Posted by Mark Silva at 6:30 am CST
Vice President Dick Cheney will be taking some blood-thinning medicine for several months as a result of a blood clot found in his leg.
The problem was discovered Monday after the vice president felt some discomfort in his lower left leg -- following a nine-day trip around the world in which Cheney had spent about 65 hours in airplanes.
They warn world travelers about this sort of problem associated with long hours of confinement.
Cheney had the run of Air Force Two, the Boeing 757 outfitted for executive travel, but he was only observed several times on a trip to Japan, Australia and Oman stepping out of his forward cabin to chat with senior staffers seated near the front of the plane. He was not walking the aisle -- and he definitely was not running laps inside the bay of the C-17 cargo jet, the "Spirit of Strom Thurmond,'' that carried him into Pakistan and Afghanistan for surprise stops during this 25,000-mile journey.
He returned before dawn on Wednesday. He started feeling something Monday.
"The vice president experienced mild calf discomfort today,'' Cheney's office said in a prepared statement released Monday afternoon. "In light of his recent prolonged air travel, he visited his doctor's office at the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates this afternoon.
"An ultrasound revealed a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or 'blood clot' in his left lower leg,'' his office said. "His doctors will treat him with blood thinning medication for several months.''
Yet Cheney, 66, who also has suffered four heart attacks over decades, already was back at work at the White House: "The vice president has returned to the White House to resume his schedule.''
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Comments
No one is disappointed more by dick cheney' performance than me, but your use of the word "popping" is really an odd choice (cheney popping blood thinners). Like him or not like him, he is taking medication. To imply that he is popping pills implys a lot of images that really don't reflect a man with an ongoing health condition.
choose better next time.
Ben Hughes
Posted by: Ben Hughes | March 6, 2007 7:43 AM
Isn't it a "senior administration official" with a long history of heart ailments?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | March 6, 2007 7:58 AM
What an extraordinary insensitive headline regarding what could have been a life-threatening condition for the Vice President of the United States.
Posted by: John D | March 6, 2007 8:13 AM
Then what was he popping during the State of the Union?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwFPbuqKIro
Posted by: bb | March 6, 2007 8:34 AM
I must say: I agree that pill-popping is different than taking prescribed medication for a serious condition. I've amended the headline. Worthy advice is always appreciated.
Posted by: Mark Silva | March 6, 2007 9:03 AM
Cheney has really bulked up. He looks scary and ghoulish. It seems to me that during the most recent State of the Union message he was popping pills.
If his health is really such an issue, which it apparently is, he should resign.
Posted by: Doug R. | March 6, 2007 9:20 AM
What's the big deal... he's not really in any danger...
http://www.unconfirmedsources.com/?itemid=2266
Posted by: DooD | March 6, 2007 9:55 AM
Mr. Silva,
It is one thing to bash the administration for it's ineptness, but another to demean health. Taking prescription medication for a validated health concern is not "pill popping". As an epilileptic, I do not "pop" my Lamictal. Yes, you amended your headline, but by printing it the first time shows YOUR ineptness as a reporter. Thinking after the fact does not excuse your headline.
Posted by: Rob S | March 6, 2007 10:21 AM
Lets all hope that Cheney comes throgh this fine. If he feels he cannot serve, I am sure he will resign.
President Bush has plenty of sharp people who can step up to the plate, like Condoeza Rice.
We just need to be careful to keep Nancy Pelosi as far from the Presidency as possible.
Posted by: Tom King | March 6, 2007 10:42 AM
How about "Dickster Thins Bloods, Conquers Naysayers, Has Sandwich"
Posted by: Tab | March 6, 2007 10:54 AM
I would have thought that with Cheney's health history he would have been on blood thinning meds long before this.
And yes, for someone who has had at least four heart attacks he is carrying too much weight.
