Clinton going back in for Heart Surgery

[Atman]

No link yet...being reported by CNN. Big Dawg experiencing pain and discomfort, going in to remove scar tissue and drain fluid buildup.

[lse7581011]

1. Wishing Him All The Best....

and wondering if it has anything to do with giving Poppy Bush the bed on the plane back from Asia!

[Atman]

4. ...or maybe campaigning for Kerry too soon, too vigorously

I was amazed he took on such a hectic schedule so soon.

[shawcomm]

16. Yep. Campaigning, library dedication in the rain, etc.

He didn't get enough time to recuperate properly. Everyone should have left him alone and let him recover.

[Kber]

28. Not to mention his Asian Tsunami relief tour

where he had to sleep on the floor of the plane because some protocol genius didn't provide 2 beds for two presidents.

[bluedog]

6. I was going to say

eeegad..the man has a problem..tries to go and do some good in the world and ends up sleeping on the floor.........why did they not have 2 beds on that plane.anyone know?

[shawcomm]

31. Because the current president is a grade A clusterfuck.

You send two former presidents out, you make sure they have appropriate accomodations. He planned this like he planned for Iraq after the inital military action - nada.

[librechik]

2. o god no

prayers and all the best hopes and wishes to our last elected president!

[HeeBGBz]

3. Damn, he shouldn't have slept on the floor

I hope he's okay.

[gordianot]

8. Not safe to get that close to a Bush.

On the other hand it was probably safer to fly on the same plane with Poppy than fly on another plane even if you had to sleep on the floor.

[Ironpost]

13. you got that right

[BrightKnight]

54. They could not provide him with a bed!

Somebody needs to be asking tough questions. This is not acceptable.

[WI_DEM]

5. and yet he was still a great enough man

to give up a bed for that cadaverous old swine. I wish the President all the best.

[TomClash]

7. draining fluid buildup is very very common

[Atman]

9. No, it is not THAT common

I'm listening to the reports now. It is not entirely unusual, but it is not considered "very very common." The procedure itself is considered fairly straightforward, but that his not the same as "very common." He had developed "significant scar tissue" and is experiencing pain.

[shawcomm]

15. Sounds like cogestive heart failure.

He never did look better after the initial bypass. I thought he got trotted out way too soon. He definitely didn't need to be standing out in the rain when his library was dedicated. He shouldn't have been flying around either raising tsunami money.

It's a damn shame. I hope they can fix him.

Scar tissue, if on the heart, is a bad thing, especially if it's interfering with circulation to the point of causing fluid buildup on the lungs.

[TomClash]

53. I've had it done and I'm still here and pretty healthy

[JI7]

10. he has been doing too much

the guy loves to work. but i really do want him to slow down and do whatever is best for his health.

[RamboLiberal]

11. Sludge has this - Risk said low

Statement from the Office of President Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton will be undergoing a medical procedure this week to remove fluid and scar tissue from his left chest cavity. The procedure, which is a recognized, occasional consequence of open-heart surgery, will take place Thursday at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and he will remain in the hospital for three to ten days.

The procedure is known as a decortication, and will require general anesthesia. The scar tissue developed as a result of fluid and inflammation causing compression and collapse of the lower lobe of the left lung. The surgery will be done either through a small incision or with a video-assisted thoracoscope inserted between ribs. The fluid buildup and lung collapse has caused the President some discomfort in recent weeks, but he has otherwise been in very good condition, recently passed a stress test and is walking up to four miles a day near his home in Chappaqua, NY.

The risk of the procedure is low, and once fully recovered, President Clinton is expected to resume his work without limitations.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3bch.htm

[lala_rawraw]

12. No, not true

Still working on getting the story, but looks like left lung went down. Working to confirm right now.

[lala_rawraw]

14. darn

CNN got there ahead of me... bastards;) so much for the morning of work:D

I think we should send a DU flower gift for our President (our only President in the last 20 years).

[doc05]

55. Relax.

It's not that big a deal. I've done the surgery a dozen or so times. It'll probably be done by putting a scope into his chest between his ribs, cleaning things up, and leaving a tube in to drain the area postop. On the "kludge" level as far as technical difficulty goes. Stop hyperventilating.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

17. Uh? Not a very common risk.

My dad had a quintuple bypass and he was told this risk was a very rare occurrence and not a good sign.

Good luck, Big Dawg! I miss you!

