July 29, 2004

Could Giambi Be Suffering From Steroid Withdrawal?

As I was returning from a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday morning, I had the radio turned on in the car.  The topic of discussion on my local sports station revolved around athletic injuries… One of the hosts is an ex-NFL player who dabbled with the use of steroids, eventually becoming dependent upon them. 

As the show continued this host spoke of his trials and tribulations with steroids… with his symptoms, the problems he occurred and that he was near death while going through steroid withdrawal.  On more than one occasion through this segment of the show, the various symptoms from steroid withdrawal were discussed… which led to a caller asking about Jason Giambi.

As we all know, Giambi is undergoing tests for an undisclosed ailment… all that we do know is that it’s some type of intestinal parasite.  The funny thing here, the symptoms being experienced by Giambi are those that are found in individuals going through steroid withdrawal.  While I’m no doctor, and I’m not accusing him of having taken steroids, it’s a bit ironic that he’s suffering with symptoms so similar in nature.

Let’s look at some of the facts that we know about Giambi… First, he was one of the athletes that testified in the BAALCO hearings.  Secondly, Giambi showed up for spring training thinner – like a good 30 pounds lighter from the 2003 season, though he said he only lost four pounds.  Finally, he spent a week in Japan and who knows what he ate… but the Devil Rays as well spent the same time their and no Devil Ray has taken ill – parasite or otherwise.  As for Kevin Brown coming down with the same parasite as Giambi… that could be questionable as well, but Brown could have been contaminated by Giambi as Brown’s symptoms are no where compared to Giambi’s.

Everything surrounding Giambi’s illness points to steroid withdrawal… why the doctors haven’t addressed it is simple – it would clearly link Giambi with BALCO and clearly imply that he was one of the players in the mix of 5 percent that failed their drug test.  Meanwhile, Dom Amore and Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant reported that two experts knocked down any assumptions that his condition could be affected by the use, or discontinued use, of steroids. “The use of anabolic steroids wouldn't affect the ability to combat [intestinal parasites],” said Dr. Paul Thompson, a cardiologist at Hartford Hospital who has done extensive research on exercise and fitness. “There is no reason that steroids would make him more vulnerable to or less likely to shake something like this off. The use of steroids wouldn't do anything to weaken the immune system.” Dr. Thompson went on to say, “The truth is this is just a really tough bug. It's pretty complicated. It takes a lot out of you. When you try to fight this type of thing off, you burn so many more calories and you ask a lot of your body. There is no reason to say, “Gee, this guy must have been on the juice and now he's weak because he's off of it.”

From the other side of the coin, Dr. Gary Wadler a sports medicine specialist said that, “It would be a major stretch to try to relate any parasitic illness or the ability to heal from one with coming off of steroids.” “People have made the point that steroids may enhance the immune system. But I'm not aware of that. And people have also made the claim that coming off of steroids can weaken the immune system, but I've never seen it validated.”

Giambi like Jose Canseco, Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds and others has shown significant increase in muscle over the years... Yes, players today have hired their own personal trainers - but for what reasons?  To help them with their fitness?  To help them with certain training exercises?  How about to help them with their “Juice” intake?  Every major league team has trainers available to each and every player… If a player is put on a special training program wouldn’t you think that the team trainers would be able to handle the implementation of such?

Giambi hasn’t been healthy for months… he’s been feeling sluggish, has no energy, has lost weight, and has complained of increased pain in his hips, back and other areas.  While these symptoms can certainly be related to an intestinal parasite, they are also common signs of steroid withdrawal.  Giambi had knee surgery last November and reported to Spring Training feeling fine… his aches and pains, including those to his knee began appearing near the end of April.  Just about the time that one would feel the affects of a steroid withdrawal…  Knowing that random testing would occur sometime during Spring Training, Giambi would have had enough time before Spring Training to stop taking steroids, and could have easily begun once he completed his drug test… 

So far, all the tests he’s been given have ruled out any form of cancer, or HIV. This week, Giambi is being tested for a specific parasite, entamoeba histolytica, which, if not treated in time, can spread to other organs and in rare cases be fatal. It's also possible the parasites were not eliminated by the original medication and Giambi will have to try something else.

As I said earlier, I’m not accusing Giambi of taking steroids – and I hope that he really does have an intestinal parasite… and nothing more.  I just find it so ironic that his symptoms are so similar, especially now.

If you'd like to comment on this column, or just share your thoughts and opinions, drop Althea an email at aip@nutzworld.com

If you like this column, Althea also writes The Rays Corner baseball column; Lightning Nuts and Bolts and NHL Roundup hockey columns while also serving as the VP of Sports for NutzWorld.