Presley was born inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935, and died in Memphis, Tennessee, on Aug. 16, 1977. At the time, little was understood about auto-immune conditions, but these days they are known to cause most of the symptoms Elvis displayed, from chronic pain, irrational behaviour, obesity and enlarged and diseased organs like hearts and bowels. He was depressed about aging and not having a woman he loved. Presley, as depicted by actor Austin Butler, collapses in a hallway minutes before being scheduled to take the stage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. However, another part of thelegacy of the "King of Rock 'n'Roll" is his untimely death. They were all connected. Even his maids were like family and he bought them all new cars. The painkillers Presley used are believed to have contributed to his severeconstipation. "I think that younger people today are really responding to vulnerability in ways that an older generation just didnt. Despite his introverted personality, Presley had immense musical talent. But Donna Rockwell, a clinical psychologist specializing in celebrity mental health, says the cultural mockery of imperfect stars speaks to "a part of human nature we're not particularly proud of. On Aug. 16, 1977, Presley was found unconscious in his Graceland mansion. And there's your clue "swollen" Elvis was retaining water big time at the time of his death. When critics and fans describe Elvis in his later years, one term used is "Fat Elvis." He explained: "The position of Elvis Presley's body was such that he was about to sit down on the commode when the seizure occurred. Vernon Presley and Elvis Presley on stage during a concert recorded on June 19, 1977, in Omaha, Nebraska. At some point, Presley headed to the bathroom where he experienced a cardiac event. Elvis collapsed in the bathroom 24 hours later. The book, according to an excerpt in Salon, said it later was "established in court that during the seven and a half months preceding Elviss death, from January 1, 1977, to August 16, 1977, Dr. Nichopoulos had written prescriptions for him for at least 8,805 pills, tablets, vials, and injectables. He was a very spiritual person, she explained. (Getty Images). Photo by Fred Ross/Toronto Star via Getty Images, Elvis personal physician, George Nichopoulos, or Dr. Nick, was at Elvis beck and call for nearly a decade. ", In the book, Hoedel described how Presley would confide in backup singer Kathy Westmoreland and said his "eyes were a constant source of pain along with other ailments." Theres a scene towards the end of the new Elvis movie when you know the end is coming soon. In addition to the head and heart problems, author Sally A Hoedel lifelong Elvis fan, historian and journalism graduate delved into his family history discovering more about his health. "So when we see a celebrity altered in any way, we can say 'Oh, see, they faltered,'or 'They're not perfect.' He was found there by Ginger Alden around 2 p.m. on August 16. In 1980, the not-so-good doctor was indicted again for overprescribing to Presley as well as Jerry Lee Lewis, but was acquitted again. They were all connected. It was clear that, from the moment he landed on the floor, Elvis hadnt moved.. He said: "Id have to classify Elviss death as an accident. One of the reasons Elvis turned to the medication was pain. A diagnostic screening tool for EDS didnt exist when Elvis was alive and few physicians were even aware of the condition. To this day, conflicting speculationssurroundElvis' death. "It doesn't get better than that. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. In recent years, Hollywood has tried to spread awareness about thehuman aspects of celebrities. Similar to many who found fame in the 60s and 70s, Elvis developed a drug addiction. ", "In the end, somebody who has a mental health issue, who is a celebrity, will often have a more difficult time because to really successfully recover from a mental health problem or addiction,you actually need a great deal of humility. As someone who loves this struggling individual, the young woman started to become concerned with her lover's health as it rapidly declined. He was terribly ill, and he died accidentally in some ways with a dentist giving him codeine for his bad tooth, and his bad teeth were also part of the same disease that gave him a bad colon and a bad eye and a bad liver. And rather than being shownempathy, he was mocked by the country that lifted him onto the pedestal. His medicine chest was filled with amber-colored, white-topped vials of medications, in doses no responsible doctor would have prescribed. Elvis Presley died at 42 years oldon Aug. 16, 1977, in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the first responders who arrived at Graceland after the emergency call on the day Elvis died and helped carry him . You'd have been out of there faster than a scratched cat. Dr. Nick testified he gave into all of Elviss prescription requests because he wanted to keep Presley from seeking out these drugs on the street., Doctors still argue about this princes early death, How a serious illness gave Eugene ONeill his dark literary power. Hoedel said Presley was "worried" about his health deteriorating. Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit online news service for information and commentary about chronic pain and pain management. But when we see the complexity of starsbeyond their fame and fortune, "the public is then forced to see them as human," Manly says. He gave his rings to his fans during concerts. By the time hes touring again in the 70s, he was providing for more than 100 people. Well, that's not true. ", Review: Austin Butler rules as the King, butBaz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' is an unchained mess. Kirk said Presley attempted to find solace in reading the Bible, but the loneliness didnt leave him. He turned to food for comfort and had gained a considerable amount of weight. Some of the many interesting and caloric meals heconsumed over the yearsincluded, the Fools Gold Loaf, which was "made with a jars worth of blueberry jam, a jars worth of peanut butter and an entire pound of bacon," and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Elvis' passing is often used as the archetypal rock star death a tragic accident