Bret Michaels Doctors Deny Fakery

Bret Michaels’ doctor has been forced to deny that the Poison frontman’s recent ill health was a massive publicity stunt.

A recent TV news station in the US and several online sources claim that Michaels’ speedy recovery from a brain haemorrhage and warning stroke in the past few months suggests that the problems weren’t as serious as it was suggested in the media.

However, Dr. Joseph Zabramski, MD, Bret's neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute issued a statement that said, "The fact is, the subarachnoid haemorrhage that Mr. Michaels suffered was very real, and very serious as was the T.I.A (warning stroke) and P.F.O., which will be operated on later this year. A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a life-threatening, neurosurgical emergency that requires an extensive work up and management in the ICU to prevent re-bleeding and manage the complications associated with the initial haemorrhage. For anyone to speculate that this was not a life threatening medical emergency is absolutely incorrect. Between 15 and 20 percent of patients die as a result of the initial haemorrhage, and only approximately 50 percent of those that survive have a good outcome. Recovery from subarachnoid haemorrhage is determined primarily by the size of the initial bleeding episode. Mr. Michaels quick reaction to the haemorrhage and immediate medical attention that followed aided in his ability to make a strong recovery and stop the brain haemorrhage before it caused severe and permanent brain damage. Mr. Michaels is fortunate to be alive after all that he has been through. Bret is truly one of the most determined individuals I have ever met when it comes to an attempt at making a full recovery.”

Janna Elias V.P. of Michaels Entertainment states "All people heal differently and while Bret may be out on the road and performing he is still not 100%. He still has pain from the chemical meningitis, short term memory loss and gets fatigued quicker than normal. Bret isn't by any means trying to put his health in jeopardy by being on the road. He simply feels that music is a powerful healer. For Bret to sit around and not live his life to the fullest would likely be more detrimental to his recovery then playing music, it is the same mind set as the lyrics to Tim McGraw's song "Live like you were Dying."

The speculation began after Michaels upped his workload, including the release of his new studio album, Custom Built, signing up for a couple of new reality shows and, if rumours are to be believed, taking over from Simon Cowell as a judge on next year’s American Idol.

(AntiMusic)