MSNBC Breaking: Doctors diagnose blood clot in Vice President Cheney's left lower leg

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

Doctors diagnose blood clot in Vice President Cheney's left lower leg

edit: banner @ top of page

more:

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0530750720070305

Cheney has blood clot in leg, not hospitalized

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Doctors found a blood clot in Vice President Dick Cheney's left leg on Monday but he was not admitted to a hospital and will be treated with blood thinning medication, his office said.

Cheney, who has a history of heart troubles, went to his doctor's office after he "experienced mild calf discomfort," his office said in a statement.

"An ultrasound revealed a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or 'blood clot' in his left lower leg," it said. "His doctors will treat him with blood thinning medication for several months. The vice president has returned to the White House to resume his schedule."

[soleft]

1. Okay everyone, stay legal

[IronScorpio5]

4. Its tough to do....

when it comes to "DEADEYE" Cheney.

[populistdriven]

162. Can Ice Water Clot?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Oh, boy...

It's going to be a busy night...:eyes:

[liberalhistorian]

18. LOL, you beat me to it! Especially since one never knows

when Agent Mike is on duty, you know.

Hi, Agent Mike! :hi: :evilgrin:

[mike_c]

72. hi LH....

:hi:

Oh, wait a minute....

[meldroc]

50. IIRC, only making direct threats against Cheney is illegal.

Wishing for his medical conditions to do their work on him without external intervention is perfectly legal... :evilgrin:

[kelvinyany]

71. I will be praying for him...

... to....


oops! I am really trying to stay legal here and not get banned.

[Kolesar]

85. Okay, DU atheists, keep your faith

No praying for divine intervention, no matter how much it could improve the fate of the Earth and everything we hold dear.

[VegasWolf]

131. Actually we'll keep our lack of faith thank you. But we can hope!

:toast:

[Kolesar]

163. I have faith in what I believe

Which would be rationalism, existentialism, that which can be observed, and the scientific method. I read an essay a long while ago on www.slate.com about the challenge of atheists "keeping their faith". I admit that I have had a few moments that challenged me. And I have had a few moments when I was imagining what a well placed lightning bolt could actually do. For that matter, if there was a Godzilla or a Superman who could show up in the right place and decapitate a ruinous and immoral government.

[VegasWolf]

178. Interesting...

My parents attempted to raise me Catholic, but at a very age I realized how nonsensical and absurd( in the existentialist sense of course) religion is. I never have doubts about my lack of faith.

[struggle4progress]

137. Send him to Walter Reed

[Donnachaidh]

2. will THIS be his excuse to resign?

He's done with the Darth Cheney Mid-East Tour, I'm sure all the pieces are in play. His work is done. :sarcasm:

So - any bets that he suddenly becomes *too ill* to continue in office?

[asjr]

14. Well, it certainly is a very convenient

blood clot!

[Eurobabe]

33. Yep, all the chessmen are in place, Cheney can EXIT

with grace now. :sarcasm:

[intaglio]

99. Oh Deary Deary me

Did you know that Exit International is the pro-choice voluntary euthanasia/ assisted suicide organisation?

http://www.exitinternational.net/

But of course you meant nothing by it, it was just an accident ;-)

[onenote]

39. I bet against his leaving office over this

[catgirl]

42. It sure looks like he's looking for an excuse

Hm, first the plane, then the bomb, now this.
He may fake a stroke (it worked for Reagan).

[rodeodance]

43. It is a very good medical reason. blood clots are serious problems. I am

surprized he returned to the WH.

[jmowreader]

76. Not with just ablood clot in his leg

All they gotta do is inject a little warfarin below it to break it up, and give him a script for blood thinners.

[shireen]

83. i hope you're kidding....

you can't inject warfarin, it's taken in pill form and it takes several days to be effective. He should be on heparin. And he needs to stay off his feet. This is very dangerous -- i hate the jerk, but as far as his health goes, i only wish him well and a speedy recovery.

[Bigmack]

108. Shireen, are you and jamowreader crazy!!!

Cheney can't take warfarin in any form!

It's the main ingredient in D-Con.... rat poison!

He'd croak in a minute!

[shireen]

115. ;-)

ok, momentary lapse ... my apologies. :)
i've had a dvt before, and i feel for the guy -- he doesn't deserve my sympathy, but i can't help it ....

[liberalhistorian]

140. How long can you have dvt's and blood clots in the leg

before you know about it? Can they cause symptoms for a long time, or are they sudden?

