I agree with ferventer, use the salt. also i had a sore throat too which went away. I also had a bit of a swollen throat on occasion i would up my selenium to counteract that. it helped. now i dont salt push nearly enough, but i dont experience any real side effects except for wanting to get more sleep. which i think i need as im not sleeping enough. In other words i think Ive passed the worst of it after 6 weeks. pain in the butt, but feeling better for it.