Steve Jobs Recovering From Hormone Imbalance, To Remain CEO

[kas23]

Just curious - you practice where? And in what field? Just want to make sure I don't end up seeing a physician who's happy to diagnose in public, someone he's never seen, based on a total lack of data.

This is clearly a Macrumors message board, am I correct, so take it for what it is - speculation on a rumor site And this is clearly not a medical professional forum, therefore I have zero professional responsibilities. If a person posts his medical information in public, anyone has rights to analyze it, even you. Cool off.

 

[ianmac47]

Oh please, stop with the fear mongering headlines. Have you or anyone you ever met ever had a weight changing hormone imbalance? He could have just as easily become a 300lb monster as much as becoming a 100lb stick. This sort of thing is common, treatable, and not that unusual.

 

[swagi]

Thanks for the insight

Hmmm, as a physician, I'm still trying to decipher Steve's message. First of all, it is NOT his thyroid gland. Cross this off the list as this would be one of the very first tests to run. You wouldn't finally diagnoss hyperthyroidism after one year. Second, it's very interesting it took almost a year to come up with a diagnosis. This does not bode well as this diagnosis is either a very obscure disease or a diagnosis of exclusion (read: We know what it is NOT, but we still don't really know the diagnosis, so we'll cause it disease X so we still look good).

Now, he did have part of his small intestine taken out (and likely part of his stomach too). This could certainly cause weight loss, but this wouldn't appear so late in the game. He could be suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency, but I don't think this would cause such a large weight loss. There is an entity called protein-losing enteropathy where basically your body spills protein from the gut - and based on his description, this may be what he has. But this is a syndrome (there are many different causes for this) and his physicians would likely still have to dig around for the root of the cause. His treatment would likely be nutritional - just keep putting in protein faster than it is coming out.

Nevertheless, we should all wish Steve the very best in his recovery and remember that the fate of the company does not solely rest on his shoulders. I wish Phil good luck too.

So, basically, in short the best treatment was posted a page back (and I also wanted to post it)

START EATING MEAT AGAIN!

This would especially help with B12, but also offer some highly valuable digestive protein.

He wouldn't be the first vegan to run into severe medical problems.

*now hides from the upset veggie crowd*

Get well soon, Steve. Take a trip to Argentina, I heard the Gauchos are famous for their protein-rich diet.

 

[.:R2theT]

Read between the lines here folks...

1. "As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors."

Jobs and Apple have been saying for a year that it was nothing significant. NOT knowing the cause of mass weight loss IS significant.

2. "A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority."

Obviously it has grown WORSE since you last saw Steve and finally a few weeks ago became important enough that he had to make fixing the problem his #1 priority. Again while I applaud his decision and assume that the doctor's new diagnosis will help cure the problem, this statement doesn't imply the simple, insignificant issues that Apple and Steve tried to portray for the last year.

A persons health care is a private issue, no doubt. However when the person runs a multi-billion dollar publicly traded company it is inappropriate and ILLEGAL to make false statements that could impact stock price, and that included implying a health issue isn't significant when it is now crystal clear it is.

Actually I think you are a bit misguided in these statements.

First, there is no way of knowing what Steve's/Steve's doctors/Apple's take on the weight-loss was and whether it was a significant health issue or not. Generally that is how it is with health issues. It is just annoying until it becomes a real health issue.

Second, he just made a statement regarding his health. Never did he say that his health was the reason for him not attending Macworld. Apple has already been phasing out other trade shows. Apparently it is very expensive(read: millions of $$$) to do these things and if Apple obviously doesn't feel it is getting its bang for its buck. Plus, Apple likes to do things in its own time not because a show is happening.

As far illegality, I don't think so. If Steve Jobs was hiding something from the Board of Directors then there might be issue. But he has no reason to be compelled to tell the public anything about his health. People need to get over themselves. A 24-hour news cycle and an ever-increasing voyeuristic attitude towards other people's lives seems to be giving folks a real sense of entitlement. People should leave the man alone.