[shireen]

146. usually sudden

If your leg suddenly gets swollen, go to the ER immediately. Insist on an ultrasound.

in my case, I woke up one morning to find my right leg swollen like a balloon and very sore. I was totally baffled. The symptoms got worse so I went to my doctor's office. Her partner examined me and said, go to the ER immediately. An ultrasound showed that the clot was a monster, extending from mid-calf to groin. It took about 5 months for the clot to be resorbed.

But some people can have it without knowing it's there, that is, until it breaks loose and gets into the lungs to cause a pulmonary embolism (PE) or heart attack.


Anyone who gets a DVT and/or PE needs to be screened for blood coagulation disorders. In some cases, the DVT occurs simply due to dehydration and being in a seated position for long periods of time, like long plane trips. For others, it's a ticking time bomb waiting to happen due to a blood coagulation disorder like Factor V Leiden, or in my case, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. In those cases, coumadin is a life sentence.

[Eurobabe]

153. My best friend was dx'd with Factor 5 after a huge clot

in her leg about 2 years ago. She must inject coumadin daily. It sucks.

[TankLV]

165. Then I reccommend they follow their recommendations immediately!

[jmowreader]

172. Heparin. Thanks for the correction.

Anyway, you get where I'm coming from: this is not the kind of a thing that should keep him from working as Vice-President.

I mean, come on: you, I and Jim Robinson over at The Site We Love To Hate pay to follow this evil fucker around with a full-scale cardiac unit, and that hasn't kept him from working as Vice-President. They don't call him Crashcart Cheney for nothing.

The fact that he's one of the biggest crooks who ever lived is the kind of thing that should keep him from working as Vice-President.

[aquart]

79. Bush won't let him go.

Cheney is pure impeachment insurance. No way in hell he gets to resign and leave George to face his beloved country alone.

[Klukie]

3. I would bet it is ......

from all the flying he did recently.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. That's a good point... I'll bet you're right.

And he wasn't exactly a picture of health, to begin with...:eyes:

[LisaM]

36. Exactly what I was thinking

Flying really can exacerbate something like that.

[rodeodance]

45. it is associated with the cramped seats-but on Air Force II--he does not

have that problem as he can get up walk----sleep.

[hedgehog]

73. He didn't fly a 747 last time

He flew aboard a luxury Airstream trailer tied down in the hold of an Air Force cargo plane named The Spirit of Strom Thurmond no less!

[never cry wolf]

155. He flew in the standard AF2 for most of the trip

The only time he used the C30 (I think it was) fitted out with the airstream trailer was short jaunts into hot spots, from Oman into Kabul for example. The round the world flying was done in his standard plane, only used the cargo when he wanted to be incognito.

[Canuckistanian]

143. If he walked around, he might have to answer reporter's questions

So, he stayed sitting down and enjoyed his roast baby beef.

[Rhiannon12866]

53. Wolf Blitzer just mentioned this, said that's probably what brought it on...

And, because of that, it's probably temporary. Oh, well...:evilfrown:

[aquart]

80. Well, I don't mind the expense, then.

Has he been to Tahiti? Sheer paradise. Long flight.

[Eurobabe]

151. who knows what came first the chicken or the egg

supposedly people with CVD (cardiovascular disease) are at a higher risk for DVT. And my friend has Factor-5 (a clotting disorder, she's has several major leg clots and they are extremely painful) she injects coumadin everyday.

Why would anyone hope that Crashcart "gets better," he's too busy trying to fucking destroy the world. This evil prick has been getting rich off of other people's misery for 3 decades. Sure would be awful if that clot traveled. :sarcasm:

[maddezmom]

7. Deep Vein Thrombosis {sp}

they will give him some blood thinners and he'll probably be fine. :(

[Rhiannon12866]

11. Thanks... Wasn't that what Nixon had?

And I take your point, LOL.:evilgrin:

[louis-t]

32. "Phlebitis? Ain't dat what da Democrats gave Nixon?"

Archie Bunker

[Rhiannon12866]

44. That's right, thanks... :-)

[ginnyinWI]

96. yup

Funny, because I was just thinking how like his old boss he has become lately.

[flamingyouth]

13. Yeah, I'm sure you're right.

:hi:

[IronScorpio5]

17. Unless it flips up to that thing called his heart.....

of course he really has no heart.

[maddezmom]

24. Dr's confirm DVT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Doctors found a blood clot in Vice President Dick Cheney's left leg on Monday but he was not admitted to a hospital and will be treated with blood thinning medication, his office said.

