The full name is Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency-the inability of the body to produce one of the necessary blood proteins.One of the medical conditions Alpha 1 sufferers have is subcutaneous pannicultitis which is an inflamation of the fat just beneath the skin causing the skin to harden and form lumps, patches or lesions.
It is common among persons of native America descent.as we know Elvis had cherokee ancestry on his mother,s side, and mothers are usually the carriers of the damaging gene.
Alpha 1 children can be sickly and die in infancy. sadly his mother lost twins, one at 3 days old and one at 3 months old.Gladys said elvis was always sickly as a child and that was why he was so close to his mother and she was so protective of him.
That is some interesting information. Could you tell us how you found out about this?
All in all it is very clear that Elvis was loved by his mother. I wouldn't do it any differently if I were a parent - even though the poverty must have been harsh enough, there was the presence and warmth of Gladys.
Complete Hogwash.
------------------------------------------
More MYTH to comfort against the cold, hard, TRUTH, of REALITY.
All of EP's health problems were either caused by or exacerbated by .................. his prescription drug use / abuse.
Cappy
Alpha 1 is BUNK.
I believed in the possibility of it when I was more ignorant.
A "correction" to Captain's post, though: Elvis' glaucoma was probably caused indepedently of his drug problem. (That said, and my reason for putting "correction" in speech marks: this is not something that was being treated by the sort of medication that Elvis was taking, and in this respect, it's not an ailment that myth-makers typically weave into their sticky webs of fantasy).
Of cause not all of the king's illnesses where caused by his abuse of medication. But he surely killed himself with all that shit he flooded his body with.
exacerbate = to increase in severity; make worse.
"All of EP's health problems were either caused by or exacerbated by .................. his prescription drug use / abuse."
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Btw, ....... I agree with what you guys are saying.
Cappy
PS - I like the "sticky webs of fantasy" description, "Cryo." Aptly & excellently put. Sums it up perfectly.
Ah... sneaky.Originally Posted by Captain Elwood David
I thought you might.That one just came to me in mid-sentence. Anything that sounds relatively apt and adds to the colourfulness of the "anti-myth-making" discourse is fine with me.
Well, I don't know too much about 'Alpha 1' - all in all I think that Elvis' youth did leave a mark on him; it was very different from Mozart's upbringing. It's not for me to say if Alpha 1 is for real or not, I'm not a doctor, just a musician.. If there is some specific condition associated with Native Americans then Elvis could have been at risk.
Elvis did have some problems under his skin - at times he looked bloated. The question is what caused it. I wouldn't recommend taking his chemical drugs, but if I propose an alternative medicine it's not being appreciated very much, so I won't discuss that matter any further.
Anyway, Elvis may have been unaware of all the side-effects; information is available now, but we're some decades further down the line.
Therein lies problem #1.
Hippocrates (The Father of Medicine) is revered for essentially removing "Medicine" away from superstition and towards science. What you propose, "alternative medicine", is akin to a return to The Dark Ages & very dangerous.
You are correct, ........ any discussion of alternative medicine would definitely not be appreciated (nor appropriate on this MB).
Ignorance can be detrimental to one's own health (pun intended).
Capt. N8
To be perfectly honest on the subject of Elvis' illnesses and conditions, much has been invented, speculated and for the most part exaggerated. I think people are trying too hard to find reasons why Elvis died!
There are probably several contributing factors most of which are not considered exotic enough for the King of Rock 'n' Roll to have died of!
Over the years there has been a wide selection of ailments attached to the myth and legend of the kings medical casebook. I think we need not look mutch further the the main contibuting factor....... prescribed medication, the many reasons are:-
1. Uppers - Early days to keep awake
2. Downers - To aid sleep
3. Dependency - Brought on by years of abuse
4. Effects upon the body - Brought on by years of abuse
5. Effects upon the psychi - Brought on by years of abuse
6. Apathy - Brought on by years of abuse
By 1977 Elvis was 42 years old, his body had taken years of abuse from different directions, poor diet, prescribed medication and years of a gruelling tour schedule, this lifestyle is not conjusive to longevity. To sustain the lifestyle that Elvis lived he leaned towards prescriptive aids.
There is no stigma attached to this lifestyle in modern times, why do people feel they have to look further in the case of Elvis as if he did something dirty and unacceptable. Elvis was the first to tread this path, he will not be the last. The strain and expectation put upon Elvis during his lifetime is reason enough for anyone to look to stimulants to give 100% every day.
Accept that he died and that Prescribed drugs are taken by those who believe in god.
Matt
Matt,
People want to find other reasons (that do not exist) for EP's death simply because his death was an untimely and senseless one. There is also a tendency amongst the fandom to want to re-write his life / death as a "Legend" that will ultimately by far & removed from "historical truth."
