just how ill was ELVIS

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

You only have to see the environment Elvis lived in to see that the miss use of drugs probably started out innocently. There is a general consensus that Elvis started taking uppers and downers in the army to get through night shifts. This very probably lead Elvis to believe that there were drugs to help with all manner of inconveniences in life e.g. tiredness, unable to sleep, slimming pills, uppers & downers etc.

Elvis' lifestyle was the catalyst to his ill health, poor diet, sleeping routines, gruelling touring schedule supported the move to other types of medication, incorrectly prescribed but never the less taken and the effects enjoyed and so the process continued.

To say this addiction was self inflicted is a too simplistic truth! Whilst I'll agree that the doctors and friends of Elvis weren't necessarily shoving the pills down Elvis' mouth, they were enablers who facilitated in some way or another. Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath. When Doctors prescribe medicines that are unnecessary they break that Oath.

Elvis was an addict who was in denial, just like millions of others who suffer the same predicament. We are all guilty of doing or taking things we know will do us harm. It can be as simple as drinking coffee when we know caffeine is bad for us or eating to much, we like the taste or effects so we repeat the process. Simplistic, yes, habit forming, definitely.

I can't vindicate Elvis completely, he had been taken to hospital many times and dried out, only to fall off the wagon just as quickly. There were pressures in Elvis' life none of us could understand which lead Elvis to take the path he did. Perhaps the meds took him away from his inner demons, to a place that killed the pain he suffered. I just wish he could have found the strength to fight harder and find a way break free from the destructive path that took his life.

[Getlo]

Elvis was an addict who was in denial, just like ...

... many thousands of fans who still refuse to face that simple fact.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

... many thousands of fans who still refuse to face that simple fact.

Amor caecus est

[Diane]

You only have to see the environment Elvis lived in to see that the miss use of drugs probably started out innocently. There is a general consensus that Elvis started taking uppers and downers in the army to get through night shifts. This very probably lead Elvis to believe that there were drugs to help with all manner of inconveniences in life e.g. tiredness, unable to sleep, slimming pills, uppers & downers etc.

Elvis' lifestyle was the catalyst to his ill health, poor diet, sleeping routines, gruelling touring schedule supported the move to other types of medication, incorrectly prescribed but never the less taken and the effects enjoyed and so the process continued.

To say this addiction was self inflicted is a too simplistic truth! Whilst I'll agree that the doctors and friends of Elvis weren't necessarily shoving the pills down Elvis' mouth, they were enablers who facilitated in some way or another. Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath. When Doctors prescribe medicines that are unnecessary they break that Oath.

Elvis was an addict who was in denial, just like millions of others who suffer the same predicament. We are all guilty of doing or taking things we know will do us harm. It can be as simple as drinking coffee when we know caffeine is bad for us or eating to much, we like the taste or effects so we repeat the process. Simplistic, yes, habit forming, definitely.

I can't vindicate Elvis completely, he had been taken to hospital many times and dried out, only to fall off the wagon just as quickly. There were pressures in Elvis' life none of us could understand which lead Elvis to take the path he did. Perhaps the meds took him away from his inner demons, to a place that killed the pain he suffered. I just wish he could have found the strength to fight harder and find a way break free from the destructive path that took his life.

Excellent post!

Diane

[monk37]

...She is reliant on this medication but I wouldn't call her a drug addict. That's how I feel about Elvis too

there's a world of difference between anti-depressants - which return you to a normal or normalish state

and taking uppers, downers, pain killers, etc who's physical and emotional effect is rather different

[Cherokee]

I think he was ill enough to die on age 42.

If you compare Elvis from year to year, you can easily see his body protesting against the abuse (of Elvis himself). Don't let the good looks and the smile fool you. You can also just listen to the voice: compare any 1970 recording with a 1971 track and you hear a big difference. Listen to a random 1974 show and then to a random 1976 show.