Cheney, who has a history of heart troubles, went to his doctor's office after he "experienced mild calf discomfort," his office said in a statement.

"An ultrasound revealed a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or 'blood clot' in his left lower leg," it said. "His doctors will treat him with blood thinning medication for several months. The vice president has returned to the White House to resume his schedule."



http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0530750720070305

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

112. Yeah, I wouldn't worry

If he had a heart that the clot could travel to, then this could be a serious situation

[grasswire]

9. I guess that Airstream inside the transport plane..

..wasn't enough comfort to keep Cheney from cramping up his legs on his travel. They shoulda strapped him to a gurney for the flights.

[meldroc]

97. It very well might be that C-17 cargo jet.

IIRC, deep vein leg thrombosis has been nicknamed "Economy class thrombosis" because the cramped seats in airliners and long sitting times on board have been known to cause or aggravate cases of thrombosis. Airlines have faced lawsuits over this.

Cheney, while in Afghanistan, was flying in the C-17 cargo jet (Spirit of Strom Thurmond), in that Airstream VIP module thingy in the cargo bay.

That's not a comfortable way to fly. Airliners are almost always very gentle - flying mostly in good weather, landing on nice long runways, with a gentle touch by the pilots, because customers complain when the airliner does too many aerobatics. Cheney was in that cargo jet, which doesn't fly nearly as smoothly as a 747, and that jet was likely to have done some rather violent maneuvers to go around mountains and avoid shoulder-fired missiles & such as it was flying over Afghanistan and landing at Bagram (it probably dove steeply during final approach and pulled up hard as it landed to minimize exposure to missiles.) Cheney was in that Airstream module, with no windows, in an aircraft doing violent maneuvers to keep him from dying or crashing into things, and he might have even been wearing a 5-point harness instead of a normal seat belt. That's probably not good for him, given his medical condition.

[karlrschneider]

119. Just out of curiosity, why would a C17 fly less smoothly than a 747?

"violent maneuvers"?

:silly: :spank: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[meldroc]

126. Actually, I'm serious about this.

Compare final approach and landing of a 747 coming in to a major U.S. airport like Chicago's O'Hare with a .mil C-17 coming in to Bagram AFB.

The 747 will have a nice, gentle approach, starting its descent from at least 50 miles away. No really sudden turns, a short descent rate, plenty of room to get lined up with the runway and get on the correct glide slope without having to make huge corrections. The runway will be at least two miles long, so the captain can pick where he can set the plane down, and then he'll have lots of room to slow the plane down before taxiing to the gate.

The C-17 coming into Bagram with Cheney on board will have a few problems to deal with. First, the terrain around Bagram, and Afghanistan in general is mountainous. I'm not sure this will have a huge effect around Bagram itself, but that may make for a few more turns so the plane doesn't slam into a mountain. Second, there is the possibility of Taliban fighters with shoulder-launched SAMS hanging out a few miles from the end of the runway, who might take a potshot as the plane passes over. That's where the violent maneuvers come in. Instead of that nice gentle descent with lots of room to line up with the runway, the plane will stay at 30,000 feet of altitude until it's right above Bagram, then drop into a tight corkscrew descent, at a much higher rate of descent, pulling into final approach just a mile or two from the runway, still descending with a very steep glideslope as it comes into land, then pulling up sharply for the landing itself, which will be on maybe a couple thousand feet of runway, with thrust reversers blasting, and the plane turning of and getting to safety as soon as possible.

Everyone on board will be strapped down, and the experience could be described as terrifying.

[spotbird]

135. God, I hope you're right

Cheney deserves to go through that every day.

[LiberalFighter]

158. From the attackers, his plane or from his mouth?

[Greeby]

10. Call the cybernetics lab

Time to order up a new part :evilgrin:

[volstork]

12. didn't know he HAD blood...

...I thought it was all oil

[dogfacedboy]

15. That blood clot is my hero! n/t

[bigworld]

22. Watch it dogfacedboy, or you'll go to Gitmo!

[NoodleyAppendage]

41. Oh, bullsh*t. It's not illegal to not wish someone well..this isn't the same as advocating harm.

Frankly, I wish Cheney a very LONG and non-painfree recovery period.

J

[CottonBear]

16. CNN: Vice President Cheney treated for blood clot in his leg after experiencing discomfort in calf

http://www.cnn.com/

Didn't he recently have an operation on the vessels on the back of his legs to clear out the veins or arteries?

[Donnachaidh]

27. darth is worried about spider veins?