Posted by: ElinorS | March 6, 2007 11:00 AM
It appears the news media is doing the "pill Popping". Please report the "NEWS" as NEWS and forget the "sensationalism". Sensationalism is rampent in the news reporting media. Reporting of FACTS are somewhat dull, but that is what the world needs. FACTS!!!!
Posted by: ada gott | March 6, 2007 11:07 AM
Apparently they changed the headline? Or am I missing something.
Posted by: susan lani | March 6, 2007 11:52 AM
Why should I feel bad for a guy who takes the elevator UP to work everyday.
Replace his bionic heart with a new one and be done with it already.
Posted by: John E. | March 6, 2007 12:22 PM
The "pill popping" can fade into the background now that "Scooter" (aka Cheney's "assassin") has been convicted and the Imperial Puppet has "accepted the verdict" conditional on a pardon no later than New Year 2009. Well done Pat Fitzgerald as I long to see this miserable bunch in my rear view mirror. I sincerely hope that Bob Gates will do the overhaul so badly needed on the Pentagon following 6 years of mismanagement by ideologues installed by Cheney who also pushed out moderates like O'Neill, Whitman and Danforth from their important cabinet level jobs.
Posted by: Bob Stewart | March 6, 2007 12:45 PM
I wish you folks would leave Darth Cheney alone. At least he's still breathing (those dark bilious vapors). That's more than can be said for Strom Thurmand in his 'last years'. His aides had to prop up his 'corpse' so that they could cast votes for him in the Senate.
Of course Sen. Thurmond (R.I.P.) was a former "Dixiecrat", a breakaway faction of Southern Democrats who embraced segregation and ditched the dem. party over it's civil rights program. He joined the Republican Party in 1960.
John D. doesn't like to talk about the 'reformed' racist Thurmond in the same breath as 'reformed' racist Byrd, because of Thurman's own skeletons. Essie Mae Washington-Williams was Thurman's illegitimate daughter from a 'liaison' with his black teenage housekeeper, Carrie Butler (at age 16), Strom was 22.
The Thurmond family confirm the allegation as follows: "As J. Strom Thurmond has passed away and cannot speak for himself, the Thurmond family acknowledges Ms. Essie Mae-Williams' claim to her heritage. We hope this acknowledgment will bring closure for Ms. Williams."
The article appears in the Washington Post in Dec., 2003.
I know this veers off-topic, but I felt it was worth mentioning as a health issue (admittingly, some dark humour), and as a reminder to John D. and the other conservative shills, who think Sen. Byrd is the only one with a racist past.
Posted by: dt | March 6, 2007 2:59 PM
So, okay let's send "Halliburton's Man in the
Bush White House" Vice President Delusional Dick
Cheney on over to the Building 18 "George W Bush
Pavilion" so that our wonderful self appointed
Vice President gets "The Best Army Medical Care,
That Money Can Buy, Or Halliburton Can Steal" for proper top grade finest medical care for Cheney's
blood clout under the finest Doctor in the US Army
Lt Gen Kevin Kiley and his able assistants,
Major General Weightman and Retired General
Farmer,and be sure to put them under direct
supervision of Army Chief of Staff General Idiot
Peter Shoomaker and Former Sec of Defense,
Retired Donald Duckie Rumsfeld,so that Cheney's
everloving neo-con Republican & Halliburton
Executives can rest assure Cheney is in the
best possible hands available today!
Posted by: Sandy | March 6, 2007 4:32 PM
ooh-Sandy! Do I detect a little anger/jealousy over our capitalist society and a man who has made money-which you have not???
Posted by: Diane | March 6, 2007 5:39 PM
BB - either a breathmint because he was going to plant one on Nancy (she is prettier than Hastert) or many aspirin because the B---h gives him a big headache.
Mark - trying to be cute with your headlines for such a liberal group. I thought liberals were compassionate?
John E - a noon post - did mom trim the crust off your PB&J sandwich?
Posted by: terry | March 6, 2007 9:08 PM