Cheney Has Irregular Heartbeat

AP ^ | 11/26/07 | none

[SaxxonWoods]

The elder George Bush had this condition arise while president and didn’t resign. Shep, you ignorant twit!

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While jogging at Camp David on a Saturday afternoon (May 4, 1991), Bush developed shortness of breath, chest tightness, and a general feeling of fatigue. A White House physician discovered Bush had a rapid irregular heartbeat, ultimately diagnosed as atrial fibrillation due to hyperthyroidism (see below). [9] [More]
Bush was transferred to Bethesda Naval Hospital by helicopter. His ventricular rate was 150/min [3e]. Cardiologist Dr. Allen M. Ross prescribed digitalis, procainamide, and Coumadin [9]. (Note: Digitalis slows the heart, procainamide can change the rhythm pattern from atrial fibrillation back to normal, and Coumadin prevents blood clots, one of the main complications of atrial fibrillation.) Abrams writes:

According to the doctors’ plan, if the drugs failed to affect the arrhythmia — as initially they did — an electrical shock would be administered the following day, a common way of returning a patient’s rhythm to normal. When it was announced that Dan Quayle would be acting president under the Twenty-fifth Amendment provisions while Bush was under anesthesia for the cardioversion — if it was required — a different kind of shock reverberated across the nation. The prospect of Quayle as president brought home sharply the electorate’s lack of confidence in his ability to lead. [1a]
The drugs were effective. By 10:25 pm on May 5, Bush’s heart rhythm was normal. About 5 am the following morning, however, atrial fibrillation recurred. It was decided (by whom?) to continue the drugs rather than use electrical cardioversion. Bush returned to the White House later that day. [1a]. Comment: It would be useful to have information on how long Bush used these medications. Both digitalis and procainamide can affect higher mental function.

[CharlesWayneCT]

The VP doesn’t have any required constitutional jobs, other than to show up for a vote in the Senate if they are tied if he wants to.

So Cheney could “resign” in the sense of stopping all work as VP, and still keep the VP slot so that some liberal doesn’t get the idea that if they kill the president Nancy Pelosi would take over.

[George W. Bush]

This will come to a shock to the libs, they have always said he never had a heart.

Yeah, we all thought of that one. LOL.

Any bets as to which late-night talkshow host will make this crack first tonight? It's almost as sidesplitting as shooting an old friend with a shotgun.

[Wiz]

Prayers up

[Non-Sequitur]

The pecking order of taking over as President is, President, VP, Speaker of The House, Senate Pro Tem.

Trivia question: Who's next in line after President Pro Temp?

[George W. Bush]

Shepard is really a DRAMA QUEEN!

That's definitely not Breaking News.

But he's our Shep! Well, kind of.

[Wiz]

Well, I think this is not the thread to post such criticism.

[xjcsa]

I had that exact condition myself awhile back, and I’m only 32. I felt the irregular heartbeat and had a pretty good idea what was happening, but I had a softball game to play. After the game I went to the hospital and they put me in intensive care for the night, then put me under and gave me a jolt in the morning; woke up good as new with a clean bill of health. No underlying cause, just “one of those things”, they said. No problems since.

[JennysCool]

What an apt screen name!

[BreitbartSentMe]

Buh-bye troll (even if you have an early ‘born-on’ date)

[Frank_Discussion]

Wow. No class.

[Credo]

Trivia question: Who's next in line after President Pro Temp?

Condi Rice the Secretary of State.

[Rockitz]

Is this where Cheney resigns for health reasons and W chooses the heir apparent to the GOP 2008 presidential nomination? I sure as heck hope not unless it’s Duncan Hunter (fat chance of that happening).

[Liberty Valance]

Let the democrats cheer. It says much more about them than it does about Vice President Cheney.

Sam Cheney’64!

[darkwing104]

He is now in the pitts..

[napscoordinator]

Please don’t ever take lightly any irregularity of the heart.

I won’t again. This is what is so great about FREEPERS...Education!!

[SaxxonWoods]

Pittsy has been a Bush-hater and Paulian since at least 2003. Also loves marijuana. Check the post record. Hasn’t posted much since 2005. Probably got too high to find the forum for awhile.

[realpatriot]

So sorry to hear about your mother. When they wanted to cardiovert my a-fib, I said no way. I said no to a lot of things that day. Last time I went to see a cardiologist, he took me off all meds except aspirin for the potential clots.

His comment? “You can live with a-fib”

I love it! and I only occasionally have it anymore.

[MEG33]

Prayers going up for Vice president Cheney and for his family..Thank you for the ping.