A few hours ago, out of the blue...my throat started hurting really bad and my ears hurt to swallow. I have no other signs of a cold or anything...am I coming down with something or like could it be the glands in my neck are swollen or something? I feel like crap.
It sound like you are coming down with a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract that is causing inflammation in your eustacian tubes and oropharynx. Within 48 hrs of the start of such symptoms, zicam may be effective.