I hope he is getting some good rest with his family and relaxing a bit. He deserves it.

 

[swagi]

And what proof do you have that he saw this as a serious issue in the past?

Although it may suprise some people it is entirely possible, and normal for people to loose a little weight due to age, cancer treatment etc.

It could be that only recently have the levels of weight dropped so low that it was deemed a health concern.

Imagine the state of the world if every fat person thought they where seriously ill everytime they lost a few pounds.

I definitely have to agree. Especially in females hyperthyerosis seems to be a very welcome circumstance, as long as you don't start developing neurological problems.

 

[Santa Rosa]

Can't wait to see what Steve 2.1 has in store for all of us come spring.

You mean Steve 1.1.4

 

[glassbathroom]

This story badly misreads Jobs' statement and is flat wrong.

Jobs wrote:

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I've decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.
​

It does not say that Jobs had Schiller deliver the keynote due to his health, nor can that be reasonably inferred.

If you disagree, point out to me the exact language that says Jobs is not giving the keynote because of his health.

I quite agree with this post. This is sloppy journalism.

 

[thomas040]

Oh my god

Steve. I think I love you. No Homo.

 

[Saladinos]

This condition didn't, doesn't, and won't affect his job. If that had changed, yes, they'd have to tell us about it. But that's didn't happen.

You don't know that, and he didn't know that. Hormonal imbalances can drastically affect a person's mood and decision making capabilities. Ever heard of puberty? Of course, not all hormonal imbalances cause mood changes.

He didn't know what he had. He might have had a condition that did affect his ability to act as CEO. Not finding out sooner was irresponsible. Denying that is like saying it's alright to drink and drive, so long as you don't hit anybody.

 

[notjustjay]

... unfair to the thousands (tens of thousands?) of investors who have poured millions of dollars in to Apple, only to see it wiped away because Steve mistook active involvement with Apple's best interests. He's not just living his own life - he is managing substantial amounts of money for other people. If you re-mortgaged your house to give me a million dollars that I'd repay in a year when I had a terminal condition that would kill me in less than that, you'd be pretty annoyed when I died and couldn't repay it. It would be just as irresponsible.

Steve is not the only person qualified to run Apple. If I gave you a million dollars and you died, I would still expect your estate to provide me with the desired payoff.

 

[kas23]

Steve. I think I love you. No Homo.

It's called a mancrush.

 

[sushi]

Hmmm, as a physician, I'm still trying to decipher Steve's message. First of all, it is NOT his thyroid gland. Cross this off the list as this would be one of the very first tests to run. You wouldn't finally diagnoss hyperthyroidism after one year. Second, it's very interesting it took almost a year to come up with a diagnosis. This does not bode well as this diagnosis is either a very obscure disease or a diagnosis of exclusion (read: We know what it is NOT, but we still don't really know the diagnosis, so we'll cause it disease X so we still look good).

Now, he did have part of his small intestine taken out (and likely part of his stomach too). This could certainly cause weight loss, but this wouldn't appear so late in the game. He could be suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency, but I don't think this would cause such a large weight loss. There is an entity called protein-losing enteropathy where basically your body spills protein from the gut - and based on his description, this may be what he has. But this is a syndrome (there are many different causes for this) and his physicians would likely still have to dig around for the root of the cause. His treatment would likely be nutritional - just keep putting in protein faster than it is coming out.

If you are really a physician, and have dealt with cancer patients, then the delay in figuring things out would not be a mystery to you sir.

Also, quite frankly, I am a bit amazed that you have tried to make a diagnosis, or at least determine what is wrong with him, without access to his personal medical data.

Anyhow, Steve's health is his personal issue.

 

[numbsafari]

A persons health care is a private issue, no doubt. However when the person runs a multi-billion dollar publicly traded company it is inappropriate and ILLEGAL to make false statements that could impact stock price, and that included implying a health issue isn't significant when it is now crystal clear it is.

First off, you don't know exactly how rapidly he has been losing weight. Often times that can be the sort of thing that sneaks up on you. He may have felt just fine over the summer even though he was losing weight.

