According to his doctor, Poison frontman and reality star Bret Michaels has made a miraculous recovery from a near fatal brain hemorrhage just a week and a half ago and has even been released from the hospital! He’s not quite out of the woods yet, though, and has been moved somewhere else, presumably where he’s being watched while he continues his recovery. Earlier reports on Bret’s condition were optimistic, but tentative, with some doctors citing grim statistics for brain hemorrhage survival at just 10-20%. Bret is up, walking and talking, and his doctor calls him “a very lucky person.”

Bret Michaels is headed for a full recovery, his doctor says.

“Mr. Michaels was indeed a lucky person, a very lucky person,” Dr. Joseph Zabramski explained at a press conference, PEOPLE reports.

Michaels is “still very sick right now,” but he has left the hospital.

“He’s improving and I expect him to continue to improve. I really expect that he will fortunately make a 100 percent recovery. He’s just one of those lucky people — 10 to 20 percent who make a complete recovery and can resume all of their normal activities,” Zabramski added.

The Poison rocker suffered a brain hemorrhage on April 21 and was rushed to the hospital. Along with bleeding at the stem of his brain, he had a side effect called hyponatremia, which is a lack of sodium in the body.

The ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ star also had an emergency appendectomy just days before falling ill.

He suffered several setbacks in his treatment, but Zabramski credited Bret’s recovery to his “sheer will to live,” and in a statement made on April 30, described the singer as having “an unbelievable fight in him.”

Yesterday, the star’s sister, Michelle, called in to ‘The Todd ‘N’ Tyler Empire Radio Show’ to discuss her brother’s condition. “He’s so happy that everybody is pulling for him,” she explained. “The fact that he got medical treatment right away, he went immediately and because this is one of the best neurological centers in America — he was very fortunate and I think he will recover quickly, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him back sooner than most.”

[From Popeater]

There’s more good news about Micheals, but it’s a spoiler for this season of Celebrity Apprentice (below) so if you’re following the show please stop reading now. Ok, so Bret makes it into the final four on the show, according to MSNBC’s The Scoop. The show was of course taped before Bret’s emergency appendectomy and resulting brain hemorrhage (which may or may not be related) and he was fine by outward appearances at the time. He may even make it to the final live taping on May 23. If he’s there, it’s sure to be a big ratings boon to the show. Ratings spiked after Michaels’ health scare. I’m so relieved to hear that he’s doing so well and is back on his feet!

Poor Bret Michaels, seriously. There’s a lot of information coming out about his current condition, but I’m just going to put stock in People Magazine’s version and sources. After being admitted to the hospital last Thursday, Bret was diagnosed with a massive brain hemorrhage, and since then sources have had him doing everything from making a full recovery to being close to death. Currently, People Mag claims that Bret is still in the ICU, and he is “responding well” to his treatment. Here’s more:

As Bret Michaels begins what may be a slow and painful recovery from a brain hemorrhage, the rocker got another round of bad news at the intensive care unit: He was diagnosed with a side effect that leads to seizures, his reps tell PEOPLE.

“Michaels remains under 24-hour observation in the ICU and is in positive spirits. He is responding well to tests and treatments,” the reps say in a statement. “Even though today was a minor setback, doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery.”

Michaels, 47, is conscious and in critical but stable condition at the unidentified hospital after suffering a type of stroke called a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which causes bleeding in the fluid-filled spaces around the base of the brain.

Additional tests are planned to find the cause of the rupture, his reps say, adding, “Many people are speculating Michaels’s head injury suffered from a prop striking the singer at the Tony Awards last June is the cause.” But for many patients with this condition, no cause is often found.

Doctors Hopeful Despite Side Effect
Most recently, Michaels was found to have a side-effect called hyponatremia, which is a lack of sodium in the body that leads to seizures. The reps didn’t say whether Michaels has actually suffered any seizures.

“Coupled with the fact that Michaels is a lifelong Type 1 diabetic and has recently undergone emergency appendectomy surgery while on tour in San Antonio, he will remain monitored closely by his medical team to make sure no complications occur from the diabetes,” the reps say.

