Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Life Got A Little Messy

Our local grocery store sells some amazing homemade salsa. It’s so delicious that gas stations could sell it as a fountain drink. One night I was eating some tortilla chips with that amazing salsa, when suddenly I could feel a hair in my mouth. I fished it out of my mouth, and then did what any red-blooded American male would do: I pretended that never happened, and continued eating my salsa. 

Much to my dismay, a few bites later I strung another long hair through my teeth. Okay, this is starting to get a little ridiculous. Two long hairs in one container of salsa?!? It was frustrating. But being an ultra runner has taught me to be determined. I don’t give up when things get hard. So I set that second hair aside and continued eating. Just because it’s hairy salsa doesn’t make it any less delicious. And then catastrophy struck. A third hair.

A four letter word probably popped out of my mouth. I grabbed the container of salsa and threw it in the garbage. I was livid. I mentioned this frustration to my wife later that night. While I was relating my story, my daughter piped up with a confession. She had been eating salsa earlier in the day and accidentally dropped the container of salsa onto the carpet. Not wanting to waste the salsa, she scooped it off the carpet and back into the container, then put it back in the fridge.

Needless to say, I didn’t need to floss my teeth that night.

Right now, my life is like that container of furry salsa. It is really great. Really great. But there are a few unexpected hairs in the mix. Those hairs are called Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorder. A few months ago I found out that my body has a glitch. Basically my immune system works as well as a Close Door button in an elevator…which is to say: not at all.

This isn’t great news. My primary care doctor seemed genuinely concerned and sympathetic when these results showed up in my blood work. Apparently this sets me up for some potentially serious health issues including pneumonia, bronchitis, and pulmonary infections. Since then there has been more blood work. More doctor appointments. And a few visits with an immunologist. I don’t dig the kind of diagnosis that shows up on the National Institutes of Health list of Rare Diseases.

The only option for treatment is immunoglobulin infusions. The immunoglobulin is from people who have donated plasma, and this is supposed to help build up my immune system. The doctor said that these infusions will be needed for the rest of my life. The options I was given were to 1) Do subcutaneous infusions once a week at home, or 2) Do IV infusions at an infusion center once a month.

I selected option #1. Here’s the problem with all this nonsense: I’m terrified of needles. To me, needles are scarier than snakes, truck stop bathrooms, and Celine Dion music…combined! I have a bad reputation of passing out when I get my blood drawn. So the idea of needle sticks weekly for the rest of my life is super unawesome.

I had my first infusion two weeks ago. A nurse showed up, put three needles in my stomach, then an hour and a half later the infusion was done. The next day I tried to jog a mile, but couldn’t because my stomach hurt too bad. The day after that I tried to jog again. No go.

Last week Mel did the infusion. Three needles in my upper thigh. Ugh. 70 minutes later it was done. As Mel was taking the needles out, my world started getting fuzzy. As darkness started clouding my vision, I slapped my cheek trying to keep from passing out. Mel said “Hurry, let’s walk to the couch so you can lay down.” I knew I couldn’t make it that far. I was suddenly dripping sweat and ripped my shirt off. I barely made it to the dining room floor, clammy and sweating. But I didn’t completely pass out. WIN!

I tell you all this because I’ve been thinking about how life isn’t always 100% awesome. (Duh!) I tell you this because you can’t have a story of triumph without overcoming something. Here’s the thing: I don’t know if there even WILL be any overcoming! I want to run the Jackpot Ultra Marathon in two weeks with Mel who is going for her first 100 miler. I want to run every mile with her. I want to run the Zion 100 in April. I want to run the Vol State 500k in July. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any doubts. These hairs in the salsa are making things a little trickier.

Of course the priority is to take care of myself. Don’t worry. I’ll do that. Health is more important than a buckle. Maybe ultra running has prepared me for this point in my life. Ultramarathons have taught me to be strong and brave and determined. And now I’m at this moment where I can utilize those tools in a real life setting. I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge. Now is the time to fight.

