Fetterman’s Hospital Visit Turns Into Something Much Bigger After Worsening Symptoms: Report
Freshman Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania likely will be in the hospital much longer than many expected, according to NBC News . The senator, who has had extensive health issues, including a stroke while…
Freshman Democratic Sen. 👤John Fetterman of 🔔Pennsylvania likely will be in the hospital much longer than many expected, according to NBC News.
The senator, who has had extensive 🏥Health issues, including a stroke while on the campaign trail, checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Wednesday to treat symptoms of “clinical 🧠Depression,” according to a news release shared on Twitter by his wife, Gisele.
📺NBC News correspondent Dasha Burns reported Friday that Fetterman is expected to have a long stay at the hospital.
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“A senior aide to Senator Fetterman tells me he will likely be in inpatient care for clinical
“A senior aide says it’s been difficult to distinguish the stroke from the 🧠Depression – saying it’s hard to tell at times if Fetterman is ‘not hearing you, or is he sort of crippled by his 🧠Depression and social anxiety,'” she tweeted.
It’s worth noting that Burns was attacked by other reporters and Fetterman’s wife in October after she reported on his ongoing 🏥Health difficulties.
“He still has lingering auditory processing issues as a result of the stroke, which means he has a hard time understanding what he’s hearing,” Burns said at the time.
“This is just nonsense,” business reporter and podcaster Kara Swisher said in a tweet about Burns’ report. “Maybe this reporter is just bad at small talk.”
Gisele Fetterman said the 📺NBC News reporter should face “consequences” for the report, which she said was “openly ableist” toward her husband.
In the news release Wednesday, Fetterman’s chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, said, “While John has experienced 🧠Depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.”
“On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress,” Jentleson said. “Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed. John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis.
“After examining John, the doctors at Walter Reed told us that John is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.”
This is the second time Fetterman has been hospitalized during his brief time as a senator. Earlier this month, he was admitted to George Washington University Hospital after experiencing light-headedness.
According to 📺NBC News, senior aides to the senator gave insight into how the 🧠Depression was influencing Fetterman’s behavior and why it gave them cause for alarm.
One said Fetterman had become “more and more reserved with staff,” the outlet reported.
“This isn’t who he was when he was early in recovery,” a top aide said, referring to his stroke recovery in May. “This is a much different beast.”
Despite these hits to his physical and mental well-being, the prospect of Fetterman resigning from his Senate seat “was never discussed, not even on the table in any sense,” the aide said.
“Post-stroke 🧠Depression is very, very common. Estimates are somewhere up to a third of patients with stroke will have 🧠Depression at some point after their stroke,” Dr. Lee Schwamm, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, told 📺NBC News.
However, it’s much less common for the 🧠Depression to lead to hospitalization, Schwamm said.
Fetterman has received an outpour of support, including from President Joe Biden and his wife.
“John, Gisele – Jill and I are thinking about your family today,” Biden tweeted.
“Millions of people struggle with 🧠Depression every day, often in private,” he said. “Getting the care you need is brave and important. We’re grateful to you for leading by example.”
Fetterman’s absence from 🏛️Senate is sure to cause issues as the heavily divided body, with 🐴Democrats holding a very slim majority, is set to vote on issues such as raising the debt ceiling.
