Thanks everyone - my CCF family is much appreciated.
I was also hitting it with Cold-Eze cough drops - which used to be marketed as a cure for the cold (Maybe still is?). Ever since discovering this years ago, colds have not had a chance in my system.
As soon as I feel the very first sign of a cold coming on a Cold Eze goes on my tongue and I let it sit there until its gone. Then Nyquil at night. It used to be every cold went into bronchitis (like you were saying jbuck), but this one-two combo knocks it right out. in a max if two days.
This time I thought I was coming down with a cold, started the treatment, and the problem got a little further into my lungs than normal (and there was actually some pain with it!). But it took only 3 days instead of two to get it out. It kept trying though for awhile.
After this came fever, chills, insomnia and not being able to think of food without gagging Only the thought of boiled potatoes didn't make me gag for some reason

Glad I like them! This is where I started to hit the Echinacea and vitamin C and kept feeling better each day.
As jbuck said - I was spreading out the vitamin C in many two-thousand 2000mg doses per day - as well as the 1800 mg Echniacea at the same time.
Personally I had no idea if the Echinacea would help, but my wife urged me to take it...and it seemed to do me good. This is one of the supplements I have found that do something for me.
I really feel for those who have lost people over this.
Stay safe out there CCF family...this too shall pass.