I was going to try your solution #1, but instead thought id fully turn into a zombie and try the trap again. So I rested and it turns out that this actually worked. So, when potion is drank = trap won't let me pass, and when a ghoul for real = it does let me pass (i'm assuming that this guy originally had the same problem:
http://www.shsforums...trap-of-living/).
Then I got the key and I tried the antidote just for fun. It got me level drained and nothing happened. But that was expected. I then notice that when I am in this ghoul form, clicking "appearence" in the menu (to change portrait) crashes the game. No biggie. However what *is* a problem is that when Elminister turns me back at the sevel vales, I do not completely come back. My avatar at the inventory screen is back, but my stats stay at 9,9,9,9,5, and my class etc is back but not gender (it still says "neither"). I tried various spells to cure "the rest" but to no avail. Also, the game still crashes if I click "appearance" (if I reload before I became a ghoul, then it does not) so I can't get my portrait back either.
And to top it off, if I speak to Elminister 2 more times, he will advance the questline even though I have not even exited the room yet! He acts as if I have completed the task and returned to him.