I have to go soak my eyes. The thought of THAT in shorts! :puke:

[ShortnFiery]

35. experiencing discomfort in calf ...

Oh that report was MooooooVing! :yoiks:

[HeeBGBz]

128. Then he should stay away from farm animals.

I'm sure the calf wasn't thrilled either.

[LiberalFighter]

159. He better stay out of those states that prohibit beastiality

[Seedersandleechers]

19. Send him to Walter Reed

For all his medical care. :rofl:

[Sagan]

20. Send him to Walter Reed, Building 18....

Hey, if it's good enough for the troops that they "support" so well, it should be more than good enough for a civilian. The troops get the best, right?

[Junkdrawer]

34. Shit. Beat me to it. n/t

[bigworld]

A little background info FYI

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) refers to a blood clot embedded in one of the major deep veins of the lower legs, thighs, or pelvis. A clot blocks blood circulation through these veins, which carry blood from the lower body back to the heart. The blockage can cause pain, swelling, or warmth in the affected leg.

Blood clots in the veins can cause inflammation (irritation) called thrombophlebitis. The most worrisome complications of DVT occur when a clot breaks loose (or embolizes) and travels through the bloodstream and causes blockage of blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) in the lung. This can lead to severe difficulty in breathing and even death, depending on the degree of blockage.

In the United States, about 2 million people per year develop DVT. Most of them are aged 40 years or older. Statistics reveal that at least 200,000 patients die each year from blood clots in their lung.

[CottonBear]

25. Isn't this what killed journalist David Bloom during the Shock & Awe invasion? nt

[maddezmom]

28. yes, The Silent Killer

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7074940/

[Rhiannon12866]

31. I think that was a pulmonary embolism.

But he did a lot of traveling, too...:shrug:

[CottonBear]

40. I think you're right. It resulted from being in a cramped position for hours at a time. n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

51. You're right... They just mentioned this on CNN.

I guess that this was how it started with David Bloom. That was very sad. And he certainly didn't have the health care that Cheney does...:-(

[meldroc]

64. Cheney's is in his leg, which isn't a huge deal, but it could become serious.

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot in the lungs, which is extremely serious - that will kill very quickly.

It's likely that little will come of this - Cheney might get a dose of clotbusters, which will probably dissolve the clot completely. Then again, it could cause the clot to break loose, travel downstream, then lodge somewhere important like the heart, lungs or brain.

And this isn't his first medical issue - he has had four heart attacks, and has a pacemaker.

[shireen]

84. it is a big deal ...

the clots usually start in the legs, then break free to block major organs. I can't believe they let him go back to work!

[meldroc]

87. Oh, by all means should he go back to work.

Anything he does to aggravate his medical conditions is fine by me...

Can't you just feel the love in this thread? It just warms my heart.

[shireen]

89. i'm saddened by the mean streaks in this thread

folks, he may be a total jerk, but that doesn't mean we should revel in his health problems. That's just low ....

[Rhiannon12866]

93. That's what Wolf Blitzer was saying on CNN, that it's not a big deal,

is probably temporary because of all the flying that he's been doing, lately. Thanks for the info... :-)

And I knew that Cheney had several heart attacks and has a pacemaker, but I didn't know that he had the first one at 37. This guy is living on borrowed time...:eyes:

[shireen]

116. blitzer does not know what he's talking about

i've had a dvt, and researched it thoroughly. it's a dangerous condition, no matter how small the clot. if anything happens to him, his family will have a good legal case for medical negligence. Geez, we're talking about the VP, why are these doctors taking it so lightly? I don't get it ....

[Rhiannon12866]

122. Well, that's nothing new... But we have to deal with the news anchors we have,

not those that we would wish for...:evilgrin:

But I believe you. Cheney's health has been precarious since the beginning, and I think he should step down and just take care of himself, IMHO...;)

[GeorgeGist]

65. DVTs are dangerous ...

because they can break free (from the leg) and lodge in a pulmonary artery, ie. pulmonary embolism.

[Rhiannon12866]

94. Got it. Thanks for the info. :-)

And CNN compared Cheney's condition to to David Bloom's and we know what happened to him... :-(

[Junkdrawer]

113. Yep. Common problem in Trauma cases....n/t

[KansDem]

30. visual here...

[shireen]

86. it's worse ....

those clots can be long ... mine extended from mid-calf to the groin. but whatever size they are, these clots are very dangerous.

