I never thought I would be sipping warm coca cola all day long, but it definitely helps my nausea. Will I end up being addicted to coke before this is over? Randy, my son who was visiting during this last treatment, made me hibiscus and ginger tea with just a little sugar---it is very tart without any sugar and it is very rich in vitamin c, it settled well on my tummy and I was also able to drink it in quantity. My essiac tea also settled well and water with lots of lemon but water alone just didn't go down well. I made several trips to the infusion lab for hydration which gave me more energy and helped the nausea. Toward the end of the week I was feeling a little more normal. Unfortunately my gastrointestinal tract is constantly moving( is there a nice way to say diarrhea?) so I know where the closest restrooms are when I am on the road. Other interesting side effects of the chemo are more sensitivity to cold, increased sensitivity to smell, taste, sound and light.
I have been dreading getting another treatment like the last one. I have pondered on it and prayed about it, telling my Heavenly Father that if it be possible I would like not to do this again but that I would do His will.

Heather and Jared and the babies flew in on Thursday night late. We went camping at the South Rolly campground near Willow on Friday and Saturday with the rest of the family. Everyone was there--a family reunion, we took a family picture by the lake. We ate hotdogs, smores, and watermelon. We cooked a dutch oven dinner; ham, green beans and potatoes (yum) and a breakfast of french toast, bacon and hot chocolate. We slept in a tent while it poured rain and enjoyed canoeing on the lake. Those who were more adventurist than I had water fights and went swimming and even said the water was warm. I almost forgot about Monday and Chemo and being sick for at least a week.

I had been back to visit with the doctor and had discussed my pains near my heart and my concerns about having the pump and the 5-FU again. He seemed to feel that my pain was associated with all the vomiting I was doing and that if I was on top of the nausea I would be able to tolerate the chemo. I left agreeing to try but still dreading the prospect and still praying that somehow this might change.
Well Brian started doing some more research ( he wasn't aware of my prayers, just knew how sick I had been). We will visit with the doctor tomorrow morning, at 10:00, I am supposed to get my chemo at 11:00. However I will not be getting the 5-FU or the pump!!! He found significant research discussing the serious, lethal, side effects of the 5-FU, especially those associated with heart problems and heart attacks. Serious enough that I will need to try something else. Jared, our dear son-in-law was doing research too and it looks like there is a chemo combination that I can take that should not be so harsh and yet almost as effective as what they were giving me. When all was said and done Brian asked me if I had been praying about this? So much information that we had needed to make a wise decision had become available at a critical time. He knows me so well----he always asks me that question when things are happening that seem impossible. I know my Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers, not always as I would have them answered but with my best interests in mind.
I am ready for Monday, not excited, but ready. There are still other options to consider and decisions to make but I feel ready to move ahead and face what tomorrow will bring.