If the Sen. Chris Van Hollen felt an intense pain in his neck after which he felt lightheaded about two minutes into his address in the Rocky Gap Resort last month and had to make an immediate decision.
Should he inform his crowd who had gathered for an event called the Western Maryland Democratic Summit, that he was not feeling well, and instead sit down? Or should he just ignore the signs as well as “muscle into”?
He decided to keep talking, putting his arm on the lectern to ensure he was in a good position. “It was an okay speech, in all honesty,” he recalled with laughter.
For those who were present there, he didn’t show any obvious indication of discomfort at the time.
After he had finished his speech the condition of his body deteriorated and later that night Van Hollen was rushed from his home in Kensington to George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. That’s where he was given the “scary” diagnosis the discomfort he felt was caused by an area of the neck that had ruptured, the term refers to it as a “sub-arachnoid bleeding.”
He was suffering from an “minor” stroke doctors claimed.
The doctors kept him in the hospital over the course of a week to observe. He was then able to recover for several days at home before returning work remotely, when it was in recess. Senate had been in recess and after which he returned to the office.
A 63-year old who’s running for an election for a second term in November. Van Hollen (D) is back at work with a look and sound that is no like the maiden 14 episode.
“I am feeling healthier,” he said in an interview at the office of his Capitol Hill office on Wednesday. “Getting better every day.”
The senator’s neck stopped by itself. Van Hollen says doctors have said they do not know what caused the tear however, they believe the chance of a recurrence of the injury is tiny.
“They assessed my whole veins and determined that there’s no cause for concern,” he said. “They are also unsure of the reason this occurred.”
Doctor. Dimitrios Sigounas, a GW cardiologist who treated Senator Van Hollen, said he was optimistic regarding the chances for Van Hollen to make complete recovery.
“This kind of vein bleed is not likely to have negative long-term effects in terms of the ability of a patient for recovery,” he said in an interview. “It is a very good prognosis, and almost no chance of repeating.”
Signounas claimed the doctor maintained Van Hollen in the hospital for an entire week “to make sure there was nothing that required treatment.”
“There must be no lasting effects on the cognitive abilities or endurance,” the doctor added. “He will make a complete recovery.”
Van Hollen still feels “some occasional neck pain” to which she uses Tylenol. Van Hollen is also taking blood pressure medications “temporarily.”
“When there is blood in your head in areas where isn’t meant to be, it causes pressure which takes some time this to diminish,” he said.
Doctors have suggested Van Hollen ease back to his routine. He also said that his wife Katherine has been enforcing his schedule.
“(They stated) there was no yard work,” Van Hollen said. “I said, ‘OK this seems good for my ears.'”
Van Hollen said he’s received “hundreds and hundreds” of texts, phone calls and letters from Senate colleagues as well as local and state leaders across Maryland as well as the people who are his constituents. “I’m thankful for the outpouring of love, well-wishes and affection,” he said, his voice crackling.
“I have a new appreciation for nurses, doctors as well as all health professionals truly,” he added. “It’s simply a top-quality staff that we have at GW.”
The president Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris phoned him during his seven-day stay in the hospital. “I’ve been there I’ve been there, buddy,” the president said in reference to an aneurysm that which he experienced while working in the Capitol several decades ago.
After being back working, Van Hollen is working alongside his fellow Democrats to push for gun security legislation. He told reporters that the party is considering at ways to “salvage” aspects from the Build Back Better bill, which includes provisions that will permit Medicare the ability to bargain lower prices for drugs as well as climate-related measures and a plan to increase veterans ‘ health insurance and a halt to tax breaks specifically for companies and the wealthy.
“Of every issue I’ve been able to address here in Congress the issue of firearms safety was the most disappointing due to the absence of advancement,” he said. “At the point when frustration and disappointment combine to create anger over the lack of progress.”
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