caused by a poor health and drug use. It became a problem, but why was he taking them in the first place?, Dr Nick is a controversial figure. The 78-year-old recalled how Presley would look down as the doctors spoke with him. The pressure to perform, the loss of privacy and the incessant public scrutinycan also cause anxiety and depression leaving some to cope with medications, alcohol or other substances to reduce stress. And by the 70s, hes an insomniac. Moody Blue, released in February 1977, was a mix of live recordings and new studio tracks, containing two of Presley's most widely regarded songs. He spent most of his time holed up in the elaborate den nicknamed the "Jungle Room" for its exotic decor of his Memphis compound Graceland. ", Harry, Meghan, The Rock, Naomi Osaka: Why celebrity mental health struggles matter. ELVIS PRESLEY was just 42-years-old when he died, having physically transformed and suffered multiple illnesses and hospitalisations in his final years. Instead of rushing an unconscious Elvis to a hospital, manager Tom Parker --- played by a surprisingly villainous Tom Hanks -- declares that the show must go on and summons Dr. And yet, when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, he had become something entirely different from his former self. Everyones relying on me. Prior to his death, Presley was visually no longer the hip-swaying "Elvis the Pelvis" sex symbol. There, the body identified the matter as foreign and produced antibodies to destroy it, triggering hypogammaglobulinemia, a disorder of the body's immune system. For Mr Tennant, one major clue was in the full-body deterioration of Elvis, with almost every organ plagued by ill health. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Always seek the advice of a physician or healthcare provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. "We see that when he tours, he takes more medication than when hes not touring. Why was he in so much pain? This website is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. We don't know what their fears are, what their hopes are, what their dreams are, what their sadness is. Thank you. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts.". "And he wasnt honest with everyone about that he was also surrounded with a lot of yes people. Forrest Tennant, author of The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley, believed that the singer was actually suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder . The outlet noted that during the last two years of his life, Presley made erratic stage appearances and lived nearly as a recluse. To coincide with the commemoration of Presleys passing, Hoedel will be in Memphis to participate in several events and will be traveling to the U.K. for the "Strictly Elvis Festival" from Sept. 10 to 17. These efforts do not right the wrongs of the past. The singer had developed a dangerous dependence on prescription drugs and turned to overeating. He missed Priscilla. He also worked really hard to hide it. People there in the inner group did but you did not tell Elvis what to do. The singer, who made teenage girls hysterical with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating. Some expertsagreeElvis may have been performing at a feverish pace to meet fans' demands at the expense of his well-being. He was buried on the grounds of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Once he strayed from his picture-perfect, seductiveimage, someridiculed and discardedhim. Legal Statement. Elvis just fainted.' He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. If you're depressed,go see a therapistor check yourself into rehab if you need to. According to Kirk, Presley was impressed by the nurse and her country ways. In 1972, he hired her as his nurse, as well as her husband for security. EDS is what connects all of those health problems, correct? [He and Priscilla] continued to be very close via the telephone. By examining his flaws and health issues, maybe we can start to see his humanity again.. Elvis had divorced his wife Priscilla Presley in 1973, and developed a dependence on prescription drugs to get through the day, all while maintaining a grueling schedule. The grave of singer Elvis Presley in Graceland. He was hospitalised again in 1975 with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a condition called megacolon, whereby the large intestine becomes distended and can allow toxins to flood the body. (According to the medical examiner's report,the singer died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease at 42.). PBS reported that at the time of Presley's deathtwo pathologists "found evidence ofsevere and chronic constipation, diabetes and glaucoma." Elvis did indeed suffer from heart problems aggravated by an excessive use of drugs, but Tennant believes the ultimate cause of his death was a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a major cause of intractable pain and other chronic health problems. ", On top of his eating habits, Presley was a long-time user ofopiates, saidPBS. While some claimed this was because they'd been rough enough with fans to incite lawsuits, others countered that it was due to their criticism of Elvis' drug use. The day before he died, a dentist gave Presley codeine for an aching tooth, not realizing how sick he was or that codeine could cause his heart to stop. Elviss story is looked on as one of destruction, but it is a futile struggle to survive, through poverty and then through health issues, she says. It never came to fruition. You can unsubscribe at any time. Really he looked disproportionate a big swollen torso and face, with relatively slim arms and legs. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Elvis Presley, who died 44 years ago this month, was not a drug abuser in the typical rocknroll lifestyle sense, a new book claims, but he was medicating to address a series of congenital illnesses. It takes hours to die from drugs.". The truth is more complex. The drugs included uppers, downers, and powerful painkillers such as Dilaudid, Quaalude, Percodan, Demerol, and cocaine hydrochloride in quantities more appropriate for those terminally ill with cancer.". For fans of rock and roll everywhere, the King's death was a monumental blow. 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