[meldroc]

95. Could the White House be covering up the seriousness of this condition?

shireen is right - thrombosis can be Bad - if a clot breaks loose and travels downstream, it could wind up in the lungs, heart or brain, resulting in a nasty and likely fatal heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism. Of course, I don't trust the MSM any further than I can throw it right now, so how much do you want to bet that while the talking heads are saying Cheney's already playing tennis, he's actually in the ICU?

We could see something like the convalescence of Generalissimo Francisco Franco - long, drawn out, but with a completely insane media and inner circle claiming he's right as rain, about to make a public statement any minute now about his recovery, and nobody knowing about his death until the stench of his decomposing corpse can't be covered up any longer.

[roguevalley]

91. the little dog in my sig, Tippy, died from that. he jumped off a bed

and broke a vessel. he was in AGONY for five days before we understood what it was. I still cry. It was the worst agony I ever saw anyone go through and utterly underserved. My Tippy was a good guy.

[shireen]

147. i'm so sorry to hear that ...

he looks like a sweet perky little angel ... i've always admired his photo in your posts. so sad ... my condolences :hug:

[lse7581011]

161. An Adorable Little Fellow!

I'm so sorry for your loss!

[Quiet_Dem_Mom]

21. Rachel Maddow did a segment on Fri about Cheney's health.

She ran audio of Cheney speaking at the CPAC dinner and noticed that he was inhaling rather heavily during the speech. Rachel had mentioned that she thought it was more pronounced and commented on his health.

I wonder if the symptoms she pointed is related to the clot? If so, Rachel ought to teach Frist a thing or two about tele-diagnosing patients!

[ihelpu2see]

123. yup, your lungs filter a lot of small clots that have no ill effect on us but

larger emboli will kill you. If I recall correctly an embedded reporter died of a DVT on the way in to Baghdad at the start of this wonderful war.

so, if he has the weak heart and has just returned from his "Bash every Dem." world tour a bunch of small clots from stasis could have formed, some could have become mobile ( emboli ) and headed to the lungs.... making him have decreased lung function and therefor the labored breathing....

[Eurobabe]

154. Hell, watch the SOTUS, on fast play, Cheney was huffin' and puffin

and took something orally (nitro?) behind Bush when he was speaking. It was so distracting, many others noticed this too. Cheney's on his 9th life, health-wise. Want to make a bet they replace him for health reasons? With....hmmmmm, Unka Rudy?? Or Bro' Jebbie?

[RaleighNCDUer]

23. I've been waiting for this --

Cheney resigns due to poor health. X is named as his replacement, giving X 18 months exposure before the elections. X announces for the presidency in July.

Incidentally, X can be anyone - X is totally interchangeable, as the powers behind the repubs don't care who is in the white house, as long as it is one of their own, of their choosing, who will do whatever they say.

[bigworld]

26. Condi's my speculation

[catgirl]

46. or Jeb

[spotbird]

62. Or Joe Lieberman

too look "bipartisan". Joe's one of them to the core.

Edited to add:

Also, if Joe were promoted the Connecticut Governor would appoint an official Republican to the seat.

[lutefisk]

106. I've been thinking "Condi-Jeb '08" but Lieberman is interesting

And the way Junior loves to rub his opponents' noses in the crap just to show he's the boss... well Lieberman would be perfect for that.

[aquart]

82. Did Gerald Ford lots of good.

You really think any of them think this is a good idea? Sure it is, if you love losing.

Do they still control Ohio? Florida? Who won the governors' races all over America?

Sometimes paranoia is just paranoia.

[MGKrebs]

29. Jeebus, with his heart problems I would think he's already

on the maximum dosage of blood thinners. How much thinner can it get? Maybe they got synthetic stuff for him.

[elehhhhna]

88. he's off blood completely. replaced with light crude in the '80s

[meldroc]

37. Maybe if we're lucky, we'll see heart attack #5...

[Xipe Totec]

38. Riddled with phlebitis

Nixon's Head: "I remember my body. Flabby, pasty skin, riddled with phlebitis - a good republican body. God, I loved it."

- Futurama, "A Head in the Polls"

Quote #11; no direct link possible.

http://www.gotfuturama.com/Multimedia/EpisodeSounds/2ACV03

[ShortnFiery]

49. "Flabby, pasty skin, riddled with phlebitis - a good republican body. God, I loved it."

:rofl:

[NoodleyAppendage]

47. At what point does Cheney start looking like Capt. Pike from the Star Trek pilot?

J

[Gidney N Cloyd]

61. OK, Dick, beep once for 'yes,' twice for 'no,' and >

3X for 'go f*** yourself.'

