Peter Jackson Hospitalized w/ Stomach Ulcer

An anonymous reader writes "The Hobbit author JRR Tolkien suffered from a perforated ulcer before dying in 1973. Now today, New Zealander Sir Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and soon-to-be-director of the two Hobbit movies, was hospitalized with a perforated stomach ulcer, and underwent surgery. This is only expected to slightly delay the filming of The Hobbit, and he's expected to make a full recovery."

Comments

Bless.

[unity100]

may he get well quick. if he puts out 2 more good movies like the ones in lotr series, he will be doing good to all of us.

Ulcers don't kill anymore

[Anonymous Coward]

Since it is now well known that ulcers are primarily a result of bacterial infection, they can be cured with antibiotics. Perforated ulcers these days is primary the result of lack of diagnosis. This can be due to doctor's incompetence, bad luck and/or patient's inability to seek medical help.

But overall, the stomach ulcer condition is very curable. You no longer bleed out or have your stomach removed because you have ulcers, like it was common in as early as 1980s

Re:Ulcers don't kill anymore

[GameMaster]

Yea, the OP also, conveniently, forgot to mention the fact that Tolkien was 81 when his ulcer killed him. Older people tend to have a much higher mortality rate with major surgery, for obvious reasons.

Re:Ulcers don't kill anymore

[Low Ranked Craig]

Ulcers are predominately caused hy the bacteria H. Pylori http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicobacter_pylori

This bacteria can cause genetic changes in the stomach lining which lead to stomach cancer. I had the bacteria about 10 years ago, and the cocktail of antibiotics they give you for treatment is a nauseous nightmare.

Re:Good thing this was in NZ

[Attila Dimedici]

Yeah, because Peter Jackson really needs to have the taxpayer cover his medical expenses. Especially considering that the per capita income in NZ is $27,460 (according to the IMF). I am quite confident that Peter Jackson earns quite a bit more than that....even after you take out $100,000 to cover this procedure.

Re:Hmmm

[ESarge]

They gave him a knighthood, his studio USD50 million odd of tax breaks and subsidies and changed employment law so everybody who works on films is a contractor.

Exactly how much friendlier did you want the government to be?

What Caused the Ulcer?

[BJ_Covert_Action]

I have ten bucks that says he developed the ulcer due to the stress of having to deal with modern copyright issuess and whatever big name Hollywood studios he's had to tolerate doing business with.

Guns don't kill people, the modern entertainment media industry kill people. :D

Re:What Caused the Ulcer?

[compro01]

Most ulcers aren't related to stress (directly, anyway. it can contribute, as prolonged stress can mess with the immune system). It's almost always a bacteria infection.

Re:What Caused the Ulcer?

[osu-neko]

I have ten bucks that says he developed the ulcer due to the stress of having to deal with modern copyright issuess and whatever big name Hollywood studios he's had to tolerate doing business with.

That's a pretty poor bet, given that ulcers are usually caused by Helicobacter pylori, not stress, sin, witchcraft, or any of the other superstitious beliefs we used to have regarding ulcers.

Re:What Caused the Ulcer?

[sloanesky]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it now known that most ulcers are caused by Helicobacter Pylori infection rather than being stress induced? Stress may have exacerbated the symptoms but I'd wager this nasty microbe was what caused it.

Check out the history section in the above link for the awesome story of how the guy who discovered the link between H. Pylori and ulcers got people to take his results seriously. Its one of my favorites.

Re:What Caused the Ulcer?

[boombaard]

Bullshit. The reason those bacterial infections can grow without being disturbed is precisely because your immune system is inactive during stressed periods. See Sapolsky's work, e.g., Why Zebra's don't get Ulcers., or his recent splendid TTC series Stress and your body.

Re:What Caused the Ulcer?

[SplashMyBandit]

Well, it turns out that several months ago an Australian actors' union (lead by a guy called Simon Whipp) tried to muscle in on the New Zealand scene and caused a lot of problems for the production. Jackson was involved in the resulting cat-fight, and no-one (including Jackson) came out looking like a saint (although some looked worse than others). The problem was resolved by the NZ Government stepping in, modifying some laws and promising greater assistance for the film. Cynics have a small NZ industry dispute being inflated to the benefit of large Hollywood studios (who made noises about moving the film elsewhere - which ultimately ensured they received a beneficial outcome).

This was what passes for major news in New Zealand, since we don't have too much other bad stuff going at that time (dislaimer: I'm from New Zealand).

Here is some of the reporting of the bitch-fighting that went on (go forth Slashdotters, melt that server to molten slag!):
http://www.onfilm.co.nz/2010/10/27/peter-jackson-statement-re-actors-equity-the-hobbit-i-was-never-asked-for-a-meeting-not-without-a-gun-to-my-head-2/

Re:What Caused the Ulcer?

[Kurofuneparry]

This was thought to be true years ago when H. Pylori first got on our radar. Further testing has shown that a very large percentage of people have H. Pylori without problems. Research has demonstrated that stress is a very large factor, along with genetics, diet and infection. The original statement that stress from work may have contributed to the ulcer is a medically valid observation, especially since he's publicly commented on how demanding the movies were

Then again, I'm a medical school idiot.....

Curse of the ring? *gasp*

[jadin]

Thank you anonymous reader for trying to start the "Curse of the Ring!"

I hope you fail miserably.

I happen to enjoy 'studying' coincidences, but trying to insert them when it's just happenstance is pretty lame.

Re:Hmmm

[Lumpy]

Free pony's and foot rubs would be a good start.

Re:Hmmm

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not!? You put free apostrophes in plurals! Why didn't you write rub's? I want to know.

Not to worry

[gaderael]

Like some actors, he's just getting into character.

Re:LOTR & Jackson Critique

[Coryoth]

And how about his butchery of Bad Taste (a.k.a. Braindead)?

Bad taste and Braindead are very different films. Bad taste was Peter Jacksons first film for which the production crew, film crew, and cast were pretty much the same small group of people. It is a wonderful piece of exceptionally low-budget schlock. Braindead was made considerably later (after Meet the Feebles) for considerably more money and is a wonderful piece of mid-budget schlock.

The Music of the Ainur

[Caerdwyn]

And it came to pass that, when Illuvatar had presented the Third Theme in which the coming of Men was foretold, Melkor in defiance awaited the moment in which the themes were echoed in canon. Then, in despite of Illuvatar, he did let forth a gut-rumbler that echoed through the Firmament, and one thread recounting the Themes of Illuvatar was extinguished. "See here," said Illuvatar, "that thou, Melkor, art an ass and a cretin. For my music hath already echoed when thou didst snuff out the thread. My Themes and your Music will be retold and recounted; thou art too late to prevent it."

"Verily," replied Melkor, "Thou hast spoken." And the Music and Third Theme continued. But Melkor, consumed with spite and sophomoric behaviors, awaited the next echo of the Themes and Music in canon, and covering his mouth with his hand, did let forth another sound of ailment of the stomach. The Valarauko around him did giggle, but Illuvatar was ill-pleased and knew full well who had let one rip, and shored up the echoed thread of the Theme by his will.

"Melkor, hie thee to my office," spoke Illuvatar, and the Ainur were abashed. "There shalt thou write ten thousand fold, 'I shall not belch during holy musics'."

And Melkor's resentment grew, for he now realized that the Music would be recounted, not once but twice, and no ailment of the stomach would interfere. ---

And this is why Tolkien fell over from an ulcer... and why Peter Jackson had one too but is getting successful treatment.