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Steve Stricker Explains How He Suffered and Overcame a Life Threatening Complication: ‘Didn’t Eat For Two Weeks’

Published 01/07/2022, 11:31 AM EST

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The Ryder Cup winning captain, Steve Stricker, endured a life-threatening disease just after his recent Ryder Cup victory. What started as just a bad cough and a sore throat turned into something worse. Notably, the test revealed, it wasn’t COVID-19, as his reports returned negative. Adding to his misery, his white blood cell count soared with inflammation around his heart. 

However, thankfully, Steve is doing better now and is slowly improving his health. But it is going to be a long road to recovery as he has lost plenty of weight and strength. Hence, it could take weeks or even months before we see him back on the PGA Tour or PGA Tour Champions. 

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Steve Stricker fought a life-threatening disease for weeks

Steve Stricker recently gave an interview to Wisconsin golf and opened up about his recent trauma. Notably, Steve was all healthy and happy after the Ryder Cup victory. Hence, the exact reason for his illness is still a mystery. But he suspects the pressure of the Ryder Cup could be one of the causes. “I kind of have a feeling that Ryder Cup could have had a part in it,” Steve said. “It’s a letdown, right? After that happens? And then your immune system is probably down. It probably played a role in it somehow.”

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Meanwhile, he developed a sore throat and cough on October 23rd and hence, did a COVID-19 test; the result was negative. Furthermore, Stricker was prescribed an antibiotic by his primary physician, and he was back to normal. However, a few days later, he felt something different and was running a 103 temprature. 

via Reuters

He then went back to his primary and got a heavier antibiotic, and this is where the severe illness began. Stricker’s throat began to choke up his lips and tongue, while his glands got puffy. So when he went to the hospital, where his liver started getting worse, his white blood cell count jacked up high. He got jaundice and turned yellow. 

Furthermore, his heart started to jump out of rhythm, and there was inflammation around it. Frighteningly, even the doctors were perplexed by his case. However, after 11 days, his condition improved, and he was discharged, only to be admitted again, three days later. Thankfully, he is back home now and is recovering well. 

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Stricker believes he is lucky to be alive

Moreover, Steve Stricker didn’t know what exactly was going on with him. “You don’t know what’s happening. You don’t know where this road is leading to. I never thought that I’m not getting out of there kind of thing. But I didn’t eat for two weeks. I didn’t have any energy or appetite to eat. And I had a hard time just getting up and walking because of my heart. I took a few steps to the bathroom in my room, and I’d be out of breath.” 

But thankfully, Steve is recovering well now. “I am lucky,” said Stricker. “I’m feeling like things are going in the right direction. I’ve got to give it time.” Moreover, he is also walking around a little and is hopeful of getting back to his normal life soon. 

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Meanwhile, he has already started to chip a bit, but his cardiologist has advised him not to compete in a tournament before six months. Hence, we need to wait for a while before we see the Team U.S. Ryder Cup captain back on the field. 

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Written by:

Amey Kulkarni

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Amey Kulkarni is a Golf writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in mass media from HR College, Mumbai. Before joining EssentiallySports he used to write articles on Golf and Cricket on his personal blog cricgolf.
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