Bret Michaels Suffers Setback While Recovering From Stroke
Bret Michaels remains hospitalized as he recovers from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and while his reps report that “doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery,” the Poison frontman and reality-TV star has suffered a setback: He has been diagnosed with hyponatremia, a lack of sodium, which could cause severe seizures. As Rolling Stone previously reported, Michaels was rushed to an undisclosed hospital — likely Phoenix, Arizona’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, E! News reports — last week after being struck by an excruciating headache. Tests revealed Michaels had experienced a stroke that results in bleeding at the base of the brain.
Look back at Bret Michaels’ career with Poison in photos.
Michaels’ reps also addressed rumors that the hemorrhage is somehow connected to the rocker’s televised onstage collision with a prop at last year’s Tony Awards, which left him with a fractured nose. “Additional studies are planned throughout the week to hopefully detect the exact cause of the rupture,” Michaels’ team reports, but it’s more likely that the hemorrhage, like his recent emergency appendectomy, is related to the fact that Michaels’ has Type 1 diabetes. He competed on this season’s Celebrity Apprentice to raise money and awareness for the American Diabetes Association.
Adding that doctors stated the stroke could have been fatal, Michaels’ reps told fans, “With further testing and rehabilitation, they are hopeful that Bret will gradually improve as the blood surrounding the brain dissolves and is reabsorbed into his system, which can be a very painful recovery and take several weeks to months.” Still, the rocker is said to be in good spirits. An update on Michaels’ condition will be posted on his official website next Monday, May 3rd.