Ashcroft in Intensive Care, Pancreatic Problems

[rodbarnett]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites), the nation's top legal officer, has been admitted to intensive care at a local hospital because of problems with his pancreas, the Justice Department (news - web sites) said on Friday.


Department spokesman Mark Corallo said Ashcroft, 61, who became attorney general in 2001 after his appointment by President Bush (news - web sites), was suffering from a "severe case of gallstone pancreatitis."


"He was admitted to intensive care for careful monitoring and is being treated with antibiotics," Corallo said.


Ashcroft on Thursday afternoon canceled a scheduled appearance in Alexandria, Virginia, to applaud the guilty verdict in a so-called "Virginia jihad" terror case because he believed he had a stomach flu.


"He went home and when the condition worsened, he was visited by White House Physician Daniel Parks, who advised that he go to the emergency room," Corallo said in a statement.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20040305/ts_nm/people_ashcroft_dc

[gulfcoastliberal]

1. Instant Karma, baby. nt

[ugarte]

2. All that bile finally ate him up inside

n/t

[sistersofmercy]

3. Karma's a MF, ay Johnny!

[Chicago Democrat]

4. Gallstones are very very Painful!

Extremely painful.

[leQ]

6. isn't pancreatitis caused by abuse of alcohol?

n/t

[displacedtexan]

18. Why, yes. It seems to be (most often) alcohol related.

Here's a link:

http://www.ddc.musc.edu/ddc_pub/patientInfo/surgeries/pancreatic/index.htm

[Deb]

7. Is it as painful as childbirth?

I've heard it said that an acute gallbladder attack is the closest a man can get to experiencing the pain of natural childbirth.

[Chicago Democrat]

9. Imagine having to Pee out a Golf Ball!

For a guy that's similar!

The Golf Ball has jagged edges too!

[jamesinca]

10. This is pancreatitis

Gallstones may have caused it, but now his pancreas is involved. His digestive enzymes have backed up and are digesting him. That is not just gallstones. It has a 10-15% mortality rate. He may bleed to death, or just be in severe pain for 3-7 days. Today it sucks to be John Ashcroft.

[Deb]

15. Thanks, that explains the need for IC n/t

[jamesinca]

23. He is being chemically digested

That is not a reason to put him in the ICU. Pancreatitis hurts, real bad. If it turns into a hemorrhagic case, or eats into other organs I can see putting him into the unit, but not before then.

[justsam]

5. couldn't have happened

to a nicer guy, too bad that it is not contagious and Rummy,Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle and the whole gang wasn't near him

[elfin]

8. I've had that - VERY painful - Tee-hee

Wonder why they give him antibiotics and also wonder why the article didn't mention if/when he was going to have the gallbladder out.


Maybe it's pancreatic cancer and they're covering. One can only hope - except running against Bush partly because of Ashcroft would be more difficult if he got to appoint someone who appeared moderate.

[trumad]

11. Calico cat curse

It happens to the best of them!

[Dogmudgeon]

12. You mean ...

... Mr. Ashcroft is using the pancreatitis as a cover for his real illness?

He has a hairball?

--bkl
Let the Eagle Soar, Let the Pussy Purr!

[jamesinca]

16. Pancreatic cancer is not usually painful suddenly

Pancreatic cancer has a definitive diagnosis with a surgical procedure known as a laparotomy. Pancreatic cancer is also 98% fatal if it is the head of the pancreas. It usually displays as the inability to keep any food down because it causes a blockage of the bowel. By the time this symptom shows up you are within a few weeks of being dead. You go from throwing up a lot to being dead in just about 6 weeks. It is gallstones and the antibiotics are being given as a precaution.

[lovedems]

20. My husband was almost arrested at the hospital when he had it

He was in so much pain he was screaming and cussing and the nurse on duty wanted him arrested because of his behavior. She called the police and everything! Thank God a good doctor came and handled the situation. He was in so much pain he was not thinking clearly, he just wanted the pain to go away!

[Bronco69]

13. I wonder if Pat, Jerry, and the gang

are holding a prayer vigil for him. :-)

[Benhurst]

14. I've read somewhere this condition is caused by

pouring cooking oil over your head. There is no known cure.

[saltpoint]

17. I'm afraid we are going to have to insist --

-- that EVERYONE who ever had treatment for gallstone pancreatitis submit their medical files at once.

------

Patient's brain wants the Rapture to occur. It doesn't. Puts strain on patient's other organs. They misfire.

The Karma Choo-Choo chugs right along.

[drumwolf]

19. pure speculation on my part, but here's a thought.....

Prior to this news breaking, did anyone here ever hear any rumors to the effect of Bush secretly planning to phase out Asscroft (in the same way there are rumors that Cheney and/or Powell may not come back in a second Bush term)? If so, do you think this would be a perfect cover for the Bush administration to claim that Ashcroft is retiring "for health reasons"?

Again, let me repeat, this is pure speculation on my part, I have not heard any actual news or even rumors to this effect.

[orwell]

21. Pain in the ...

I dislike the man as much as anyone, but I'm not going to cheer because he is in pain. I don't want to see anyone in pain.

O

[indepat]

22. As much as I despise everything he espouses and does, no one would wish

this malady on him notwithstanding the severe case of pancreatitis he has given our Bill of Rights, a malady it might not survive.

[Moderator]

24. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x400872