Rapper Lil Wayne finally explained what was behind his recent spate of seizures: epilepsy.
After reports spread that Wayne had been hospitalized to have his stomach pumped because of an addiction to codeine cough syrup when he suffered seizures earlier in the month, Weezy finally cleared up the rumors Thursday, revealing he and been diagnosed as epileptic when he called in to Los Angeles radio station Power 106.
"The bad news is I'm an epileptic, I'm prone to seizures," Wayne said in his first interview since leaving the hospital.
"Like, this isn't my first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh seizure. I've had a bunch of seizures, y'all just never hear about them. But this time it got real bad 'cause I had three of them in a row and on the third one, my heart rate went down to like 30 percent. Basically, I could've died, so that is why it was so serious. But the reason being for the seizures is just plain stress, no rest, overworking myself. That's typical me, though."
Wayne explained that his seizures have become so common that the people surrounding him understand how to deal with it by now.
"They already know how to handle it," he said. "Certain times I don't even go to the hospital, but this time, it was real bad because, like I said, it was three in a row, and I've never had three back to back like that."
Earlier in March, Wayne began experiencing "multiple" seizures while filming a new music video with Nicki Minaj and was hospitalized in Los Angeles. He was treated, released, and is now in good condition, TMZ first reported. Wayne's representatives declined to comment.
According to reports, on March 12 Wayne began having seizures during the filming of a new video for Minaj's latest "Re-Up" single, "High School." After he started having seizures on set, Wayne was transported to Cedars-Sinai hospital and was released "several hours" later, early in the morning of March 13.
This was far from the first time Wayne had a bizarre bout of seizures; it was actually the third reported instance for the 30-year-old hip-hop star in the last six months. Wayne suffered two seizures back in October just 24 hours apart on two separate flights, according to The Huffington Post.
While flying on his private plane Oct. 25, Wayne had a seizure, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing.
At the time, Wayne's rep claimed, "Lil Wayne was successfully released from the hospital after being treated for a severe migraine and dehydration. He is at home on doctor mandated rest and will return to work soon. He appreciates all of his fans for their support and love," The Post reported.
The next day Wayne experienced another seizure on a flight from Texas to LAX. Wayne was reportedly treated at a Texas hospital and was released a few hours later. The rapper eventually admitted a doctor had prescribed him seizure medication. He revealed in November that his doctors were ordering him to "drink four water bottles a day."
"I ain't drinking four water bottles, but everything's good," he commented at the time.
Listen to the full clip from the radio show of Wayne discussing the state of his health here: