Bret Michaels to Have Heart Surgery in January

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 23rd 2010 02:45PM

Bret Michaels can't catch a break. On the heels of his miraculous recovery from a life-threatening brain hemorrhage in April, the Poison singer-turned-dating show star will head back to the hospital in January to repair a hole in his heart. According to RadarOnline.com, it's related to a condition he's had since birth.

The hole was discovered after he had a stroke, but all in all, the 'Rock of Love' alum is pretty optimistic, according to a rep.

"He said that there are times when, of course, he worries but he has great people around him and he's cautious," the source said.

"He'll rest up, have surgery, take some time off, hopefully take a family vacation and get back on the road touring and promoting his upcoming book," the rep said.

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Bret Michaels Snapshots

Bret Michaels performs onstage during the 15th Annual Rib America Festival at Military Park in Indianapolis on September 3. More Pics >>

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Bret Michaels Snapshots

INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 03: Bret Michaels performs onstage while being filmed for the new Vh1 reality TV series 'Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It' during the 15th Annual Rib America Festival Day 1 at Military Park on September 3, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joey Foley/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels Snapshots

LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 23: Poison singer Bret Michaels (L) and NBC News anchor Natalie Morales arrive at the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at the Mandalay Bay Events Center August 23, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two co-hosted the show. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bret Michaels;Natalie Morales

Bret Michaels Snapshots

It's been a rough year, health-wise, for Michaels, who at the height of his tenure on 'Celebrity Apprentice' suffered a brain hemorrhage on April 23. It all started with a crippling headache that landed him in the hospital in critical condition.

"I've never been shot, thank God, but I can tell you this: It sounded like a small handgun went off in the back of my head," he told Oprah Winfrey a couple weeks after the incident.

Then in early May he was back in the hospital after suffering a stroke. On his Facebook page, Michaels' reps released the info that says he went back to the hospital after "suffering numbness on the left side of his body." Doctors later diagnosed Michaels as having suffered a Transient Ischematic Attack (TIA), otherwise known as a warning stroke.

According to doctors, an Ultrasound Bubble test of Michaels' heart was then done, and they found a hole in his heart described as a Patent Forum Ovale.

Michaels' neurosurgeon, Dr. Joseph Zabramski, said at the time, "There is no doubt that the positive Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is devastating news to Bret and his family. The good news is that it is operable and treatable and we think we may have diagnosed the problem that caused the Transient Ischemic Attach (TIA) or warning stroke."

The singer spoke to PopEater in June about his month of life-threatening scares. "I combined diabetes with appendicitis with a brain hemorrhage, then a warning stroke and the PFO ... that's a five whammy cocktail punch. If you would have told me all that combined together, I would have said, 'That person has to be a goner.'"

Since recovering from the hemorrhage and the stroke, Michaels has kept himself busy with touring and TV appearances, including co-hosting duties at the Miss Universe pageant in August.

Michaels' new VH1 series 'Bret Michaels: Life As You Know It' will premiere on Oct. 18.

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Comments

(101)

Thursday 23 September

By matt wood

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WHO CARES ?

By Gary Mayer

matt wood: You betcha! I'll bet bret Michaels, whoever he may be, doesn't even want us to know about his heart surgery.

At the same time, there is nothing on AOL 'News' or 'Entertainment' about today, September 23rd, being Mickey Rooney's 90th birthday. He certainly is more of an icon than Bret Michaels.

TCM is showing Mickey Rooney movies all day long. He was a good actor, both a youth and adult, and still looks young for 90. So, hooray for TCM and boo to AOL, the latter being my home page.

Friday 24 September

By lisa

CAN'T CATCH A BREAK???? THIS IS HIS BREAK! HE WAS NOTHING UNTIL HIS "MIRACULOUS RECOVERY" ...WHATEVER. NOW THIS GUY IS EVERYWHERE. NEWBORN BABIES GO THROUGH THIS SURGERY, WHY AREN'T THEY ON THE FRONT PAGE??? AND TAKE THE STUPID HEADBAND OFF!~ YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT. YOU ARE NOT 22 ANYMORE DUDE!

