John Fetterman is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania. He said that he nearly died after the stroke.
Fetterman made the statement in a campaign statement. He has been out of public view while he recovers before the fall general election, which is expected to be one the most important Senate contests in the country.
Fetterman stated that the stroke he suffered on May 13 wasn’t a coincidence and that it almost cost him his life. I hope to inspire others not to make the same mistake.
Fetterman’s doctor revealed that Fetterman suffers from cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart muscle weakens and becomes larger. Cardiomyopathy can cause irregular heartbeats that can lead to death and can hinder blood flow.
This acknowledgment was Fetterman’s first public comment from a doctor since May 15, when Fetterman first posted on social media to reveal that he had suffered a stroke.
Fetterman, 52 years old, won the Democratic nomination in a race of four after receiving a stroke. He was in hospital just four days before the stroke, and only hours after having surgery to place a pacemaker and a defibrillator.
Questions have been raised about Fetterman’s ability to run for office and what effects the stroke might have on his future plans.
Already, attacks ads are being circulated in the race, despite the fact that the Senate Republican primary contest for the Senate is stalled in a statewide count, which has been ongoing for more than two weeks.
Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor Fetterman has yet to say when he will return on the campaign trail. He also did not appear to preside at the floor sessions of Pennsylvania’s state Senate last week.
Fetterman stated that doctors told him to keep resting, eating well, exercising, and focusing on his recovery.
Fetterman admitted that he didn’t pay attention to warning signs when he visited the doctor for swelling feet in 2017. He was also diagnosed with a heart condition.
Fetterman stated that Dr. Ramesh Chandra (cardiologist) told him that he would never have suffered a stroke if he had continued to take blood thinners.
Chandra stated that Fetterman would be fine if Fetterman ate healthy food, took prescribed medication and exercised regularly.
Fetterman has always been open about his desire to lose weight. He weighed over 400 pounds at 6′ 8 inches before losing almost 150 pounds when he ran in 2018 for lieutenant governor.
He stated that he believed losing weight and exercising was enough.
Fetterman claimed that his stroke was caused atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart is weak. Doctors implanted a pacemaker May 17 to treat it.
His campaign stated that doctors removed the clot from Fetterman’s brain by performing a thrombectomy. This involves removing the clot by inserting a catheter into a large artery, typically in the groin.
Fetterman did not answer questions regarding why doctors placed a defibrillator with the device — at least, not until Friday.