[Twillig]

133. Too good to go unremarked.

:rofl:

[VegasWolf]

136. Dick, beep once to raise oil prices, beep twice to give tax breaks to Exxon and Haliburton, beep

three times to eliminate social securtity for the poor!

[meldroc]

48. Congress has to confirm Bush's VP replacement.

That means he can forget about nominating any raving lunatics. Condi's out, due to her neo-con bumbling. Same thing with Gonzales - his *ahem* unique Constitutional interpretations will be examined in great detail by Congress.

A Presidential candidate's more likely, probably McCain or Giuliani, if Congress doesn't find something to torpedo them. Barring them, Bush will probably have to make do with a Gerald-Ford-ish character, who Congress can deem as "mostly harmless."

[lutefisk]

104. I can't believe Rice would have any problem being confirmed

Any opposition from Congress would crumble under the weight of the media frenzy. The corporate media would lay it on quite thick- "George Bush's historic choice for Vice President."

[Ian David]

52. It's from being cramped into his coffin for too long.

The amazing thing is that they expect us to believe Cheney actually has blood.

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

54. vampire

[Algorem]

55. You're supposed to put the virgin blood in the fridge as soon as you sac-

rifice the victim,otherwise you get problems like this.that's vampirism 101 for christ's sake.sloppy.

[Purveyor]

56. Blood-thinners themself can cause all kinds of complications. Just ast the Ariel Sharon family...

[theaudacity]

57. Does the blood clot have markings on it that prove it is Iranian-made?

[uppityperson]

74. That is good.

Wishing mrcheney a long painful recovery.

[rateyes]

58. This is serious....

It's time to send the fucker to Walter Reed to get it checked out.

[Stinky The Clown]

59. I will NOT repeat the error I made when he was the target of an Al Quada bomb plot

I will say NOTHING about this.

Nothing.

And in saying nothing, perhaps *this* post will stand.

[kestrel91316]

68. That's ok. I'll say it for you (my version): I hope he dies a long,

lingering, painful death of this natural circumstance.

[endarkenment]

60. Just a bit higher and it would be in his seat of wisdom. nt.

[Tin Man]

63. Send his ass to WALTER REED !!!

...and let's see how HE likes it.

[GeorgeGist]

66. Oh no, the Freepers will have a field day...

the

LEFT

leg

means that its a liberal pclot.

[eppur_se_muova]

67. "Lower left leg"? Does that mean the cannon or pastern? nt

[truthisfreedom]

69. My suggestion is to spare no expense to save that leg. Amputate!

Or, 24 hour bed rest with no interruptions (no phones, blackberries, cells, computers, or conversations.) I'd say about 1 year and 10 months should do it.

[Senator]

70. No. The Clot Must Be Removed ... then Sent to Gitmo

...you know, for "questioning."

Let's hope they've made advances on treating "Nixon's Disease" over the years.

Seriously, we need him alive and well -- for his trip to The Hague.

--

[mike_c]

75. I hope it hurts like hell....

:evilgrin:

[spoony]

77. I wonder how they'll blame this on Bill Maher n/t

[stubtoe]

98. or Bill Clinton

*wink*

[The Count]

78. I'm sure Walter Reed will take good care of him...

Funny, I was just posting this on DU:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=343887&mesg_id=343887

[shireen]

81. they sent him home and he's back at work?!!!

the doctors should have kept him in the hospital! DVTs are nothing to mess around with! I hate that bastard but I don't wish him any harm. This is a dangerous situation; a piece of the clot can break off and cause a pulmonary embolism (clot in lung that cuts off some oxygen circulation), or obstruct blood to a major organ like the kidney or liver. These conditions can be fatal. When I had my dvt in '03, they would not let me move for 24 hours and wanted to keep me in the hospital for 3 days; only after I begged and pleaded to be released, they sent me home with strict instructions to keep my leg elevated and not move around. Coumadin takes about 3-5 days to be effective, so I had to take fast-acting blood-thinners for the first week -- an injectable drug called lovenox. I hope the doctors gave him that drug.

He should not be walking around; at the very least, he needs to stay at home and keep his leg elevated. Geez! What are those doctors thinking?!

[elehhhhna]

90. sounds like he was treated at a Military Hospital, eh?

[shireen]

117. LOL! good observation :-)

[LeftyMom]

107. My Mom had the same thing two years ago. She wasn't kept inpatient

and she also has some pretty severe health issues, although not the cardiac history that Cheney does.

