I like even numbers and today is definitely multiples of 10. Meaning 1-month to zero bottles and we hope clearance to return home sometime after that.

Today was an incremental progress day that moves us closer to that discharge date. This morning I walked up the hill for my lab tests and Magnesium infusion. After a breakfast and coffee break we walked back up the hill for my doctor’s visit.

In the clinic I showed off my new, not so lightweight, portable oxygen container, and then proceeded to go off oxygen for the next hour. My O2 sat was monitored the entire visit and was in a good range – 94/95. We discussed whether it would be okay to try walking without supplemental oxygen. The consensus was yes, go ahead so long as my O2 Sat while walking was 92 or above. So I did exactly that. I walked relatively slowly, with the portable container in my backpack, stopping every 1/4 mile or so to check my numbers. And they stayed above the redline.

I was told so long as my O2 sat was above that level during the day, I could forgo oxygen. Having said that, I was told I need to continue to sleep with O2 until we can track how I do through the night. I let them know, that since I have old man’s pee disease, meaning I wake up every 1-2 hours I could intermittently check through the night. For the time being I will stick with the nightly enhancement. This is one small step to freedom.

The other progress is that my blood test magnesium level seems to be holding up. Starting this evening I will add one more magnesium pill to my three times a day dosing, and we will see if this stands up. Meaning, no more daily visits to the infusion clinic. Another small step to freedom. 30-bottles to go.

My scorecard today was good although my total WBC and ANC counts are down a bit. No explanation, so I will be checked again on Saturday. My blood glucose was normal also a sign of my coming back from a Prednisone fueled high. My kidneys are still a bit squeezed and we will cut down on my Cyclosporin a bit and see if that helps.

With my two trips up the hill and walking test without oxygen, I covered 11,300 steps over 4.5 miles, slow and steady. Things are definitely looking up. Although with 1-month to go we don’t count our chickens before they are hatched.

Larry and Sharon