kneav , have you gone to doctor to get some antibiotics and painkillers ( and a good codiene cough syrup) ? .
It either viral,, in which case the painkillers and cough syrup, and possibly a good decongestant will help, or its bacterial( strep throat for example) in which case the antibiotics will help. Now, I am not a proponet of taking antibiotics for anything unless you have a swab and culture done,, but in this case I would consider it..
Really, all our advise an suggestions are not that important, you need to go see your doctor tommorow and see what he says.. I would hate to cancel a trip,, but you don't want to ruin the trip either if it is something serious.
Mind you, most viral infections will get better in 7-10 days if you don't treat them, and 7-10 days if you do,, LOL so you are likely feeling your worst right now, and may start to feel better in a couple days. I would wait till last minute to cancel, you have nothing to lose by waiting, and alot to gain if you start to feel better.
Stay home, drink fluids, rest, and take vitimins,, it can't hurt and it might help.

Good luck.. I hope it starts to turn for the better by Sat .. please post back..

Did anyone mention the effect on the people traveling where you do who may become infected with your cold or virus?

OP has been experiencing this illness since the 21st and won't be flying out until the 29th, according to my calculations. If she does go (because she feels well enough and her doctor says she can) it is highly unlikely she will pass on any kind of bug to anyone: that would be one mighty long incubation period. Listeriosis, anyone?

Let Kenav and her doctor figure it out without implying, on one hand, she is an insurance-fraudster and on the other she is the contemporary equivalent of Typhoid Mary.

Actually I first felt symptoms last Wed (Sept.17th). They weren't bad and I went to work. Guess it's been slow coming to a head. Full blown symptoms didn't appear until 4-5 days later!

TravelGuard paid up quickly when we had to cancel a trip.

Thanks Underhill and others who have responded that they got reimbursed - good to know.

I'm going to try to get to an ENT tomorrow to see what's going on. I have had LPR before (laryngo-pharyngeal reflux). This is different from GERD in which reflux (stomach acid) goes up to the esophagus; with LPR the acid continues up to the pharynx. So, now I'm thinking - could it be that? Or that AND a virus? Am I overthinking all of this?

My only problem with going to a doctor's - everyone there is sick!! (Sounds ridiculous, I know.) But really, just sitting in the waiting room with people coughing all around; it can make you sick if you're not already!

I once went to a doctor's office (not for a cold). The doctor was sick. Sniffling, coughing. Breathing on me during the examination. I was annoyed that he might be transferring those germs to me, and countless other patients. A few days later I was more than annoyed; I was angry. Yes, I got ill.