Dan Patrick Opens Up About Health Issues That Resulted In Depression And Memory Loss

For three hours a day since The Dan Patrick Show debuted in October of 2007, Dan Patrick needs to be locked in. For much of that time, the popular sportscaster has been battling a mysterious illness that made the most menial of tasks near impossible.

Well, in an emotional segment on his show Thursday morning, the 62-year-old revealed the nature of the previously undisclosed disorder. Patrick admitted to suffering from Polymyalgia Rheumatica, an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness in the joints.

He’s had Polymyalgia Rheumatica for seven years and described it as “having the flu but you’re not nauseous.” Patrick claims he woke up one day and couldn’t tie his shoes. That pain didn’t subside until he was prescribed Prednisone, a drug that eliminated his joint pain but brought on a whole new slew of issues–deep depression that ultimately led to suicidal thoughts.

Patrick eventually found a hospital for special surgery in New York that would administer light chemo IVs once a month for a hour in place of the Prednisone. The new treatment has eliminated the depression associated with Prednisone but brought with it some new tribulations. The chemo side effects amount to headaches, memory loss and brain fog, consequences that hinder his performance on-air and at home. Patrick described not being able to remember Albert Pujols’ name during a show, entering a store and forgetting what he entered to buy, and forgetting altogether what he ate for dinner the previous night. He says that he medicated himself with vicodin to play golf on his 60th birthday and alcohol at night to fall asleep.

Thankfully, Patrick claims that he’s improved with the current treatment and his mindset is likely better for not carrying around that monkey on his back.

The media world was quick to rally around the sports media icon.

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Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.