wrong. Am hungry but have not eaten for a couple of days due to the extreme sore throat on the left side which is irritated by hiccups. Symptoms include hiccups nearly continuously for 20-22 hours a day making sleep nearly impossible. Symptoms began last Sunday following two weeks of a deep left lung rattling that was irritating and causing some coughing with little production of phlegm. No breathing problems however as I continued a running regimen of 2-4 mi/day. Saw Dr on Monday morning and was given Clarithromycin 500mg ER, 2per day for the diagnosis of Bronchitis. X-ray showed something of concern. Also given Cadista Methylprednisolone pack 4mg tablets. Since last Monday, the taste issues have gotten worse, Lung issue seems to have cleared up and I have very few coughs and no more rattling. However the sore throat has become extreme. No fever, no runny nose, no other cold symptoms. I am no longer exercising because of pain in throat and hiccups. A bit tired, but that is probably only due to 3 days of 2 hrs sleep each night. Otherwise regular energy. Went back to the Dr on Wednesday and was tested negative for strep. Was told that there was no good explanation for hiccups or taste issues, and that the throat was a viral infection and I would have to wait it out. As of today, I am now having swelling of the left side of the back of my tongue and the roof of my mouth on the side has become swollen with red pustules. I have read extensively on the internet (kind of have some time on my side), and have looked for symptoms of bronchitis or viral throat infections that would include the hiccups and taste issues. Can't find any reference at all to either. Summary: hungry, can’t eat; thirsty, can’t drink; tired, can’t sleep. Was wondering what you think.