35 comments:

  1. I gagged at the hair part, but I am very impressed by the cleanliness of your tile floor. I’m rooting for you and always will. Lots of love, Emmy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Heaven knows, I’ve had some seriously hairy salsa. I can say this definitively: Ultra running has prepared you for this. And even if you can’t run distance right now, you are still training. You’ve got this, Mr Reese. It sucks all the balls, but you’ve got this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Praying for you Cory Reese, you will forever inspire others in everything you do! 🙏

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry you're going through all this, Cory. I hope in time you'll settle into a rhythm that will still allow you to pursue all of your big ultra dreams. You're definitely more prepared that many would be.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LIfe threw a monkey wrench at me 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It took me a while to figure out my new normal but I'm still out there running (slower) and doing my thing. You will too. Hang in there, Cory. You got this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Still trying to get on top of my autoimmune disease and the past 4 years have not been easy. Hoping it goes well for you Cory and you don't skip a beat!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry to hear you have this going on :-( :-( :-(
    Hopefully you can be the best cheer squad ever for Mel & then go from there. 2019 might be the year of volunteering for you. Loved your last book. If anyone can work through this you can!!! X

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sending lots of prayers and good vibes your way! I've loved and been really inspired by your books and all your photos/posts on FB. Hang in there and stay strong!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Cory! You are such an inspiration to me. I read your first book two years ago when I was recovering from my most recent round of Lyme Disease treatment (needles and infusions!). I decided I wanted to run an ultra and have been working toward it ever since (made it to 30K so far). Having this goal has helped me focus on all the things I am capable of doing despite my disease. It might take me longer than most, but that’s okay. Your book made me feel like I wasn’t alone. I hope you know you’re not alone either! Thank you for your wonderfully positive attitude and outlook and for sharing your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bluehost web hosting is one of the most reliable web hosting service. It offers you the top-class hosting service with unbeatable site speed, bandwidth, ram and uptime. Get the service with the Bluehost coupon code . The coupon helps you get the hosting at an affordable price. Visit our site where there is a wide array of Bluehost coupons for you. Click on the given link to know more information on the Bluehost web hosting service provider.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The great website I have found here, Apart from this we are here to provide the best Bluehost web hosting to you at an affordable price. Bluehost discount coupon codes

    ReplyDelete
  12. Independent Mumbai Escorts - Mumbai Call Girl and Female Model Escort Services in Mumbai for your spicy erotic desires. Mumbai Escorts is the best Escorts Girls service in Mumbai free and paid sex incall and outcall independent agency.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello, Guys, My Self-Divya Escorts Girl Come to join the Party Tonight Book Delhi escorts Girls by Miss Delhi Escort. I am Offering Best Delhi Escorts Service.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 3 Best baby hair shampoos that I tried and recommended. The best baby shampoo for hair growth could perfectly clean your baby's head without causing any damage to their eyes and delicate skin.
    Best baby shampoo for hair growth
    Best baby shampoo in India

    ReplyDelete
  15. This really is this sort of a terrific source that you are providing and also you give it away for free. I love observing website that fully grasp the worth of offering a high quality useful resource at no cost.āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āļ­āļ­āļ™āđ„āļĨāļ™์

    ReplyDelete
  16. Which is really nice to listen to. thank you for the update and good luck.āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ• 999

    ReplyDelete
  17. Interesting, write-up. I just stumbled upon your weblog and desired to state that I've appreciated browsing your blog posts. After all, I will definitely subscribe to the feed, and I hope you can produce once again shortly!āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āļ§āļ­āđ€āļĨāļ—

    ReplyDelete
  18. Now, I used to be just searching along and came on your website. Just needed to say very good weblog and this information assisted me lots, on account of which I have discovered specifically I used to be hunting.āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āđāļ•āļāļ‡่āļēāļĒ

    ReplyDelete
  19. Pretty good submit. I've just stumbled on your weblog and liked reading your website posts a great deal. I'm searching for new posts to have extra valuable data. Major many thanks with the useful information.āļšāļē āļ„āļē āļĢ่āļē āļ§āļ­ āđ€āļĨāļ—

    ReplyDelete
  20. You shipped these kinds of a powerful piece to examine, supplying just about every matter enlightenment for us to realize data. Thanks for sharing this sort of details with us on account of which my many ideas happen to be cleared.āļšāļē āļ„āļē āļĢ่āļē āļ§āļ­ āđ€āļĨāļ—

