Vitamin C Infusions: Round Two

This morning I drove out to the Brittonfield Office of Hemotology Oncology for my first infusion of high dose Vitamin C this round...this year. I felt good about it, too. I had never infused at that office; last year Dr. Puc was at the Community General site,so that is where all infusions took place. There are far, far more seats/stations available at the Brittonfield Office. It feels daunting that there could be a given day the seats would all be filled. Too much cancer...in too many folks' bodies...that is what anyone could conclude.

I got a nice nurse and we chatted lightly while she prepped me. Her insertion into my port did not hurt at all. I no longer choose to use the numbing agent and that is for the best. I told the nurse my desire: to have my CA 125 number go down. I told her I could never know to what extent the Vitamin C infusions had helped me because I had one each week throughout chemo and then an additional 6 weeks, if I recall correctly. She was prompt to tell me that she saw a big difference in every one of the patients who opt for high dose IV Vitamin C while undergoing chemo. All do markedly better. She then added that attitude was also a big predictor. Those patients who were negative and fearful had more side effects from chemo. Interesting anecdotal evidence.

Well I sat in my recliner and read on my cellphone. And interestingly enough, I had an email with a link to studies about high dose IV Vitamin C. It was not new information to me, but it felt good to read about all the hopefulness associated with the infusions while I was infusing with hopefulness. The total time for the infusion, including the fluid afterward that takes it's own 45 minutes, is two and a half hours. I grabbed an interesting book from a cart, read some of it, and did online reading while sitting there.

I was happy to walk out, feeling good, to go meet Ed and travel to live out the adventure I had been craving us to do: go to a Herkimer Diamond mine. The afternoon was spent driving about 70 miles to the mine and that left three hours for hunting. I did find quite a few on the ground and pounded many rocks in the hot sun. I feel satisfied with my lovely double terminated crystals and would like to go and get more and perhaps, with help, make an item of jewelry with them when I have found enough. Herkimer Diamonds are very cool, I like their energy, and rock hunting leaves one's mine focused and present. It is meditative to seek them out...well, except when trying to split a rock open with chisel and hammer.

I am going to bed tired and with some optimism. I am doing for myself what I can to keep me from needing chemo. I pray the Vitamin C infusions are going to work and will keep this blog posted.