Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman went to an appointment Wednesday afternoon at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, his first follow-up visit since being discharged from the hospital after being treated there for a stroke.<\/p>\n
He was seen by the same physicians who cared for him last month.<\/p>\n
The 52-year-old Fetterman\u2019s doctors are \u201cvery happy with how he is healing\u201d from his stroke, his wife, Gisele, said in an exclusive interview with POLITICO.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe neurologists, they were really impressed with the progress. Cognitively, he\u2019s perfect and well on his way to a full recovery,\u201d said Gisele Fetterman. \u201cEverything went well with the cardiologists. His heart is looking good. Pacemaker is working as it\u2019s supposed to.”<\/p>\n
However, Gisele Fetterman said her husband\u2019s doctors \u201cwant him to continue to rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fetterman, Pennsylvania\u2019s lieutenant governor, has been recuperating at his home in Braddock since being released from the hospital late last month following his stroke. The incident took place just days before he won the Senate primary with nearly 59 percent of the vote.<\/p>\n
Fetterman said in a previous statement that atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm also known as \u201cA-fib,\u201d led to the stroke. He said doctors “quickly and completely” removed the blood clot, and that he had no cognitive damage. They later implanted a pacemaker with a defibrillator into his heart.<\/p>\n
Gisele Fetterman said Wednesday that his physicians did not say when he can return to the trail. However, she said, \u201cthe campaign will have an announcement for that soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania\u2019s Senate election is one of the most hotly contested races in the country this year \u2014 control of the Senate could hinge on it. Holding onto the seat now occupied by retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey is key to Republicans\u2019 path to regaining a majority. For Democrats, it is considered one of the party\u2019s best Senate pickup opportunities.<\/p>\n
It is not yet clear which GOP candidate Fetterman will face in the fall. Republicans Dr. Mehmet Oz and David McCormick are currently locked in a recount, leaving the Senate contest in an unusual state of limbo in both parties.<\/p>\n
Despite multiple requests, Fetterman\u2019s campaign has not allowed reporters to interview his physicians. But some outside doctors<\/a> have been quoted in media reports<\/a> saying that defibrillators are not used to treat atrial fibrillation, and questioning whether Fetterman has an additional heart condition that has not yet been disclosed.<\/p>\n Gisele Fetterman has said previously that is not the case. Asked if doctors revealed any new heart condition on Wednesday, she said no.<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all,\u201d she said. \u201cThe heart\u2019s working great. The pacemaker helps regulate the A-fib.\u201d<\/p>\n As for when the press will be able to talk to Fetterman\u2019s physicians, she said, \u201cWe\u2019re working on that. That is coming next.\u201d<\/p>\n Gisele Fetterman also spoke about the changes that her husband has made to his health since his stroke. She said he has dramatically changed his diet.<\/p>\n \u201cThe diet is different for sure,\u201d she said. \u201cVery low sodium levels. He\u2019s monitoring that. Eating a lot more of greens and folic acid and B-12, those kinds of things.\u201d<\/p>\n She said her husband has also returned to walking. He has always been a \u201cbig walker,\u201d she said, but that became more difficult for him to do in the winter, as well as in the final months of the campaign. Now, she said, \u201cThe walking has returned full-force. He\u2019s back to his usual mile walk.\u201d<\/p>\n Fetterman has been taking blood thinners since his stroke. No new medications were prescribed during his Wednesday follow-up, Gisele Fetterman said.<\/p>\n Overall, she said, her husband is \u201cfeeling great \u2014 he\u2019s anxious and annoying and wants to be doing everything, so, you know, it\u2019s like old times.\u201d<\/p>\n He has been running errands and spending time with their three children, she said.<\/p>\n Fetterman has been returning to some of his campaign duties. Gisele Fetterman said her husband is expected to speak with President Joe Biden this week, a call that had to be delayed twice previously because he was resting.<\/p>\n She said he has filmed several videos, has been \u201creading everything nonstop,\u201d and held a meeting with his senior campaign staff Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cLess than three weeks ago, he had a stroke. So I think it\u2019s really remarkable how much he is doing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, she added, doctors also removed their previous restriction on him doing heavy lifting.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t get away with not doing any housework anymore,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n