Eventually, such "Legend" transforms into a truth of its own, unable to be either verified or falsified (this applies to the "alpha-1" nonsense, as well as the Bi-Polar theorizing). Once this level of "Legend" is attained, ......... FACTS no longer matter to the "true believers" (so to speak).
Capt. N8
Dont want to get to much involved in the discussion, because I dont know nothing about this illnesses and I also think that his way of living caused his early death. But there are more artists living/lived the way he did and dont die at the age of 42. Think about Keith Richards for instance, he doesnt look that healthy to me either. I think it is combination of gens and the way you live your life which determans how long you can live it.
without a song, a man ain't got a friend,
without a song, the road would never bend,
without a song, so I'll keep singing the song.
http://www.elvisfun.com/fun/htm/avat...s/64/10_64.gifhttp://www.elvisfun.com/fun/htm/avat...s/64/12_64.gifhttp://www.elvisfun.com/fun/htm/avat...s/64/30_64.gifhttp://www.elvisfun.com/fun/htm/avat...s/64/98_64.gif
So true Captain, and unfortunately the fairytale tale mythical Elvis, is already taking over from the historical one.
The Sun Never Sets On A Legend...
Yes, Keith is a symbol for that. My husband is a big big fan of him, and I am really surprised, how "good" he looks although his past.
I also think, that elvis way of life and his tabletts"career" is responsible for his death.
Thanks "03".
Intelligent responses such as yours are always appreciated by me, ...................... especially since they are a very rare occurrence on this MB.
It's also good to know a few here are able to appreciate substantive & insightful comments to certain topics ..................... such as yourself
All my best,
Cappy
It maybe yours, but it is not my problem. I just can't & won't say anything definite about this subject because I do not pretend to be a doctor. I didn't say 'yes' or 'no' concerning it's (im)possible reality.
Now please prove your points:Hippocrates (The Father of Medicine) is revered for essentially removing "Medicine" away from superstition and towards science. What you propose, "alternative medicine", is akin to a return to The Dark Ages & very dangerous.
1. Why is Hippocrates 'Father Of Medicine'? How did he achieve his status?
2. What is superstition? What seperates it from science?
3. How did Hippocrates move medicine away from superstition?
Just a few questions - no pun intended. I'll leave the pun-intending up to others. You've got to know retorica.
Using herbs to benefit health is not specifically from the Dark Ages - people have been using plants for a long time (mint-tea was known before Jesus walked the earth; let alone the Dark Middle Ages), sometimes without them even being aware of it. I'm not dangerous and I don't force others to use my herbal recipes. Is the drinking of coffee & tea that medieval?
Given the fact that my character is unlike Frank Booth from 'Blue Velvet', I will be a perfect gentleman on this beautiful MB about Elvis Presley. No, I would not recommend his dependency, though some of his drugs may be considered acceptable by modern 'science'. I would not be able to harmonize my conscience with the prescribing of such material.You are correct, ........ any discussion of alternative medicine would definitely not be appreciated (nor appropriate on this MB).
In the first place I would suggest a change in diet and exercise (though it was difficult for Elvis to be out on the street with people recognising him and asking 'are you Elvis Presley'?) In the tradition of the Mayan elders I would have to ask some other questions:
Where are you living? What are you doing? What are your relations? Where is your water? Know your garden. It is time to speak your truth. Create your community. Do not look outside yourself for the leader.
I know that some white-coat weirdo's with chemical drugs are trying to numb my own mother, while this is perfectly 'normal'. This is superstition they're trying to impose on her, in the name of science.
Ignorance can be detrimental to one's own health (pun intended).
Speak for yourself. It is strange that there isn't any consistency - you can't ban smoking one herb and promote tobacco-companies' profit at the same time, though this is what's happening throughout the world. This is not fair-play, but a double standard!
Anyway you look at it, when the Lord comes and takes you home it is time to go. I'm living with a priest who has got many years of experience with the dying and death is also in alignment with divine creation, no matter how difficult it may be at times and no, this is not about dualistic predestination: it is about our choice instead. The most important thing is that death won't have the final word, but God's love (read the Revelation's). Death really knows no too early or too late - the human standard does, but the human standard is different from God's vision. I think we should grant Elvis some peace and serenity - he deserves undiminished credit for his positive contribution to the whole world.
We shall all meet by and by and I know I will see Elvis himself in heaven sooner or later. I do miss Elvis in the here and now, but I wonder how he would have reacted to the heartless, neo-conservative and cold society we've known the last few decades. The 1950's had this sense of coziness & community and this was more or less gone not long after Elvis died. The popular musical scene has been pretty grey the last few decades and so is society. I miss the 'Loving You' and 'Teddy Bear'-feeling.. It's too plastic and sterile nowadays.
Last edited by EnigmaticSun; 02-21-2006 at 05:08 PM. Reason: minor error
Like I said, "03", ............... a very rare occurrence.
Cappy
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