They add that doctors are “hopeful that Bret will gradually improve as the blood surrounding the brain dissolves and is reabsorbed into his system, which can be a very painful recovery and take several weeks to months.”

[From People]

Meanwhile, The National Enquirer is reporting that despite questions about Bret’s recent emergency appendectomy, and whether that surgery led to his brain hemorrhage, their medical sources say no, that’s not the case. They also claim that Bret’s chances for a full recovery “don’t look good”. Dr. Brian Silver (wasn’t that a character on 90210?!?), says: “About 40% of patients with a brain hemorrhage die within the first three months In terms of survivors, probably half will have a residual disability. Only between 10 and 20% make a good recovery.” Radar’s sources say pretty much the same thing – that if Bret survives, his recovery will be long and hard. Poor Bret! I’m seriously sending him healthy vibes.

Late Friday, media sources began reporting that Bret Michaels was in critical condition. Apparently, after leaving the hospital for an emergency appendectomy, Michaels had then complained of an “excruciating headache” and was rushed back to the hosptial on Thursday night. Doctors diagnosed him with a “massive subarachnoid hemorrhage” which is at the brain stem. Here’s more:

Bret Michaels’s health has taken a turn for the worse, PEOPLE has learned: After an excruciating headache late Thursday night, the star was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where doctors discovered he suffered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding at the base of his brain stem), according to a source close to the situation.

Michaels, 47, is currently in critical condition. “After several CAT scans, MRIs and an angiogram, [doctors] decided to keep Michaels in the ICU and are running several tests to determine the cause. [It] will be touch and go for the next few days while he is under intense observation,” the source says.

Reps confirm this report is accurate, and tell PEOPLE, “We will have no additional information until further testing is done.”

The rocker’s latest hospital visit follows his emergency appendectomy in San Antonio, Texas, on April 12. There is no word yet whether this new development is related to the rocker’s recent appendectomy or to his diabetes.

After his appendectomy, Michaels remained in the hospital under his doctors’ care – then transferred to a rehab facility specializing in diabetic patients.

As he was recovering, Michaels – who was still in the running to win this season of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice – seemed to be in good spirits and updated fans on his progress.

“They told me that if I had gone on stage like I wanted to, [my appendix] likely would have ruptured and I could have died,” he wrote in a note to his fans. “There is just no way around the fact that getting your appendix out HURTS. I have a pretty good threshold for pain, but this one hurts.”

[From People Magazine]

While as of Saturday morning, Bret’s family has not released any information on Bret’s condition, TMZ did score an interview with Rock of Love’s Ambre Lake. Lake claims to have been in touch with Bret’s family, and from this second-hand account, she says that he’s “awake, in good spirits and talking” and that he’s stabilized and conscious.

We will update if hear anything else…

UPDATE: Bret’s website (via EW) was recently updated with this statement: “There are several incorrect reports on Bret’s condition. Bret remains in critical condition at an undisclosed location. Further tests are being ran and information will be updated in the coming days.” Meanwhile, Bret’s father Wally Sychak spoke to Radar, saying that he spoke to Bret on Friday morning, and “He sounded upbeat and positive but they had him sedated. But he’s doing good. He sounded like my son. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed and saying our prayers. He just needs to be quiet now and get rested.” Sychak also confirmed that Bret’s two daughters, his ex-girlfriend Kristi Lynn Gibson and his tour manager are all looking after Bret at the hospital.

Bret in New York on October 9, 2009, in LA on March 4, 2008 Credit: WENN. Additional photos by PicApp.

Back in January, Michael C. Hall announced that he was in remission from Hodgkins Lymphoma. When photos of Hall came out around that time, he looked very sick – he had lost weight, he had lost his hair (presumably from chemo), and he just looked pale and drawn and tired. Considering you never hear anything negative about the guy, and everyone always seems to sing his praises as an actor, as a professional, and as an all-around good guy, Hall pretty much had the well-wishes of everyone in Hollywood. It now looks like Michael is doing much, much better – these photos are of Hall on the set of a film in New York. He looks good, doesn’t he?