    ReplyDelete
  21. This informative article is an pleasing prosperity of useful info which is exciting and effectively-composed. I commend your hard work on this and thank you for this information. You’ve obtained what it takes to obtain awareness.āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ• āļāļēāļ-āļ–āļ­āļ™ true wallet āđ„āļĄ่āļĄี āļšัāļāļŠีāļ˜āļ™āļēāļ„āļēāļĢ

    ReplyDelete
  22. If more and more people that generate article content definitely involved on their own with crafting wonderful material such as you, a lot more audience would be interested of their writings. Thank you for caring regarding your material.āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āļ—āļĢูāļ§āļ­āđ€āļĨāļ—

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have not too long ago begun a site, the data you supply on This page has served me significantly. Thanks for all of your current time & function.āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āđāļ•āļāļ‡่āļēāļĒ

    ReplyDelete
  24. When you got down to make me Consider nowadays; mission achieved! I actually like your composing type And the way you express your ideas. Thanks.āđ€āļ§็āļšāļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āđ€āļ§็āļšāļ•āļĢāļ‡

    ReplyDelete
  25. Excellent survey, I'm confident you happen to be getting a terrific response.āđ€āļāļĄāļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•

    ReplyDelete
  26. AUTOBETCASINO āđ€āļĨ่āļ™ āļšāļēāļ„āļēāļĢ่āļē āļ­āļĒ่āļēāļ‡āđ„āļĢāđƒāļŦ้āđ„āļ”้āđ€āļ‡ิāļ™ āđ€āļ„āļĒāđ„āļŦāļĄ āļัāļšāļāļēāļĢāđ€āļĨ่āļ™ āļšāļēāļ„āļēāļĢ่āļē āđ€āļžื่āļ­āļ•้āļ­āļ‡āļāļēāļĢāđ€āļ‡ิāļ™āđāļĨāļ°āļāļģāđ„āļĢāļˆāļēāļāļāļēāļĢāđ€āļ”ิāļĄāļžัāļ™ āđāļ™่āļ™āļ­āļ™āļ§่āļē āļ—ุāļāļ„āļ™āļˆāļ°āļ•้āļ­āļ‡āļ­āļĒāļēāļāđ„āļ”้... āļ—ี่ autobetcasino

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pg Slot āļĢāļ§āļĄ āļ•āļĨāļēāļ”āđ€āļāļĄāļ­āļ­āļ™āđ„āļĨāļ™์āđƒāļ™āļ‚āļ“āļ°āļ™ี้āļ™ั้āļ™āđ€āļ•ิāļšāđ‚āļ•āļ‚ึ้āļ™āļ­āļĒ่āļēāļ‡āđ€āļĢ็āļ§āļˆāļ™āļāļĢāļ°āļ—ั่āļ‡āđ„āļĄ่āđ„āļ”้āļ™ึāļāļัāļ™ pg slot āļĄีāļœู้āđ€āļĨ่āļ™āļĄāļēāļāļĄāļēāļĒāļ่āļēāļĒāļāļ­āļ‡āļŠāļ™āđƒāļˆāļัāļšāđ€āļāļĄāļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āļ­āļ­āļ™āđ„āļĨāļ™์āļ”้āļ§āļĒāđ€āļŦāļ•ุāļ§่āļēāļŠāļēāļĄāļēāļĢāļ–āļŠāļĢ้āļēāļ‡āļœāļĨāļāļģāđ„āļĢāļ­āļĒ่āļēāļ‡āļĄāļēāļāļĄāļēāļĒ

    ReplyDelete
  28. āļžีāļˆี āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ• āđ€āļāļĄāļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āļ­āļ­āļ™āđ„āļĨāļ™์āļšāļ™āđ‚āļ—āļĢāļĻัāļžāļ—์āļĄืāļ­āļ–ืāļ­āļ—ี่āđ€āļĨ่āļ™āđ„āļ”้āđ€āļ‡ิāļ™āđ„āļĄ่āļĄีāļ­āļĒ่āļēāļ‡āļ•่āļģāļŠāļģāļŦāļĢัāļšāđƒāļ™āļāļēāļĢāļāļēāļāđāļ•่āļĨāļ°āđ€āļāļĄāļˆāļ°āļĄีāļŠิ่āļ‡āļ—ี่āļ™่āļēāļ”ึāļ‡āļ”ูāļ”āđ„āļĄ่āļ§่āļēāļˆāļ°āđ€āļ›็āļ™āļāļĢāļēāļŸāļŸิāļ„āđ€āļāļĄāļ‚āļ­āļ‡ pgslot āļ™่āļēāļ•ื่āļ™āđ€āļ•้āļ™āļ—ี่āļŠุāļ”āđƒāļ™āļ‚āļ“āļ°āļ™ี้

