Giambi being tested for fatal conditionThat's pretty awful.
Monday, July 26, 2004
BY DAN GRAZIANO
Star-Ledger StaffBOSTON -- Jason Giambi is being tested for a potentially fatal condition sometimes caused by intestinal parasites, according to his personal trainer, and he could miss the remainder of the season while he tries to recover.
"He told me, 'I don't care about even hitting .220. I just want to feel better,'" Giambi's trainer, Bob Alejo, said. "He's exhausted, and it's not getting any better."
Alejo said Giambi, who has missed four of the Yankees' past five games, is being tested for a parasite called entamoeba histolytica, which can cause a potentially fatal condition called amebiasis. The parasite is transmitted in a variety of ways, including through water and food, and it can embed in the intestinal lining, making it undetectable except by very specific tests.
The team is sending Giambi back to New York tomorrow to see another infectious disease specialist. Giambi will undergo specific tests for E. Histolytica. After those tests are in, the Yankees will decide whether to put him on the disabled list.
Depending upon the amount of rest the doctors prescribe, he might need the rest of the year to recover.
Thanks for the news on Giambi. I've been worried about him, particularly after seeing a closeup of him at Saturday's game. He does not look like a healthy man. Let's hope his tests come back okay.