Drs.: Cheney Has Mild Case of Esophagitis --Liberal Alert

AP ^ | 7/16/05

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Vice President Dick Cheney suffers from a mild case of esophagitis and some dilation of the arteries behind both knees, his office said Saturday after he completed an annual physical.

Cheney, 64, was at George Washington University Hospital for a colonoscopy, an upper endoscopy and vascular screening. The procedures completed his yearly medical checkup.

In the first part of the exam last week, an annual heart checkup produced good news for Cheney, who has had four heart attacks, though none since he become vice president in 2001.

The latest tests found Cheney's colon, or large intestine, to be normal, according to statement from his spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride.

The endoscopy "indicated mild esophagitis" or swelling or irritation of the esophagus, the tube that leads from the back of the mouth to the stomach. The statement did not elaborate on the cause of Cheney's condition.

Esophagitis frequently occurs when acid-containing fluid flows from the stomach back into the esophagus. Other possible causes include excessive vomiting, surgery and some medications.

Cheney's vascular exam also "identified small, dilated segments of the arteries behind both knees."

The vice president "is awaiting final recommendations from his medical team," the statement said.

Cheney walked briskly out of the hospital and waved to the assembled news media before getting into a car that took him back to his official residence near the Naval Observatory.

Cheney's heart checkup last week found that a pacemaker implanted in his chest in June 2001 was working fine and that it has never had to be activated. The device, called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, is designed to activate automatically if needed to regulate a patient's heartbeat.

[Bob]

I'm relieved that the esophagitis was found with an endoscopy. I hadn't heard that he was having one and was a bit concerned that his colonoscopy had been a little more thorough than most.

[snugs]

I always marveled at how he coped with the stress of 911 I can only deduce with him that either what in most people would induce stress does not or his heart condition it very much genetic and not stress induced.

[snugs]

Does not look much wrong with him to me either. When you read through the media spin of the article I am certain most 64 year olds if they had as thorough exam as a Vice President or a President must have would get similar or if not worse report, especially when you consider his medical history.

One suggestion is that the acid problem is caused by medication, I symphasthise here as my father has recently been hospitalized (out now) and they discovered 2 of his medication were not doing his liver any good. So again it proves what is good for one thing is bad for another.

I like the way that the VP walked briskly to car I bet that was a sign to the media that you are not getting rid of me that easily.

[areafiftyone]

Turns out it is a mild case of Acid Reflux. My sister has acid reflux - while uncomfortable it is not life threatening if you take medicine for it. I think he looks terrific - he has lost weight and exercises. I also heard that he has some swollen arteries in his knees. Maybe from working out.

[Mike Bates]

[snugs]

I believe he has had knee trouble for many years, I remember an interview by a skiing magazine a few years back in which he said that he had to curtail skiing to messing about with the grandchildren because of knee trouble and generally getting older.

This may well be connected.

[snugs]

A photo(s) is worth a 1000 words.