Actor sidelined for extreme mercury toxicity (sushi?)

[kristopher]

"...Dr. Carlon Colker, a doctor who has been treating the SAG award nominee and Emmy award-winner, tells ET that Jeremy (Piven) is disappointed that members of the production staff of 'Speed-the-Plow' and other members of the entertainment community have not rallied behind him during this health crisis.


The doctor says that Jeremy is suffering from extreme mercury toxicity. Colker tells ET that a major symptom of mercury poisoning is extreme fatigue. In addition, Jeremy began experiencing neuro-muscular dysfunction late last week, which led to extreme difficulty in lifting his arms and legs. Then, this past Sunday, he began feeling dizzy. Now, the doctors have ordered enforced rest. Jeremy spent three days in the hospital recently and the doctor tells us exclusively that he is no longer in New York.

Colker tells ET that Jeremy has been an avid sushi eater for many years, regularly eating sushi twice in one day. He notes that Jeremy has also taken certain Chinese herbs, and that, in combination with the frequent sushi consumption, could have led to these elevated mercury levels. He informs us that a test revealed that Jeremy had the highest level of mercury that he has ever seen, which amounts to six times a healthy amount of mercury, in his system...."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/18/jeremy-piven-quits-broadw_n_151987.html

[derby378]

1. Unregulated herbal supplements? Dang, son...

China's first emperor died from mercury poisoning. He ingested mercury every day thinking it would somehow make him as immortal as the gods. His mind deteriorated very slowly up to the point that he was standing in the ocean, shooting at imaginary talking fish with a bow and arrow. The mercury claimed his life soon afterwards.

My best to Jeremy Piven for a speedy recovery. Heavy metal toxicity of any kind is something you don't want to mess with.

[endarkenment]

2. yikes.

Piven is a blast to watch on Entourage.

[evlbstrd]

3. This happened to Stephanie Miller, too.

Also attributed to sushi.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. We have patients with high levels of mercury

and it does lay them low. One thing that can be done is chelation, another is Vitamin C IVs.

[Mike 03]

5. This worries me a lot

I used to be a daily consumer of sushi, and I stuff my face with tons of vitamin and herbal supplements--around sixty pills a day. And I have no clue what sort of damage I could be doing to myself.

[Mike 03]

6. P.S., this post might be worth posting in GD. I bet there wouuld be a lot of

interest in this OP and the discussion that follows.