[wildflower]

18. Here's a link and text (short AP release)...

Bill Clinton To Undergo Medical Procedure

Doctors Will Remove Scar Tissue From Heart Surgery

Mar 8, 2005 9:16 am US/Mountain

NEW YORK (AP) Former President Clinton, who underwent quadruple bypass surgery in September, will undergo a medical procedure Thursday to remove fluid and scar tissue from his left chest, his office announced.

Clinton’s office in New York said Tuesday that the procedure is an occasional consequence of open-heart surgery.

The former president will check into NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and remain there for three to 10 days after the procedure, which is known as a decortication and requires general anesthesia.

Clinton had been quite active since his Sept. 6 heart surgery in New York, presiding over the opening of his presidential library in Little Rock, Ark. and, more recently, joining the first President Bush for a public relations campaign to help raise private funds for the victims of the tsunami in Southwest Asia.

http://news4colorado.com/topstories/topstories_story_067111838.html

[daleo]

19. Being with the Bushs, I hope he didn't eat anything Poppy skipped

If poisoning speculations are acceptable in Ukrainian politics, why not with the Bushs too? I am only being half serious, but half is a lot more than I would have been before Bush.

[slackmaster]

20. Hans Bethe dead and now this

Maybe I should avoid the news for the rest of the day.

[liberalpress]

21. Breaking: Clinton to undergo further heart surgery.

No link yet: Just broke on AP broadcast wire

[kedrys]

22. I'm lighting every candle in the house

Be well, Big Dawg!

[RamboLiberal]

23. Dupe to this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1293714

[cal04]

24. Rawstory

Reports: Clinton back in hospital; Degree of seriousness disputed
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=160

[oasis]

25. Get some rest Bill. The Bushie's are overworking you, the bastards.

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. He should have taken the bed on the plane.

[Rose Siding]

29. Says the lung collapse has caused discomfort "in recent weeks"

I thought of that bed deal, too.

snip>
The fluid buildup and lung collapse have caused Clinton some discomfort in recent weeks, his office said in the statement. Otherwise, though, he has been in very good condition, recently passing a stress test and walking up to four miles a day near his home in Chappaqua, N.Y.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002200483_webclinton08.html

[DoYouEverWonder]

38. Even a partially collaspsed lung is no fun

I had a total collaspe when I was in my 20's and I certainly don't want to do that again. I can't believe that he was flying around and sleeping on the floor in his condition.

[The Backlash Cometh]

50. Thanks for the good news about his health, otherwise,

[Justyce]

46. How funny, this was exactly my first thought too.

It's not enough that bush is destroying everything Clinton nearly killed himself to accomplish, but they make the poor thing sleep on the floor too... but seriously, I can only imagine how it must feel to watch everything you've worked your whole life for crumbling so fast since bush took office. Crossing my fingers for him - I don't think I could handle losing him. :( (I love that man - our kitten is even named Clinton)

[ryan_cats]

27. Damn!

Damn! Thank God he's getting great care. While not routine, I read that this happens sometimes on heart bypass cases. I know I'll be saying many prayers for his speedy and complete recovery.

I hope this isn't the result of doing too much too soon. With his type of go getter personality, it must be impossible to get him to rest in bed.

I hope the talk of congestive heart failure is just that. My mother in law has that and it is not good. He's still relatively young and still looks great so I'm sure he'll be fine.

[emad]

30. Bill Clinton to have scar tissue removed

KAREN MATTHEWS

Associated Press


NEW YORK - Former President Clinton, who underwent quadruple bypass surgery in September, will undergo a medical procedure this week to remove fluid and scar tissue from his left chest, his office announced Tuesday.

The procedure will take place Thursday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. Clinton is expected to remain in the hospital for three to 10 days, his office said in a statement.

Clinton was proceeding with his schedule on Tuesday and planned to be at a White House event later in the day, according to his spokesman, Jim Kennedy.

The procedure, known as a decortication, will remove scar tissue that has developed as a result of fluid buildup and inflammation, causing compression and collapse of the lower lobe of the left lung, his office said. The surgery will be done either through a small incision or with a video-assisted thoracoscope inserted between ribs.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/11081500.htm

[emad]

32. It's all Poppy's fault for hogging the Presidential bed on AirForce2

on the flight back from the Tsunami tour...