She was kept home from work though, as her doctor felt that the worst thing for the condition is more time stationary at a desk, which was probably the cause to begin with. However, they certainly have the resources to keep him in appropriate positions and medical care available to him, so there's really no difference if he's at home plotting evil on the speakerphone or at the White House doing it in person.

I would think the real concern isn't whether they can arrange for him to keep his leg elevated at work, it's whether whatever pain meds they have him on to deal with it are compatible with serious responsibility. Perhaps his doctor came to the same conclusion I did- that he couldn't do any worse high on vikes or whatever than he has sober.

[ribrepin]

149. I hope Dick enjoys giving himself the shots to the belly

Had a knee replacement a year ago. I had to plunge blood thinners into my belly for a month. Lots of fun. Really not for the wimpy type.

[Paula Sims]

92. Enter McCain? n/t

[GoddessOfGuinness]

100. This is what comes of too much travel on the Spirit of Strom Thurmond

[kitty1]

101. I'm wondering if traveller's thrombosis from that long flight....

messed up his circulation. Traveller's thrombosis has been linked to long flights and he definitely would have been vulnerable to blod clots.
Maybe that explains the unscheduled pit stop on the way home.
It could also just be a coincidence in timing.

[kitty1]

102. oops; I guess this idea was already address earlier...n/t

[rodeodance]

103. He can move around on Air Force II. --also has a bed for him--NO cramped

leg space without exercising----which gives rise to blood clots on long flights.

[colorado_ufo]

105. This was a danger of the long flights he just took.

And he didn't even fly coach!

Seriously, even healthy people can develop dangerous leg clots on these long flights, without getting up and moving around enough. Someone with Cheney's health problems has greatly multiplied risks. Politics aside, his doctor should have cautioned him; and if the doctor did, his patient should have listened.

[WorldResident]

111. Very observant post

;)

[indepat]

109. DC must be one tough hombre: my day lay in ICU for days with one of those suckers

[WorldResident]

110. Prayers for the Vice President

I think he'll be alright though from what I know anecdotally about this condition. ... Here's some information on deep vein thrombosis.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000156.htm

[lovuian]

114. I can't believe he is working

thats just downright dangerous

[CRK7376]

118. I say he goes to

Walter Reed or any of the other Veterans Affairs hospitals in the DC area for treatment...oh I forgot, he never served in the military....I hope it hurts....

[Joey Liberal]

120. Best wishes to that Blood Clot!

Just kidding:).

[Chulanowa]

121. I hope it doesn't cause any lasting injury.

I want him to stick around for a trial, after all :D

[many a good man]

124. I pray that he gets well and lives a long life

behind bars in Leavenworth or The Hague.

[Martin Eden]

125. My thoughts as well

The man deserves disgrace and imprisonment, not a state funeral with all the false honorariums athat go with it.

[belab13]

127. I thought the Chensters blood was replaced with antifreeze

several mechanical hearts ago...

[VegasWolf]

129. Wow, God has tried to welcome Cheney twice in a week! Guess God is off his mark! nt

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

130. I honestly don't see what they're worrying about

The only way it could be life-threatening is if it were to break loose and travel to his heart.

The thing is, you see, he doesn't HAVE a heart.... :shrug:

[VegasWolf]

132. Well, it could also go to his brain ---- err, wait, yeah no danger there either!

:toast:

[aaronbees]

145. bingo! (nt)

[JerseygirlCT]

134. All I can wonder is how many people with no or sub-par

medical insurance, would be able to see the dr. because of some "mild calf discomfort"?

[durtee librul]

138. Send him to Bldg 18 at WRH

and take away his flight priviledges....airplane rides are not good for this I hear.

[Matilda]

139. A friend of mine has been predicting that Cheney will resign,

and McCain will be appointed VP, which will give him a head start in '08. (She lives in Wisconsin,
and is a Feingold supporter).

Maybe she was right - it makes some sense, but I didn't think he'd let go the reins easily.

[HuffleClaw]

150. could be, but i'm not sure what the OTHER republican hopefuls will think of that

they'd be outraged.

[ShortnFiery]

156. No, those poppy bear hugs McCain gave Dimson were all in vain

If we could be a fly on the wall, I'd bet we'd hear Dimson mocking McCain, behind closed doors, at ever given opportunity. Besides his kool-aid right wing base do NOT ever forgive ... they will always loath McCain for challenging Dear Leader. ;)

[Chomskyite]

141. Oh great!

This means Cheney now has the same condition as Dr. House. Just what we need.

