Bruce Springsteen says peptic ulcer disease is ‘rocking my world’

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Bruce Springsteen is speaking out on the stomach ailment that forced him to postpone dates on his current world tour.

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Springsteen introduced himself this week to listeners of his SiriusXM E Street Radio show From My Home to Yours as “your favourite rock star with a bitch of a bellyache.”

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“Let me take a moment and thank my fans affected by our postponed shows for their understanding,” he said [per the New York Post]. “I am deeply sorry but this belly thing, despite my ability to laugh at it, has been a monster and is still unfortunately rocking my internal world.”

After cancelling his September run of shows, Springsteen pushed the rest of his concerts into next year, citing doctor’s advice.

“Bruce Springsteen has continued to recover steadily from peptic ulcer disease over the past few weeks and will continue treatment through the rest of the year on doctor’s advice,” said a message posted to the singer’s social-media pages last month.

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The Boss, who celebrated his 74th birthday in September, said the move was being made “out of an abundance of caution.”

Springsteen initially postponed his September dates while he recovered from symptoms related to peptic ulcer disease, which causes ulcers to form in the stomach or small intestine and can result in heartburn, nausea and stomach pain.

According to the Mayo Clinic, peptic ulcers are “open sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine.”

Springsteen never said exactly what symptoms he was fighting, only that he was “heartbroken” to be sidelined for the next few months.

“Over here on E Street, we’re heartbroken to have to postpone these shows,” Springsteen said in a statement posted on his site and social-media platforms on Sept. 6. “We’ll be back to pick up these shows and then some.”

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But the Born in the USA singer was still far from 100%.

“Thanks to all my friends and fans for your good wishes, encouragement, and support. I’m on the mend and can’t wait to see you all next year,” Springsteen wrote in a message to fans.

In addition to shows across the U.S., the postponed stops include concerts planned for Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa in November.

The U.S. dates resume in March with the newly announced Canadian shows expected to be revealed soon.

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X: @markhdaniell

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