Michael C Hall has been bravely battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and it looks like he is definitely winning the fight.

RadarOnline.com is glad to be able to bring you the pictures that show the Dexter star looking hearty and healthy once again.

Hall, who lost all his hair due to chemotherapy treatments, and appeared frail and sickly at the Golden Globe awards just months ago, was spotted on location as he returned to work Monday.

The actor was kitted out in a very convincing wig as he filmed scenes for his upcoming movie, East Fifth Bliss.

Movie goers will be in for a surprise, as the film is a comedy, a distinct change of pace from Michael C Hall’s Dexter character – who is a vicious, though moralistic, serial killer.

[From Radar]

Aw, he’s doing a comedy. That’s good. Dexter has some really funny parts in it too, and it’s not like Michael C. Hall hasn’t done dark comedy or tragic-comedy in a million different ways. I wonder if this is a romantic comedy? Hm. Anyway, I was just so happy that Michael looks so much better, healthier and stronger than when I’d last seen photos of him. He seems like such a sweetheart, so I hope he kicked cancer’s ass for good.

Us Weekly gathered a team of the best plastic surgeons in the business to go on the record about how awful Heidi Montag‘s fake boobs are. Except not really, these are just the doctors who would go on the record without actually treating Heidi, and it’s not like they’re saying anything that anyone with the power of sight wouldn’t have noticed. Basically, the gist is “Doctor Obvious says Heidi is going to have major health problems for years to come. Oh, and her boobs are going to sag down to her ankles, and her back is going to hurt too.” Shocking! Here’s more:

Heidi Montag — who famously underwent a staggering 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day (a breast enlargement, among them) — unveiled her post-surgery bikini bod last weekend in Las Vegas.

Though the 23-year-old Hills star — whose breasts are now a size “E” or “F” and legally cannot undergo any more surgery — was all smiles as she showed off her new assets, several plastic surgeons tell UsMagazine.com she faces a slew of post-surgery woes.

“The excessive weight of the implants in these extreme augmentations almost always leads to chronic lower back pain and significant drooping of the breasts,” says New Jersey-based Dr. Lyle M. Back. “Often, the entire balance of the spine can be thrown off, resulting in chronic neck strain, painful shoulders and even a stooping posture.”

San Francisco plastic surgeon Dr. Joel Beck thinks she also may have trouble breastfeeding. “If the breasts are too big, the baby can’t latch on to get a mother’s milk,” he says.

As Montag ages, he adds, “the implants will thin the [skin] tissues and require a breast lift.”

The implants are so oversized, they could even “erode through the skin and be exposed, mandating [their] removal,” adds Dr. Beck.

But her second nose job could have “the most potential consequences,” warns Dr. Mark Berman, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He tells Us that Montag may lose the ability to breathe through her nose if her nostrils have been “narrowed too much.”

(Her only major non-threatening surgery? Her back scooping — which, according to Dr. Berman, refers to “liposuction around the hips and flanks to narrow the waist.” “Since only fat would be removed, other than the general discomfort from the initial healing phase … she should be able to do any physical activity she could previously do,” Dr. Berman says. [Montag has been photographed doing yoga, but she has said she can't jog anymore because she'll injure her new breasts.])

Not only does she face physical ramifications – but psychological ones as well.

“There’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way in Hollywood,” admits Dr. Larry Fan, a Harvard-trained leader in aesthetic plastic surgery. “It’s just not emotionally healthy to want to change so many things about your appearance at all once. I am most concerned about Heidi’s emotional health and sense of body image.”

[From Us Weekly]

As someone with natural DD-cup boobs, let just say that they really are more trouble then they’re worth. I can barely bend over without knocking myself out. No – not really. But my back and shoulders do hurt sometimes, especially if I’m standing for a long time.

However, now that I know what this mysterious back scooping is, that sounds like an interesting procedure. Aren’t there some vital organs in that general area though? Must look up internal anatomy.

