It's been two months since I last posted, and I wish I had better news to share.
I spent 4 days in the hospital in late August to both improve my lung function and try to diagnose the worsening stomach issues. 4 hours of therapy a day, another colonoscopy, and a PICC line in my arm for two weeks and it looked like I might be doing better. While the pathology was still inconclusive, my condition was at least narrowed down to either Fibrosing Colonopathy or severe Chrohns.
At the end of the day, the images from my last colonoscopy were shocking even to the panel of GI specialists who we're working with me. Everything was mangled, swollen, ulcered, and nearly impassible with the scope but at least we were narrowing it down. There was strong reason to believe that switching to a new digestive enzyme might be all it takes to improve my condition.
The first 4 weeks out of the hospital nearly had me believing this was the case, too. I regained my appetite, put on 6-8 of the pounds I'd lost, and had lots of energy again. Unfortunately, this was all short lived. I began worsening again after about 5 weeks and have since had all my original symptoms in full force...
Fast forward to today: I had a follow up appointment with the GI specialists at University Hospital today, and the decision was made that my condition is not going to improve without first surgically resectioning my bowels. Basically, we need to remove my appendix and half my colon before we can even begin treating the root cause of my pain, fatigue and weight loss. Once this is done, they will have a large enough tissue sample to conclusively diagnose the root cause of all my issues.
Surgery is scheduled for next Monday and I'll be in the hospital for a total of 5 days. After that it will be at least a month before I'm able to attempt any form of exercise. While this is a bleak concept, the thought of getting better and not being in pain so frequently more than outweighs the negative.
On a positive side note, yours truly is featured in a recent documentary that was released which highlights the stories of several CF athletes who are using exercise to overcome the disease. I hope I can return to that form again someday soon. You can watch the whole documentary here: http://www.livingxtreme.org
Better news to come!
Brooks
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3:24.xx - 7th Place
Pikes Peak Ultra - 50 Miles
11:06.xx - 9th Place
2015:
Silverheels 100
28:28 - 8th Place
Desert Rats - 57 Miles
8:35 - 3rd Place
2014:
Catalina Eco Marathon
5:23.01
White River - 50 Miles
9:21
Colorado Marathon
3:34.48
24 Hours of Palmer Lake
41.82 Miles in 7:24.00
2013:
Colorado Marathon
3:24.30 - Sick
Colorado Colfax Marathon
3:35.46 - Sick
2012:
Bear Chase - 50 Miles
7:31.05 - 5th Place
Colorado Colfax Marathon
2:50.02 - 4th Place
Collegiate Peaks - 25 Miles
3:32.xx - 6th Place
Rocky Raccoon - 100 Miles
14:58.37 - 4th Place (100 Mile PR)
2011:
Bear Chase - 50 Miles
6:58.55 - 2nd Place (50 Mile PR)
Leadville Trail 100
21:21.31
White River - 50 Miles
7:49.49 - 7th Place
San Juan Solstice - 50 Miles
9:48.17 - 6th Place
Collegiate Peaks - 50 Miles
7:38.15 - 5th Place
Boston Marathon
2:49.37 (Marathon PR)
Brew to Brew - 44 Miles
5:35.31 - 1st Place
Salida Marathon
3:35.31 - 8th Place
2010:
The North Face, San Francisco - 50 Miles
8:48.37
Deadman Peaks - 54 Miles
9:26.20 - 2nd Place
Bear Chase - 50 Miles
7:16.44 - 3rd Place
Run Rabbit Run - 50 Miles
9:21.00 - Very sick on raceday
Leadville Trail 100
19:57.52 - 11th Place
Hardrock Hundred
DNF
Blue Canyon - 50 Miles
11:02.00 - 1st Place
Jemez Mountain - 50 Miles
10:56.12
Colorado Colfax Marathon
2:55.16 - 3rd Place
Collegiate Peaks - 50 Miles
7:46.05 - 8th Place
Desert R.A.T.S. - 50 Miles
9:02.50
Salida Marathon
4:08.43
Rocky Raccoon - 100 Miles
17:31.26 - 12th Place
2009:
Xterra Trail Marathon
4:16.05 - 4th Place
The North Face, Washington, D.C. - 50 Miles
7:45.42 - 6th Place
Leadville Trail 100
23:21.27
Bighorn - 50 Miles
10:22.27 - 10th Place
Colorado Colfax Marathon
3:05.32 - 11th Place
Collegiate Peaks - 25 Miles
3:55.59
Desert R.A.T.S. - 50 Miles
8:49.26 - 6th Place
Carlsbad Marathon
3:35.30 - Injured
2008:
Denver Marathon
3:21.53
MAS 50
11:04.00 - 1st 50 Miler
San Francisco Marathon
3:15.54
High Mountain 50k
5:21.54 - 7th Place
Estes Park Marathon
3:35.41
Colorado Marathon
3:21.26
2007:
Denver Marathon
3:31.39
ADT Marathon
