# What were Kurt Cobain's illnesses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643 "2003-11-22T07:32:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/41 "2003-11-24T20:36:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nitroglycerine \* > \*\*the album after the sucky In Utero would have flopped big, and they would have ended up in the has-been heap with all those other crap 90s alt-rock bands like Soundgarden and Soul Asylum instead of being elevated to Doors-like cult status. > \*\* What colour is the sky on the world where Soundgarden and Nirvana can be equated to Soul Asylum? ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/42 "2003-11-24T21:44:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\*What colour is the sky on the world where Soundgarden and Nirvana can be equated to Soul Asylum? \*\* What are you talking about? They were all indie band turned multi-platinum major label artists. Aside from that, most of that whole 90s Seattle thing was the direct descendent of 80s Minneapolis indie scene that Soul Asylum was a part of along with the Replacements and Husker Du. If you can’t hear any similarities between Twin/Tone era Soul Asylum and Nirvana, you must be deaf, or someone who thinks “Runaway Train” was their debut single. Jon ---
**Author:** ![CeeBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CeeBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CeeBee)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/43 "2014-06-22T00:39:17Z")
Probably he had one or more food intolerances. These were unknown in earlier times or hard to diagnose (and even today, 2014). Some of them are hereditary, and often they are just diagnosed as IBS. As stated above, belly cramps can successfully be stopped with opioid medication. A strict diet is often hard to follow, so having some heroin is much easier. By the way: fructosis intolerance (intolerance to fruit and vegetables and other sugars) can cause depression. Poor guy… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/44 "2014-06-22T01:36:50Z")
> [@CeeBee](#): > > Probably he had one or more food intolerances. These were unknown in earlier times or hard to diagnose (and even today, 2014). Some of them are hereditary, and often they are just diagnosed as IBS. As stated above, belly cramps can successfully be stopped with opioid medication. A strict diet is often hard to follow, so having some heroin is much easier. By the way: fructosis intolerance (intolerance to fruit and vegetables and other sugars) can cause depression. Poor guy… Thanks for the update(11 years on even). Are you a doctor or scientist who studies these kind of problems? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/45 "2014-06-22T01:38:56Z")
There’s also a theory that playing guitar left-handed added to his depression. Yeah, it’s a Cracked article, but it’s presented as conceivable. It’s #4 [here](http://www.cracked.com/article_19552_5-insane-celebrity-conspiracy-theories-that-make-sense.html). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/46 "2014-06-22T02:31:47Z")
Please note that this thread began in 2003. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/47 "2014-06-22T02:38:11Z")
\*\*I.\*\*_t’s_ \*\*B.\*\*_ull_ \*\*S.\*\*_hit_. IBS is just the official name for the medical community shrugging its collective shoulders and telling you to move along please. (Yes, I’ve been “diagnosed” with the condition myself) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/48 "2014-06-22T02:40:08Z")
> [@nitroglycerine](#): > > Aside from that, most of that whole 90s Seattle thing was the direct descendent of 80s Minneapolis indie scene that Soul Asylum was a part of along with the Replacements and Husker Du. If you can’t hear any similarities between Twin/Tone era Soul Asylum and Nirvana, you must be deaf, or someone who thinks “Runaway Train” was their debut single. I wish nitroglycerine was still posting. I want to ask him his opinion of the new Katy Perry single. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/49 "2014-06-22T02:41:09Z")
> [@CeeBee](#): > > A strict diet is often hard to follow, so having some heroin is much easier yeah - keep telling yourself that… ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/50 "2014-06-22T03:02:13Z")
> [@CeeBee](#): > > A strict diet is often hard to follow, so having some heroin is much easier. This is fucking retarded. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/51 "2014-06-22T08:30:28Z")
**simster** , **Ambivalid** , have either of you ever tried to follow a strict diet? Do you really believe it is easier than doing heroin? I’m regularly on and off diets and I find it really difficult. Doing heroin is definitely easier. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/52 "2014-06-22T08:41:32Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > **simster** , **Ambivalid** , have either of you ever tried to follow a strict diet? > Do you really believe it is easier than doing heroin? I’m regularly on and off diets and I find it really difficult. Doing heroin is definitely easier. Really? I’m having a hard time imagining myself having to make a choice between, say, restricting salt or fat or carbs and doing heroin and thinking shooting smack would be the easier or better choice. (And yes, I have both been on diets and done heroin.) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/53 "2014-06-22T08:49:47Z")
Not the better choice, not more advisable. **CeeBee** didn’t even say that it was the easier _choice_. He just said that it is easier to do. Seems pretty obviously true to me. I was surprised to see such strong immediate objections. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/54 "2014-06-22T13:58:18Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > This is fucking retarded. Dial it back. There are more appropriate ways to indicate disagreement in Cafe Society. No warning issued. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643/55 "2014-06-22T15:28:08Z")
Evidently he was lead-dose intolerant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-kurt-cobains-illnesses/214643.md?page=2)