Milford's Dan Patrick Describes Excruciating Health Battle

MILFORD, CT — In March, Milford's Dan Patrick, a famous sports personality, made big news when he moved his "The Dan Patrick Show" into his new studio home at 363 Naugatuck Avenue. This week he made even bigger news as he opened up about the serious health issues he's been battling the seven past years.

At one point, Patrick, who became extremely emotional, told his millions of radio and tv viewers that he thought he was going to die due to the immense pain he suffered from. At times, Patrick, who was a fixture on ESPN's Sportscenter and hosted NBC's Sunday Night Football pre-game show, described the fact that he couldn't even get out of bed in the morning and he'd forget the most basic things.

He began his health announcement by saying, "I've been holding a secret." He went on to say he's been dealing with polymyalgia rheumatic, which causes "intense" joint pain and that he's been battling it for the past seven years.

He began his emotional revelation by saying there have been times on the show where he suffers from memory loss and his staff has to jump in and save him. He said his mind and his mouth are often not working together.

The pain was so dire that he couldn't walk or get out of bed in the morning. "I hated getting out of bed," Patrick said. For a long time, doctors couldn't find out what was wrong with him. But inevitably he was prescribed prednisone, which he said is both "wonderful and horrible."

The prednisone did take away his overwhelming pain but it left him feeling depressed and with "suicidal thoughts." He said he'd cry for no reason and thought about cancelling his popular radio program.

He said a hospital in New York City saved his life. He's been receiving light chemo treatments through an IV but the side effects include constant headaches and memory loss. The treatments are done monthly and it took four or five treatments for him to even start to feel better and reduce the swelling in his joints. He still has treatments through September which means the memory loss will continue through then.

One day last week on air he couldn't remember Albert Pujols name, and when his wife sent him shopping for one item recently, he came back with the wrong item. He said there were times he couldn't even start his car because he forgot how to.

"It was really really scary," Patrick said, while adding that he felt like he was "dying."

He recalled taking Vicodin, which was left over from a prior knee surgery, just to play golf on his 60th birthday. He'd medicate with booze at night.

He said he is on the road to feeling better but the "brain fog" will continue while he seeks treatment.

"I've been holding a secret," Patrick concluded.

Video via Youtube