Actually, you're both completely right. As soon as I started treating it as an allergy, it did get better. Seems to go from allergy to mild bronchitis back to an allergy. I think it was triggered by all the moldy leaves I was raking in the endless cold and rainy fall. I wanted it to get cold, and it finally did, which helped. Until our furnace broke and I stopped sleeping to tend to the fire all night. Yeah, stupid, I know.

A few years ago, I moved and my allergies, which were well under control for decades, went crazy. I guess it's not uncommon for that to happen in this area. So thank you Mrhounddog.