Steve Wozniak Hospitalized in Mexico City | Hacker News Reader

Steve Wozniak Hospitalized in Mexico City

reuters.com

103 pointsdraculero26 comments

“… but a TMZ report citing sources suggested the illness was potentially a less serious bout of vertigo.”

Vertigo is extremely scary when it happens for the first time, and you don’t know what it is. It definitely makes you think that you have feels a stroke.

And then you discover that so many people have had it, and that it’s incredible easy to get past it, by doing the Epley maneuver. After which you’re good for the next 5 to 10 years.

Vertigo seems possible, especially since altitude induced vertigo is a thing, and Mexico city sits at 7300' above sea level. That's usually not enough to affect a healthy middle-aged-or-less person, but an obese 70+ year old? Definitely possible.

Unfortunately, altitude can also trigger strokes, at least through polycythaemia.

A key question for internet sleuths would be - did he just show up in the city, or has he been there for a while? Polycythaemia takes time to develop so he would need to be there for at least a few weeks before it could play a role in inducing a stroke.

or we can just not be creepy and leave him alone?

A good point. We must avoid creepiness at all costs, DEAD FEDS.

I was about to say, I've brought friends from the US to Mexico City on a few occasions and it seems like the altitude (and maybe the pollution) has had strange and unpleasant effects on most people during the first couple days. A vertigo episode definitely doesn't sound far-fetched.

I've found out that chewing coca leafs is an excellent way to combat side-effects from changing altitudes. Mostly socially acceptable in central/south america as well, so don't have to worry about that. Doesn't hurt that you could replace your coffee-intake with it as well :)

My dad had pretty severe vertigo after a fall. Two doctors told him there wasn’t a great treatment for chronic vertigo and that his best hope was that it would go away eventually.

I spent 30 minutes searching online, learned about the Epley maneuver, tried it on him and it basically cleared up immediately. The maneuver itself was, to him, extremely disorienting for the 60 seconds or so it takes to administer. I recall him thrashing about because he said it felt like he was falling and didn’t know which way was down.

Same with my Dad. And was a doctor. Other docs were no help, so he Googled it, found a practitioner nearby, done.

Epley Maneuver: https://youtu.be/9SLm76jQg3g

Fascinating stuff!

that's how i sleep every night, repeating it for seven hours until i wake up. no wonder i never suffered vertigo.

Over the weekend, I saw a Model S with number plate "WOZ" in Oakridge mall, San Jose. I wondered if it is him and sure enough it was him driving the car to the supercharger stations.

I was pleasantly surprised to see him driving and trying to charge the car in public locations.

I just sat in front of him on a flight coming back from Poland a few weeks ago. He was vibrant and in good spirits, telling stories and talking to his seat mate for almost the entire flight! They were two chatterboxes (mostly him). I'd read his book iWoz but didn't mention it because I was 1 row up and didn't want to seem like a fangirl but I did enjoy recognizing him and overhearing some of his stories.

I was sort of surprised to see him in Polaris First class and not taking private!

Woz would be one of those select few who I won't care if I look like a fanboy of or not, because I am. :-D

In 2021, I was driving in San Francisco a little south of Golden Gate park and was immediately behind a White Model S with the "WOZ" plate. I got so excited my daughter thought I was a little weird. I wasn't able to confirm he was at the wheel but I snapped a photo anyway. It was fun to have a little brush with history.

The coolest thing I ever learned at Apple back in the last era of Jobs was that via the internal employee directory, Woz reported to Jobs and Jobs reported to Woz.

He’s seemed true to himself. I wish him the best recovery.

Seconded.

Oh no. It may be the height. Mexico city is 2,240 meters over sea level. Might be hard for a heart that is not used to it.

I believe this is how my grand mother died. She fainted at the airport when they arrived to Mexico city. She was discharged and then in the morning she woke up for a few minutes, exchanged a few words with my Mom, it was my Moms birthday, closed her eyes and died. She came from a small city at only 1,600 mt, my grand father had died just 6 days before after a long struggle with cancer. So member of the family think it was my grand father that came for her. But I think it was the elevation and her heart.

Additional Source: Google translated from a Mexico newspaper https://www-elfinanciero-com-mx.translate.goog/empresas/2023...

At his age he's certainly vulnerable to any number of physical failings. Hope he makes a full recovery.

Isn't sharing medical information without consent illegal in the USA?

AFAIK that only applies to healthcare providers.

I don't understand why posts like this are allowed. Seems perverted to me. If Steve is in the hospital, it's none of y'alls concern.

We're hackers and someone dear to us has a problem, so our natural tendency is to attempt to problem-solve.

Yes he's a stranger and his health problems are none of our business.

But also he's not a stranger: he's us.

Sheesh, don't downvote me to smithereens now..

Can y'all show me the section where he consented to have this information released?

Perhaps y'all subscribe to the spyware ad models, no consent data tracking, as well?

By that logic, should we never talk or care about anyone famous doing anything unrelated to their professional/public career?

Woz was and is an inspiration to many of us in this—basically—computing forum. I think thinking about him and wishing him well in this dark time, as well as sharing nice stories about him (as has happened in this thread), is perfectly normal and probably what he would want to happen, based on his personality.

So yes, I downvote you for overreacting and for seemingly trying to bring attention to yourself.

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