One final story, vaguely related to Heidi’s awful plastic surgery. After Audrina Patridge talked about Heidi‘s surgery on George Lopez‘s show, Spencer Pratt tweeted: “Audrina – Don’t hate because your nasty Tijuana plastic surgery got you no press.” “Nasty Tijuana plastic surgery” is maybe the best description I’ve ever heard of busted work. I can’t believe Spencer is that clever. He’s really not though – even though I do think Audrina’s implants look like “nasty Tijuana” junk, so does Heidi’s. No disrespect to Tijuana.

The hot mess that is the Whitney Houston comeback tour has suffered another setback, adding more credibility to rumors that the diva is turning to cocaine and other drugs while on the road.

The AP reports Wednesday that Whitney Houston has postponed more concert dates (full article below) at the same time a celebrity weekly features an interview alleging she’s doing drugs again.

In Touch interviewed someone who says Whitney showed up a club and snorted white powder from a baggie.

From the In Touch press release:

In Touch can reveal shocking claims from onlookers at the Beverly Wilshire hotel in LA who were surprised on March 10 when the singer walked into the bar, appearing disheveled and out of it. According to eyewitness Marlon David, Whitney was with her ex-husband, Bobby Brown, and she seemed oblivious to who might be watching when she began screaming, “I want a f***in’ drink!” followed by expletives. While Whitney’s rep vehemently denies that she’s using drugs, David, who was sitting just a table away from Whitney and Bobby, tells In Touch exclusively: “I saw her pull a plastic bag out, put a folded bill to her nose and discreetly snort a line from it of what to me certainly looked like cocaine. She’s extremely thin and looks like a disaster. She’s a hot mess.”

The AP:

NEW YORK – Whitney Houston has again pushed back the European leg of her first tour in years on the advice of doctors who are encouraging her to take time to recover from a respiratory illness, according to a statement issued Wednesday.

The statement noted she delayed the tour with “great disappointment.”

Houston, one of pop’s all-time best-selling artists, had been on a hiatus from music as she battled drug addiction and ended a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown. But with her new CD, “I Look to You,” she returned on the top of the charts and declared herself healthy and free from substance abuse.

The superstar has been on a world tour to promote the CD, which has sold more than 1 million copies in the United States alone.

However, the tour has been troubled; performances in Australia and elsewhere were negatively received by some fans and critics, who complained Houston did not showcase the majestic voice she is known for.

Video snippets of her performances showed Houston sweating and struggling to hit notes, leading some to wonder about her health.

In February, her representative issued a statement denying any troubles, saying, “Whitney is in great health and having a terrific time on her tour and with her fans.”

Houston had already postponed the European kickoff, originally scheduled for Tuesday in Paris, because of illness. A statement from a representative said doctors advised Houston to reschedule concerts Thursday and Friday in Manchester, England, and a Sunday performance in Glasgow, Scotland.

All dates are being rescheduled, and the 46-year-old singer’s tour is now supposed to start next Tuesday in Birmingham, England.

“Doctors visited Whitney late last night in Paris and confirmed that she was suffering from an upper respiratory infection,” the statement read. “Upon medical advice Whitney has been advised that she cannot perform to allow her time to recover.”

[From Huffington Post]

“Respiratory illness” seems to be the new “exhaustion.” At this point, the consistency of the rumors, and the increasing number of eyewitnesses, along with The Enquirer’s recent story about Whitney’s family begging her to go to rehab, make things look pretty bad for Whitney right now. I was really hoping she was going to come out swinging for the fences with the new CD and the tour, but so far, I am not believing that Whitney is clean. Just say no, Whitney! And get well soon.

Here are some photos of Gwyneth Paltrow in London last night, exiting a restaurant after dining with Madonna and Jesus. Incredible coat, and nice leather pants! I actually love the leather – or is it pleather? You know Goopy is so tight with Stella McCartney, and Stella’s big thing is “no leather”. Which makes me think these are pleather. I owned a fabulous pair of pleather pants once. They got me laid on more than one occasion.