Would it be any less "ILLEGAL" to run out and blow something like this way out of proportion when you don't know whether it's simply that he hasn't been getting enough B12 in his diet or because he's got a major health problem that is irreversible?

To me, it seems like they did the right thing: they went and found out the answer before making a public statement. My guess is that's more in-line with the law than running out and blowing a horn every time the man heartburn.

 

[APPLENEWBIE]

"...and Ive already begun treatment... So now Ive said more than I wanted to say

..."


So.. It's all a plot by Jonathan Ive to take over Apple!

 

[Di9it8]

Perhaps people can leave him alone now. His health is his business, and he's made it abundantly clear that he wants his privacy respected.

Even CEOs and celebrities have a right to privacy.

I second that thought.

 

[leekohler]

Awww! This stinks. I hope that he gets better soon.

 

[Freis968]

God Bless You Steve. May you endure a full recovery.

 

[Wingnut330]

I thought it was common knowledge in the USA?
Eat more, excercise less?

It's worked for me!

 

[Full of Win]

Well I'm glad this will put rumors to rest!

Get well soon Steve!

Ha Ha - this is Mac Rumors. The rumors will never die until he does.

 

[iBlue]

Whatever it is, it isn't as simple or as innocuous as he is making it sound.

 

[koobcamuk]

There he said it. He not dying.

Well, that's what he has said now. When did anyone last see him?

Whatever it is, it isn't as simple or as innocuous as he is making it sound.

Agreed.

Have you seen the leaked pictures of Freddie Mercury just before his death? Not that I think Steve has AIDS, but I do think that there is more to this than we're being told. He needs to make gaining weight a priority otherwise we won't see him again as it will weird out people too shallow to see past illness.

I wish Steve a swift recovery and best wishes to his family.

I also hope that his health has been the reason for some of the crap coming out of Apple in 2008 and I hope we're back on track by 2010.

 

[Riemann Zeta]

Does anybody know what he means by "simple and straightforward"? What kind of treatment is it?

The treatment isn't that complicated:

"You'll want to focus on the neglected food groups: the congealed group, the whipped group and the choclatastic. Remember, if you're not sure about something, rub it against a piece of paper: if the paper turns clear, it's your window to weight gain."

Bye bye everybody!

 

[.:R2theT]

Whatever it is, it isn't as simple or as innocuous as he is making it sound.

You really don't know that. You may be correct but it pure speculation.

 

[Small White Car]

You don't know that, and he didn't know that. Hormonal imbalances can drastically affect a person's mood and decision making capabilities. Ever heard of puberty? Of course, not all hormonal imbalances cause mood changes.

He didn't know what he had. He might have had a condition that did affect his ability to act as CEO. Not finding out sooner was irresponsible. Denying that is like saying it's alright to drink and drive, so long as you don't hit anybody.

He knows now and he told us.

"Not finding out sooner" means what, exactly? Every time a CEO gains or loses weight they need to put out a press release? Really??

It's not like he was bleeding from the ears. At what point is gradual weight change a problem? 5 pounds? 10? What magical number have you decided on?

 

[Dave00]

It's a really odd description. I'm trying to think of a "hormone imbalance" that robs one of protein. It's probably a combination of being purposefully vague, and not fully understanding the problem enough to describe it. Given his history of pancreatic cancer, he could have pancreatic insufficiency, which impairs digestion and causes weight loss, and is fixed by supplementing with pancreatic enzyme pills. However, this is not a hormonal problem. Main hormone produced by the pancreas is insulin, and certainly diabetes caused by pancreatic failure would cause weight loss. But that's a pretty easy diagnosis and does not require a sophisticated test. There are also a whole host of malabsorption problems that cause weight loss, some of which are difficult to diagnose - but I can't think of any that are related to hormones, other than hyperthyroidism, which again is not a difficult diagnosis. Huh. Well, hopefully that will correct that problem and we'll see him back looking his robust self. I predict Apple stock dips on this, might be a good time to stock up, benefit from fear.

Dave