Hi Vic,
loved the story of the trip, and you kept a good sense of humor when i know you must have been hurting from the car ride.
i wish you well in the hospital, and with the pump. while i was nursing i had an awesome 35 year old patient, that had terminal cancer, and he had the pump put in, and did get enough relief to go to italy! and back to teaching for a few months, maybe a year, before the cancer won. so it does work well if inserted correctly ... so i will add, make suere it is a doctor who is not an idiot! ha!
and the protein in the drinks is the key ... used that in the hospital too. drink them between meals and with meals if possible. i don;t know how much you can tolerate
and for the love of God stop smoking !!!! use the patch now, when people stop smoking, they gain weight!!!
love ya, JOAN