[LiberalinNC]

40. Having scar tissue removed is extremely painful!

Good Luck Mr. President!

[Bo]

33. My Prayers are with you BIGDAWG

Please get better soon....

[Pithy Cherub]

34. Peace and restored health be unto you President Clinton!

Please do whatever is necessary to get completely well!

[SuffragetteSal]

35. here is one story link

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BILL_CLINTON_HEALTH?SITE=ORSAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Personally, I thought he didn't look like he had his strength back. We send him our best wishes for a quick and complete recovery.

[lancdem]

36. He also is supposed to officially begin his job

as U.N. envoy for tsunami relief. I hope he's up to it. My prayers are with you, Big Dog.

[Penndems]

37. You can send him a get well message here:

http://www.clintonfoundation.org/messages.php

[Andromeda]

56. Done.

:kick:

[4_Legs_Good]

39. Yikes!

That's not good.

Stupid fast food

Good luck Bill! We still need ya!

david

[lancdem]

42. I think he stopped eating fast food a long time ago

It might be because he's doing too much too soon.

[4_Legs_Good]

43. That's probably it

It's scary how this stuff can keep following you around.

david

[Mother Jones]

41. I hope this means he will finally take a break and get well

Seems like he was doing an awful lot - too much, even, too soon after surgery.


Thoughts and prayers are with Bill and his family!

:hug:

[grasswire]

44. oh no

I've been worried about him for so long.

[lancdem]

45. I know what you mean

I couldn't believe how thin he looked on the tsunami tour.

[SillyGoose]

47. Its being reported on Yahoo news as well....

I am so very sad to hear this. The Big Dog is in my prayers for a swift recovery.

My 2 cents - he should NOT have been sleeping on the floor of a plane in this condition, damnit. I want to know what moran was in charge of the sleeping accomodations for this trip. :mad:

[lancdem]

48. No, he shouldn't have

[Ladyhawk]

49. I never liked Clinton as president, but I didn't know what a really bad...

...president could do to the country until *. Now I want Bill back. I didn't realize that he kept world concerns at bay until * screwed everything up. Under Clinton, the country was prosperous and foreign relations were pretty good, considering. Now everything is just so fucked up. :(

Get well soon, President Clinton. I really didn't know what I had when you were president. I'm sorry about that.

[Catchawave]

51. Breaking: Clinton Surgery

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-bc-ny--clinton-surgery0308mar08,0,7026423.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

March 8, 2005, 2:18 PM EST

NEW YORK -- Bill Clinton's latest medical problem is an unusual but not ominous complication of heart surgery, and the procedure to fix it is not particularly risky, experts say.

...more...

[chaumont58]

52. I went to Lucianne.com to see what the ldotters would say, if anything

There was a thread there and as befitting wingnuts, many had disparinging remarks.
In another vein, I wonder if Len Downie and/or Howell Raines will ever apology to Clinton? Nah, I really don't wonder. I know the answer.

[CTyankee]

57. I'm worried

I don't like the sound of this. I didn't like the sound of the story on his surgery and this is even more ominous. I had not heard that he had slept on the floor of the plane taking him to the tsumanani relief areas. My god, no wonder he is in bad shape! Why in the world can't we provide our former presidents a decent bed on these flights? This is ridiculous! This man just recovered from surgery, for god's sake!

[truthisfreedom]

58. on NPR the news story included repeated quotes from surgeons that

the procedure he's facing is safe with very little risk. what i didn't like was that they got conflicting opinions on the condition, with some saying it was "occasional" and others saying it was "rare."

i believe it was a republican surgeon, if i remember the story correctly.

[BlueInRed]

59. he's got a long road to recovery -- WEEKS they now say

due to unexpectedly large amounts of scar tissue, resulting in a full blown operation that lasted for 4 hours.

[InvisibleTouch]

60. I thought about this off and on all day.

I knew the surgery was today, and almost didn't dare turn on the computer tonight for fear of bad news. So far, so good, it sounds like - but he definitely did too much, too fast, after his initial operation, and I've been worried that he just didn't look good, since then. Now I'm reading that he didn't even have a bed on the plane during his recent travels - unbelievable! It also sounds like somebody botched the job on the initial operation. If they can't even get it right for a U.S. President, how much hope is there, really, for the rest of us?


Wishing you a swift and total recovery, Bill. Stay away from the damn Bushes - they'll make anyone sick!