Anyway, Goopy has a lot going on! She’s the cover girl for Vogue UK for the May issue (cover below), but alas, no interview excerpts have been released yet. However, Thursday’s are GOOP days, and today’s GOOP is all about how all of us peasants are totally fat. This is one of Gwyneth’s favorite subjects, and she’s talking about it in the context of Jamie Oliver’s “Food Revolution” stuff in America – she even does an interview with him (full piece here):

Sigh. Jamie Oliver. I love Jamie Oliver. I love his food, I love his books, I love his app, I love the mission he is on. Jamie Oliver is trying to change the way we eat, and by doing so, he plans to deal a massive blow to the likes of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

He is trying to encourage us to get back into the kitchen and cook for ourselves and our families, thereby cutting out the fast and overly processed foods that are making us sick. And fat. And depressed. We are getting this information from so many sources at this point that it’s hard to deny the link between bad nutrition and the host of bad effects it is having on our wellbeing. Even PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, according to last week’s Economist, sees what is at stake and is reducing salt and sugar in Pepsi products, promising to rid schools of all their sugar packed sodas by 2012 (what a gal!) So Jamie is having an effect.

He recently won the TED prize for his efforts to change our diets, as chronicled on his new TV show, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution on ABC Friday nights at 9 pm. Check him out in any of the aforementioned ways. He is pretty great.

Love, Gwyneth

[From GOOP]

I do think what Jamie is doing is important, and I recognize that obesity is a huge problem, especially for children. However – whenever Gwyneth goes off like this about how all of us peasants are so FAT, I just want to smack her. But I did think this part was interesting: “He is trying to encourage us to get back into the kitchen and cook for ourselves and our families, thereby cutting out the fast and overly processed foods that are making us sick. And fat. And depressed.” Depressed you say? Are you sure you aren’t projecting, Sad Goopy? All of those peasants might be fat, but your bony husband was still boning Kate Bosworth. Too harsh? She pisses me off when she gets on her high horse.

Here’s Goopy’s Vogue UK cover – she looks very freckled, doesn’t she?

Gwyneth in London on March 31, 2010. Credit: WENN. Cover of Vogue UK courtesy of CoverAwards.

Michael Lohan was rushed to the hospital yesterday with chest pain, and his spokesperson/girlfriend/drunken ex-Jon Gosselin hookup, Kate Major, claims that he suffered a heart attack. As Michael K. at D-Listed reports, you just know that Lohan is going to use this as an excuse to spout off to any celebrity outlet that will pay his fee. He doesn’t have any phone tapes left to sell and he’s going to capitalize on his medical issue. That’s not to say that I don’t wish him a full recovery, I just don’t want to hear from the guy ever again. He’s a nasty person who picks fights with everyone he’s ever claimed to care about. Don’t they say that you’re supposed to avoid stress and strife after a heart attack? I would imagine that a prolonged petty legal battle with your ex would only add to that.

Lindsay Lohan’s dad had a heart attack today, according to his girlfriend/non-doctor Kate Major.

Michael Lohan was taken to a hospital in New York after suffering chest pains that radiated to his arms. Kate says an EKG showed evidence of a heart attack.

Kate says Michael is at St. Francis Hospital in Manhasset. She says Michael will undergo a “procedure” but wasn’t specific.

Back on March 6, Michael suffered chest pains and was told by his doctor that he needed a heart catheterization.

[From TMZ]

A near death experience isn’t going to change Michael Lohan. He’ll just use this heart attack as an excuse to fuel his anger at every perceived slight brought on by his insufferable personality. Fingers crossed that he goes away for a long time to a spiritual retreat in a remote area without Internet access or cell phone reception.

Watch CBS News Videos Online
Warning: this shows the inside of the colon during the procedure
It’s colorectal cancer awareness month (and national nutrition month, so eat your veggies!) and Early Show host Harry Smith is doing his part. He had a live colonoscopy this morning on The Early Show, and fellow hostess Maggie Rodriguez noted that “he’s the first anchor to have this done live on network TV,” as if that’s something we’d ever expect to see! In all seriousness, it’s an important health screening procedure that can save lives. Smith was accompanied to his colonoscopy by CBS Evening News anchor Kate Couric, who lost her husband in 1998 to colon cancer when he was just 42. Katie herself had a colonoscopy that was aired in March, 2000, which may have contributed to an over 20% increase in people seeking the procedure. Katie’s colonoscopy wasn’t live, though, so now we have Harry Smith making television history.

