CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta: 'Long road' ahead for Sen. Johnson

[DeepModem Mom]

Dr. Sanjay Gupta: 'Long road' ahead for Sen. Johnson

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Sen. Tim Johnson should expect a "long road" to recovery after suffering a brain hemorrhage and undergoing surgery, according to CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

"We are not talking about hours and days of recovery, but rather days and weeks, maybe even months at a minimum," Gupta said.

The bleeding apparently is on the left side of the senator's brain, the part responsible for speech and strength on the right side of his body, Gupta noted.

Several factors -- including hypertension -- can cause the tangle of arteries and veins to place pressure on the brain.

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/12/dr-sanjay-gupta-long-road-ahead-for.html


ALSO SEE: CNN: Democratic leadership aide: 'We're not changing hands any time soon'

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2006/12/democratic-leadership-aide-were-not.html

[napi21]

1. From every report I've heard, Sen. Johnson is going to be OK.

Yes, it may take months, but that's OK. I'm just happy to hear he is going to be OKin the future. Not only for his sake and that of his family, but for my Country too!

[DeepModem Mom]

2. What you said! nt

[kenny blankenship]

3. Maybe Bill Frist can give another no-see-um diagnosis to put along Sanjay's

and pronounce Johnson to be in a Schiavo-like coma.

[dogday]

6. Ditto, what kenny said nt

[Individualist]

4. CNN: Conservative News Network

[WI_DEM]

5. it will be a long road and if he shows improvement he should remain in office

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. If he can comprehend ANYTHING, he should remain in office.

If Strom Thurmond can remain in office, Tim Johnson can...as long as he can blink an eye once for yes and twice for no...he's capable of being a Senator.

[hedgehog]

7. Anecdotal evidence only for what it's worth - My dad had a severe

bleed from malformed blood vessels in the brain 20 years ago. He had enough sense of mind to crawl into bed, but wasn't found until hours later. He was rushed to the hospital and ended up placed in a barbituate coma to attempt to control any swelling of the brain. There were several surgeries to relieve pressure, remove blood, place a drainage tube, etc. He had so many CAT scans my mom lost count. He coded after a severe blood infection caused by poor sanitary practices; but was brought back. He lost about 80 pounds and was very weak when he was finally released. He was back at work full time within six months and is still very active today.

[napi21]

13. WOW! His casesounds a lot more serious with all those complications

than the Senator's. I'm so glad he is fine now.

[AnnInLa]

8. Fox News Salivating at Possible "Incapacitation"

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) is at George Washington University hospital, recovering from brain surgery.

Meanwhile, Fox News is speculating how the balance of power could shift in the Senate, even if Sen. Johnson survived. Fox’s Steve Doocy said that although “the issue of incapacitation is not spelled out in the state law,” there “would be a precedent of the federal level.”

Another Fox anchor added, “We’ll have to see what happens in terms of what exactly his condition is and who’s going to weigh in on whether it’s an incapacitation or whether that’s just clear from the facts.”

Part of the transcript:

DOOCY: That’s right, and you know, in the state of South Dakota, I understand there is the issue of incapacitation. It’s not spelled out in the state law, at the state level. However, the secretary of state of South Dakota says there would be a precedent at the federal level. Is that how you understand it as well Megan?

FOX ANCHOR: Yeah, indeed, there’s a big laundry list that they would have to go through in order to determine that he is incapacitated. It’s something that, ironically enough, might be weighed in on by his advisers. In other words, Sen. Harry Reid, the incoming majority leader, and Chuck Schumer, may advise him on whether he should declare his incapacity, if in fact he’s in a position where he can declare it or not. And so, we’ll have to see what happens in terms of, you know, what exactly his condition is and who’s going to weigh in on whether it should be declared an incapacitation or whether that’s just clear from the facts.

video and more at

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/14/johnson-fox-news/

[JDPriestly]

11. Ghouls! They are displaying their inhumanity for all to see.

[SoCalDem]

15. Incapacitation....um... like Strom Thurmond??

The repubes trotted out his barely-living corpse for decades, and dutifully aimed his cloven hoof at the voting "macheeeeeen" every time they needed his vote..and then they carted his ass back to the hospital where he was reconnected to the hardware that kept him alive.

they should talk :)

[Cha]

16. Never knew ol' strom would

come in handy as a precedent, did we? And, he will if it comes down to that.

[Blue_Roses]

17. isn't that the truth?

they had to prop Strom Thurman up

[Missy M]

9. As I wrote in a previous thread...

my husband had the same condition last year. His was massive bleeding from AVM's in the part of the brain that controls balance. He couldn't walk at first without falling over but after four surgeries he is doing OK. It did take many months but he leads a pretty normal life now. I have the highest hopes for Senator Johnson and his return to a normal life.

[Avalux]

12. Unless Dr. Gupta has examined Johnson and reviewed his medical records -

he doesn't really know what's going on. Take this report with a grain of salt.

[napi21]

14. Sanjay already said his opinion is only general and describes what

usually happens in cases similar to this one. I appreciate him at least explaining what this aliment is because I never heard of anything like it before.