Even in showbusiness it's not normal to have so many differences in physique and sound in just a few years.

And another thing: a person can be physically ill (fever, headaches, etc), but also mentally. With the knowledge we have today about Elvis state of mind during his life, he always battled his inner 'demons'.

In Total Agreement

[KPM]

Elvis was an addict of prescription meds, and he never really acknowledged to himself that they can be dangerous, and addictive. He thought if it came from a doctor no matter what is was it had to be okay.
I have said this before he did have some medical problems, how severe and exactly the reasons for them are debateable.... blood pressure, congenital ganglionic fold in his colon (a bowel ressection was considered in the mid a70s according to Dr. Nick and Elvis discussed this with Red West) his glaucoma, arthritis of the neck and spine (also according to Nick) chronic insomnia/sleep problems since a kid and normal problems we all have.
IMO probably the most serious was the colon problem (which he was born with) which worsened as he aged-also the continued use and overuse of meds slowed down the colon-which continued to narrow at the fold as he aged -and this would have caused much pain as the fold narrowed- especially with his unhealthy diet. But he grew up poor and poor people develope poor habits-a good fatty meal is a treat for poor people -comfort food is not called that for nothing

Unfortunately as his life progressed he just could not live without the medications which he came to rely on. In the 50s he once said
"sometimes I feel lonely in the middle of a crowd" which may say something about depression problems along the way.
I think his genetics also worked against him-but had he worked hard at staying healthy with better diet and less reliance on meds he could have helped himself greatly.

[sasha]

I have read many things about Elvis. I've met a lot of fans.
IMO, the things that will "kill" Elvis is the media & his fans.
The constant bickering, fighting ,jealously gets very old.
How many knew Elvis, personally?
Who was it that insisted we had to "know all" ?

Elvis was only human, just like the rest of us.
He was a humanitarian in that he liked to help others.
He could sing,, no doubt about that.
I'm not going to judge him or anyone.
IMO, he was physically ill As well as the other problems we all face every day .
Do our closest friends/lovers love us for ourselves or because some see us as a step to their own greatness?

[debtdbruno]

You only have to see the environment Elvis lived in to see that the miss use of drugs probably started out innocently. There is a general consensus that Elvis started taking uppers and downers in the army to get through night shifts. This very probably lead Elvis to believe that there were drugs to help with all manner of inconveniences in life e.g. tiredness, unable to sleep, slimming pills, uppers & downers etc.

Elvis' lifestyle was the catalyst to his ill health, poor diet, sleeping routines, gruelling touring schedule supported the move to other types of medication, incorrectly prescribed but never the less taken and the effects enjoyed and so the process continued.

To say this addiction was self inflicted is a too simplistic truth! Whilst I'll agree that the doctors and friends of Elvis weren't necessarily shoving the pills down Elvis' mouth, they were enablers who facilitated in some way or another. Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath. When Doctors prescribe medicines that are unnecessary they break that Oath.

Elvis was an addict who was in denial, just like millions of others who suffer the same predicament. We are all guilty of doing or taking things we know will do us harm. It can be as simple as drinking coffee when we know caffeine is bad for us or eating to much, we like the taste or effects so we repeat the process. Simplistic, yes, habit forming, definitely.

I can't vindicate Elvis completely, he had been taken to hospital many times and dried out, only to fall off the wagon just as quickly. There were pressures in Elvis' life none of us could understand which lead Elvis to take the path he did. Perhaps the meds took him away from his inner demons, to a place that killed the pain he suffered. I just wish he could have found the strength to fight harder and find a way break free from the destructive path that took his life.

Fantastic post, couldn't be put any better

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

"sometimes I feel lonely in the middle of a crowd" which may say something about depression problems along the way.

Initially I don't think Elvis was alone, maybe later when he grew tired of the sycophants and those who agreed with everything he said. Maybe he realised that his circle of friends didn't have the influence to make a difference in his life..