While I didn’t expect the actual colonoscopy procedure to be shown on television they did show it! I had one years ago and was blissfully unaware of anything that was going on, but Harry was conscious toward the end. He even sat up and talked during the procedure! They showed the inside of his colon while Kate Couric narrated and called it “clean as a whistle.” I’ve seen more graphic stuff on CSI, but seeing the inside of Harry’s colon turned my stomach. The doctor even showed where the blue part of his liver was visible through the colon.

Smith, 58, got a clean bill of health afterwards. I know I’m due for another colonoscopy soon and that I’ve spoken to my loved ones about getting them. By showing there’s nothing to be afraid of, Smith and Couric are doing a great service. Colonoscopies are recommended around every 10 years for older adults depending on what your doctor advises. Nearly 147,000 people were diagnosed with colorectal cancer last year and almost 50,000 people died from it. Good for Katie and Harry for raising awareness of this important procedure.

Here’s a link to the longer video of Smith’s colonoscopy prep and results. You can also learn more on CBS.com.

Generally, I’m pretty “meh” on Elizabeth Hurley. I think she’s very pretty, I think she tries too hard, and I think she gets a bad rap about a lot of things, some of it deserved, some of it not so much. Liz is out promoting her new line of organic food, from her new organic farm in England, that her Indian billionaire husband bought her. So Liz is doing what she does best, which is a little self-promotion. But it sort of went off the rails – Liz admits that to keep her model figure in check, she’s had to cut out wine and coffee. Now, she says, she just drinks vodka. And she only eats one meal a day. Damn. That’s not right.

Her perfectly toned body is the envy of every yummy-mummy.

But at the age of 44, Liz Hurley has confessed how she has been forced to adopt a more extreme dietary plan to keep her famously svelte figure.

Miss Hurley has revealed how she has had to cut out coffee and wine from her diet. Now, instead of enjoying a glass of claret when she is at a social gathering, the model and actress has turned to vodka to keep her midriff trim.

Asked whether she missed wine, she said: ‘No, I don’t miss having a glass of wine because I’ve switched to vodka. I don’t really like vodka that much but if I’m at a party I have a small one with a lot of fizzy water and a huge squeeze of lime. Initially it’s like medicine but I’ve got used to it now.’

Miss Hurley, who lives in Gloucestershire-with husband Arun Nayar and her seven-year-old son Damian, admitted: ‘I used to drink an awful lot of coffee, but I was told after the age of 40 you have to be careful with coffee and wine. Apparently, that can be one of the reasons older women get bloated around their stomach.’

With her acting career sidelined, Miss Hurley has instead concentrated on her swimwear range and modeling.

Following the birth of Damian, she revealed how she only eats one meal a day and often goes to bed hungry. It was also reported last year that she has just one square of organic chocolate or one tablespoonful of ice-cream when she wants a treat.

[From The Daily Mail]

Alright, first I do have to give Liz credit for actually admitting how extreme her diet is. I get tired of girls claiming that they “eat everything” when they’re in reality cokehead anorexics. So, Liz gets a point for being honest. She loses points for actually being on that kind of extreme diet though. I do have to admit a few things – I’m not a coffee, wine or beer drinker either, and part of the reason is my concerns about the extra caloric intake (except for coffee – I’ve just never had a taste for it). I prefer hard liquor too, if I’m having a drink while watching my beloved NCIS. I have a Scotch, just like Leroy Jethro Gibbs (he has his straight, I take mine on the rocks). Then again, I eat three meals a day, so what do I know?

Here’s Elizabeth in London at the Emerald Ball held at Harrods to support the Elton John Aids Foundation on November 5, 2009. Credit: WENN