3:21.54 (1st time running over 16 miles)
My Story
In the News
Facts About Cystic Fibrosis
-CF is a primarily a respiratory disease that clogs the lungs with mucus and leads to life-threatening lung infections
-About 1000 cases are diagnosed each year
-In 1955 life expectancy was around 7 years
-In 2000 life expectancy was 32
-In 2008 the median life expectancy rose to 37
-About 1000 cases are diagnosed each year
-In 1955 life expectancy was around 7 years
-In 2000 life expectancy was 32
-In 2008 the median life expectancy rose to 37
2019 Adventure Schedule
April - Grand Canyon - R2R2R
May - Collegiate Peaks 50 Miler
June - San Juan Solstice 50 Miler - Cancelled
August - Angeles Crest 100
August - Leadville Trail 100
marathon/ultra results
2019:
Leadville Trail 100
23:38:15Angeles Crest - 100 Miles
DNFCollegiate Peaks - 25 Miles
3:59.352018:
Leadville Trail 100
22:56.27
Leadville Silver Rush - 50 Miles
8:41.46
Leadville Marathon
4:57.11
2017:
The Hennepin Hundred - 100 Miles
19:03.58
San Juan Solstice - 50 Miles
11:49.14
Greenland 50k
4:50.43
American River - 50 Miles
8:40.54
2016:
ADT Marathon
3:24.xx - 7th Place
Pikes Peak Ultra - 50 Miles
11:06.xx - 9th Place
2015:
Silverheels 100
28:28 - 8th Place
Desert Rats - 57 Miles
8:35 - 3rd Place
2014:
Catalina Eco Marathon
5:23.01
White River - 50 Miles
9:21
Colorado Marathon
3:34.48
24 Hours of Palmer Lake
41.82 Miles in 7:24.00
2013:
Colorado Marathon
3:24.30 - Sick
Colorado Colfax Marathon
3:35.46 - Sick
2012:
Bear Chase - 50 Miles
7:31.05 - 5th Place
Colorado Colfax Marathon
2:50.02 - 4th Place
Collegiate Peaks - 25 Miles
3:32.xx - 6th Place
Rocky Raccoon - 100 Miles
14:58.37 - 4th Place (100 Mile PR)
2011:
Bear Chase - 50 Miles
6:58.55 - 2nd Place (50 Mile PR)
Leadville Trail 100
21:21.31
White River - 50 Miles
7:49.49 - 7th Place
San Juan Solstice - 50 Miles
9:48.17 - 6th Place
Collegiate Peaks - 50 Miles
7:38.15 - 5th Place
Boston Marathon
2:49.37 (Marathon PR)
Brew to Brew - 44 Miles
5:35.31 - 1st Place
Salida Marathon
3:35.31 - 8th Place
2010:
The North Face, San Francisco - 50 Miles
8:48.37
Deadman Peaks - 54 Miles
9:26.20 - 2nd Place
Bear Chase - 50 Miles
7:16.44 - 3rd Place
Run Rabbit Run - 50 Miles
9:21.00 - Very sick on raceday
Leadville Trail 100
19:57.52 - 11th Place
Hardrock Hundred
DNF
Blue Canyon - 50 Miles
11:02.00 - 1st Place
Jemez Mountain - 50 Miles
10:56.12
Colorado Colfax Marathon
2:55.16 - 3rd Place
Collegiate Peaks - 50 Miles
7:46.05 - 8th Place
Desert R.A.T.S. - 50 Miles
9:02.50
Salida Marathon
4:08.43
Rocky Raccoon - 100 Miles
17:31.26 - 12th Place
2009:
Xterra Trail Marathon
4:16.05 - 4th Place
The North Face, Washington, D.C. - 50 Miles
7:45.42 - 6th Place
Leadville Trail 100
23:21.27
Bighorn - 50 Miles
10:22.27 - 10th Place
Colorado Colfax Marathon
3:05.32 - 11th Place
Collegiate Peaks - 25 Miles
3:55.59
Desert R.A.T.S. - 50 Miles
8:49.26 - 6th Place
Carlsbad Marathon
3:35.30 - Injured
2008:
Denver Marathon
3:21.53
MAS 50
11:04.00 - 1st 50 Miler
San Francisco Marathon
3:15.54
High Mountain 50k
5:21.54 - 7th Place
Estes Park Marathon
3:35.41
Colorado Marathon
3:21.26
2007:
Denver Marathon
3:31.39
ADT Marathon
3:21.54 (1st time running over 16 miles)
7 comments:
You are strong, Brooks! I hope you get some answers soon. Every ounce of my good juju is headed your way! Love from us in Kansas! Xoxo
Keep fighting, bro. You're bound to catch a break soon. Thanks for sharing the film. Really cool.
Dylan
Sending a whole lotta love and great wishes your way. You have such a beautiful spirit, it is contagious. Hoping you are back to your old self again, best of luck in your surgery and by the way the documentary is fabulous and you rock like a star!! Love your mama in law, Linda
Good Luck going forward! I've been following your blog for a few years now and have always been amazed at what you've accomplished while keeping CF in check. I have no doubt that you will be back on your feet in no time. Best Wishes!
Hang in there buddy. Great film, too.
Is that surgery on the new updated Hardrock qualifier list?
You've been an inspiration to me Brooks since I first found your blog years ago. Your ability to live an exciting life regardless of CF is awesome. I am sorry you are going through this pain and loss of exercise. But your spirit remains strong. And this rough period is temporary. You'll get better!
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