Were Elvis Presley and Lisa Marie's deaths similar? Music legend's daughter suffered from chronic diseases throughout her life
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Elvis Presley has become synonymous with various elements, including rock 'n' roll and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. However, another significant aspect of the legacy of the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" is his premature death.
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, Presley met his end in Memphis, Tennessee, on August 16, 1977.
After Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' released in June 2022, featuring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, discussions about Presley's life and demise have been stirred up.
Elvis Presley's many health problems?
Before his death, Presley was no longer the youthful and swaying "Elvis the Pelvis" sex symbol. One of the first responders at Graceland on the day of his death, who assisted in moving him to the ambulance, noted that he appeared to weigh around 250 pounds, according to an account in the book 'Elvis Presley: A Southern Life' cited by Salon.
However, weight wasn't his sole concern. According to an excerpt from Salon, it was later revealed in court that from January 1, 1977, to August 16, 1977, Dr George Nichopoulos had prescribed approximately 8,805 pills, tablets, vials, and injectables for Presley.
These medications encompassed stimulants, depressants, and potent painkillers like Dilaudid, Quaalude, Percodan, Demerol, and even cocaine hydrochloride in quantities more appropriate for terminally ill cancer patients.
At the time, there was little public discussion about Elvis' health issues. However, times have changed. Presley was known for his hearty appetite, indulging in meals such as the Fool's Gold Loaf, consisting of blueberry jam, peanut butter, and a pound of bacon, as well as peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
The infamous sandwich featured a full stick of melted butter, as Mary Jenkins, a former Graceland cook, demonstrated during a 1987 appearance on 'Letterman'.
Alongside his eating habits, Presley was a long-time user of opioids, according to PBS. He had a history of using various substances like antihistamines, Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones, and even laxatives for constipation relief.
PBS reported that at the time of his death, pathologists found evidence of severe and chronic constipation, diabetes, and glaucoma. It's believed that the painkillers Presley took contributed to his severe constipation.
What was Lisa Marie's cause of death?
Lisa Marie passed away at the age of 54 on January 12. Initially, it was believed that she had experienced a cardiac arrest. However, a recently released autopsy report indicated that her demise was actually a result of a small bowel obstruction.
The sole child of Elvis, Lisa Marie had been grappling with various health problems leading up to her death, similar to her father's experiences. These issues encompassed heart complications, persistent fevers, extended bouts of nausea, abdominal discomfort, and vomiting, as detailed in the report.
On the morning of her death, Lisa Marie complained of abdominal pain. She was found unconscious in her Calabasas residence by her ex-husband, Danny Keough, who promptly rushed her to the hospital. While at the emergency room, she encountered heart problems, which necessitated the insertion of a temporary pacemaker to address life-threatening heart rhythms.
Her condition deteriorated further, eventually resulting in cardiac arrest, and she was officially declared deceased 20 minutes later.
What type of weight-loss surgery did Lisa Marie have?
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, the fatal bowel obstruction that led to Lisa Marie's passing was a common complication stemming from bariatric surgery she had undergone years earlier as part of a weight-loss procedure.
Nonetheless, Sally Hoedel, an Elvis historian and devoted fan, believes there might have been an additional reason for Lisa Marie's decision to undergo the surgery beyond just weight loss.
Observing that several members of the Presley lineage had experienced chronic bowel issues, including Elvis, Hoedel explained to The US Sun: "The obstruction itself was caused by scar tissue from a gastric bypass surgery that was performed years ago. At face value, that has little correlation to how her famous father died. The obstruction compromised blood supply, which leads to tissue damage and then infection and then organ failure, which can result in death, as it did in this case."
What did the coroner's report say about Lisa?
According to the report, the blockage that affected Presley was a recognized extended aftermath of bariatric surgery for weight loss, as stated by the medical examiner's office. Her surgery took place "years ago."
Additionally, the medical examiner's report mentioned that Presley had "therapeutic levels" of oxycodone and other medications present in her system. However, these substances were not considered to be contributing factors to her death.