    ReplyDelete
  29. g79g pg āđ€āļ§็āļšāđ„āļ‹āļ•์āļ•āļĢāļ‡āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āđ„āļ”้āļ™āļģāđ€āļ‚้āļēāļ„่āļēāļĒāđ€āļāļĄāļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āļ„่āļēāļĒāđƒāļŦāļ่ pg slot āļĄāļēāđ„āļ§้āđƒāļŦ้āļ™ัāļāļžāļ™ัāļ™āđ„āļ”้āļŠāļĢ้āļēāļ‡āļĢāļēāļĒāđ„āļ”้ āđ€āļžิ่āļĄāļ›āļĢāļ°āļŠāļšāļāļēāļĢāļ“์āļŠāļģāļŦāļĢัāļšāđƒāļ™āļāļēāļĢāđ€āļĨ่āļ™āļ—ุāļāđ€āļāļĄāļ—ี่āļžāļ§āļāđ€āļĢāļēāđ„āļ”้āļāļĢāļ°āļ—āļģāļāļēāļĢāļ„ัāļ”āļĄāļēāļ™ั้āļ™āđ€āļ›็āļ™ āđ€āļāļĄāļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•

    ReplyDelete
  30. wint88 āļ—ี่āļŠุāļ”āļ‚āļ­āļ‡āđ€āļāļĄāļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ•āļ­āļ­āļ™āđ„āļĨāļ™์āļĒāļ­āļ”āļŪิāļ•āļŠูāļ‡āļŠุāļ”āđƒāļ™āļ—ุāļāđāļžāļĨāļ•āļŸāļ­āļĢ์āļĄ āļĨāļ‡āļ—āļ°āđ€āļšีāļĒāļ™āļŠāļĄัāļ„āļĢāļŠāļĄāļēāļŠิāļ āļāļēāļāļ–āļ­āļ™āļ‡่āļēāļĒāļ”้āļ§āļĒāļĢāļ°āļšāļš PG Slot Auto āļ—่āļēāļ™āļŠāļēāļĄāļēāļĢāļ–āļ—āļģāđ„āļ”้āļ”้āļ§āļĒāļ•ัāļ§āđ€āļ­āļ‡āđ„āļĄ่āļ•้āļ­āļ‡āļœ่āļēāļ™āļ„āļ™āļāļĨāļēāļ‡ āļāļēāļ-āļ–āļ­āļ™ āļ‡่āļēāļĒāđ€āļĢ็āļ§

    ReplyDelete
  31. z8 āļŠāļĨ็āļ­āļ• āļŠāļēāļĄāļēāļĢāļ–āđƒāļŦ้āļ„āļ§āļēāļĄāļĄั่āļ™āđƒāļˆāđāļĨāļ°āļ„āļ§āļēāļĄāđ€āļŠื่āļ­āļĄั่āļ™āļัāļšāļ™ัāļāđ€āļŠี่āļĒāļ‡āđ‚āļŠāļ„āļ—ั่āļ§āļ—ั้āļ‡āđ‚āļĨāļāđ„āļ”้āļ§่āļē āļĄีāļĄāļēāļ•āļĢāļāļēāļ™āļˆāļēāļāļŦāļ™่āļ§āļĒāļ‡āļēāļ™āļŠั้āļ™āđāļ™āļ§āļŦāļ™้āļēāļ—ั่āļ§āļ—ั้āļ‡āđ‚āļĨāļ pg slot āļ—āļēāļ‡āđ€āļ§็āļšāđ„āļ‹āļ•์āļ™ี้āđƒāļŦ้āļšāļĢิāļāļēāļĢāļ‹ึ่āļ‡āļ™ัāļšāđ„āļ”้āļ§่āļēāļŠāļ§āļĢāļĢāļ„์

    ReplyDelete