By Barbara Mayer

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Matt, I care and a whole lot of people like me care. I think Bret is terrific and wish him well with this newest surgery. I had never even heard of him until I watched The Celebrity Apprentice. Made me a fan right away.

Saturday 25 September

By Jeannie

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Matt, I care more about Mickey Rooney, too. But, of course, Bret Michaels is younger & sexier, among other things.

By Sharon

I cannot see why everyone loves this guy?? Sure I feel for his illness but what about the many thousand of other people that are ill??? He's just another washed up band member who thinks he still has the talent he used to.

By Karen

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

He does still have talent and I have the utmost respect for this man. I wish he and his family the best when he has the surgery.

By Penny

I'm not sure why you are mad at him for having to have heart surgery for something he has had for a long time and not due to any of the recent problems he's had. If you want to be mad at him, how about for being dumb enough to do all the booze and drugs he did while having diabetees (sorry I can't spell well). I was born with a hole in my heart like all kids, the problem is mine didn't heal, and I had to have the surgery when I was 6 months old or I wouldn't be here. So, give the guy a break, he didn't do this part to himself.

Penny: Actually, moderate alcohol consumption has the effect of decreasing blood/sugar. The negative is calories and weight gain which diabetics don't need.

I don't know who Bret Michaels is and how excessively he drinks, but I am diabetic and, if I drink beer, low sugar wine or rye (in moderation) my blood sugar actually goes down as does my A1C, which is the most important number.

In conclusion, I'm sure he is a good guy and I wish him well; his heart surgery probably has nothing to do with his drinking habit.

By stormy

good luck bret. dont listen to the haters. you have a right to be whoever you want. long live america!!!

By tina

Wow.. Such a bunch of negativity today on here... I wish him a successful surgery and recovery.
That old cliche', if you don't have something nice to say, keep your mouth shut...

By Ed

Who the Fcuk cares !!!

By tuffpaw

Were you born a reprobate, or do you have to work at it?

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

joma5004: Perhaps he thinks he's Willie Nelson. Putting in a plug for Nelson, don't miss the Farm Aid concert in Miller Park(Milwaukee, October 1st). The line-up is fantastic, with Willie, John Mellencamp, Kenny Chesney, The BoDeans, Norah Jones, Dave Matthews band and Manny More (the latter being the most renowned entertainer of all time).

By camimartin

Wow he really love attention for his dead career.

By Stardust

Good luck to you Bret...you've a lot on your plate....take care

Good luck and God bless you, Brett. You will be in my prayers during your surgical procedure. T1 diabetics really need a young spokesperson such as yourself to raise awareness (and money for research) to cure and prevent their debilitating disease once and for all. Mary Tyler Moore has done more than her share over the last few decades, and it's time for someone like you or Halle Berry to take up the reins.

By MikeH

Well said and hopefully the much younger Nick Jonas will also continue raising awareness. Never really a Poison fan seeing him several times on Apprentice, especially when his daughter faced Diabetes too made me respect the guy.

To address other posts, maybe I am swayed because have had diabetes since age 12 (53 now) and know a little of what he has had to face, but in todays worse, if you meet your maker and the worse they can nail you for is a cheesy hat band...seems like you have done well.

By tom

Bret is a good guy! I have met him. So those of us who do know who he is do care.
Don't be a hater. ANYTHING can happen to you one day & inevitably something will. I hope you don't have negative vibes when that happens.
His carrer has never been better by the way. And he was smart enough to revive it not to mention making the rest of the cast of Apprentice look like monkeys.

Rock on Bret!

Tom in Scottsdale.

By rose

Is there any human alive who has seen him without his kerchiefIf so, what;s he look like? Bald, hairy, receding, alopecia, ringworm of the scalp .... what's it look like under that kerchief he wears? what if he gets hot and horny and starts to go wild, does the kerchief fall off? Then what ?

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