[RedG1]

142. it's Karma

:toast:

[IcyPeas]

144. At least he HAS as a leg...

more than you can say for some of the troops coming home. :-(

[Occulus]

148. Oh, the poor man. n/t

[Eurobabe]

152. Amputate, below the knee in Bldg. 18!

[TankLV]

166. This is serious - they'd better amputate - below the NECK...

Can't risk further damage, can we...

[rcdean]

175. I prefer they amputate above the neck...

n/t

[TankLV]

176. They'd better do both - to be sure...

[Massachusetts]

157. Say Good Night Dick!

Good Night dick!

[LiberalFighter]

160. I think the docs missed a few things if they did a thorough diagnosis

They probably didn't check his head out for holes

[TankLV]

164. I can't say what I wish would happen here...

But I'm sure there are BILLIONS of persons the world over thinking exactly as I am...

[Seabiscuit]

167. Make that "billions of persons" + 1.

:)

[yurbud]

168. "Since Cheney has no pulse or heart, their is no danger of the clot moving to a critical organ...

like his wallet."

[Bridget Burke]

169. While I have no doubt that Cheney's clot is real....

I'm wondering whether this story is being pushed for some reason. Cheney's health has been bad for years, but details were often sketchy.

Perhaps it's about time for Cheney to retire "for his health." Scooter Libby has nothing to do with it! And stop mentioning Walter Reed--"outsourced" to a Halliburton's subsidiary.

[hunter]

170. And the clot's name is "Scooter" Libby...

Makes a good political cartoon.

:evilgrin:

[pampango]

173. I think you're right. Playing up his health problems now could be

a prelude to him resigning for health reasons. Particularly since his office is looking very complicit right now and Bush could convince himself that he is taking action to limit the damage if Cheney is gone.

[Forkboy]

171. I didn't know oil could clot.

[SOS]

174. This cynic doesn't believe a word of it

Diagnosed a few hours before the Libby verdict?
Baloney.

[calimary]

177. Uh-oh... blood thinners. Well, if he's anything like my late mother,

he's in for some NOT-terribly-fun times.

My mom was on blood thinners for years after heart surgery in which two heart valves were replaced with artificial counterparts. The blood thinners were needed to keep blood from clotting in and around the artificial valves. Yeah, they worked fine. But for every upside, there's a downside with these things. Her condition to start with was weak because of a badly damaged heart. That's never very helpful. Plus, as she aged and grew weaker, and the blood thinners did their work, they also promoted internal bleeding. She was in and out of the hospital in the last couple of years of her life - with bleeding that could not be stopped, or even located for some time.

Further, over time, the thinned blood meant not as many corpuscles were delivering nutrients and especially oxygen to her brain. Over time, as a result, she became somewhat dingy, judgment and memory impaired. Not terrible - she wasn't an Alzheimer's victim, but it became noticeable. Toward the end they decided to try to stop the bleeding by taking her off the blood thinners. The bleeding stopped, but blood clots formed, and a small one found its way to her brain.

Long, roundabout way of saying cheney will do okay, but only for awhile, on those meds. They're gonna have to watch him for internal bleeding then. It may affect his memory, concentration skills, and he may not be playing with a completely full deck after awhile because of oxygen deprivation to the brain. Plus, he's already in pretty crappy condition as it is. He's out of shape, pudgy, somewhat slumped, his color's terribly pasty, he's got stent grafts in the backs of his knees to promote circulation through damaged and weakened arteries, a pacemaker, he's had four heart attacks, and you can tell by looking that he A) doesn't eat correctly and B) gets probably next to no exercise (beyond maybe some treadmill time). With weakened arteries and veins already troubling him, he's probably a good candidate for internal bleeding, because it may not be isolated just to the legs.

From the same link:

Cheney was given a clean bill of health on July 1 after routine tests to check on aneurysms on the backs of his knees. A pacemaker had been inserted in his chest in 2001.

In September 2005, Cheney underwent successful surgery to implant stent grafts behind both knees. They are tubes to help the blood flow through weakened arteries.

One other thing - stress was always a worry for my mom, stirring her up or upsetting her which often made her sick. cheney's life can't be considered all that - um - er - uh - shall we say "stress-free"?

It's one thing when the patient's already in pretty good shape going into something like this, or is young enough to have some resilience. But cheney is neither of those things. Sounds like he's a frickin' mess, physically-speaking.

[Seabiscuit]

179. On further diagnosis, the docs discovered the "clot" was really a lump of coal.