Sen. John Fetterman’s health is reportedly improving but he could remain hospitalized for as much as two more weeks as doctors work to get his medication “exactly right.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Feb. 16 for treatment for clinical depression just days after he was hospitalized after feeling lightheaded at a Democratic Party retreat.
“John Fetterman is making progress in his recovery from clinical depression and will leave Walter Reed inside next two weeks,” CNN congressional reporter Manu Raju tweeted on Tuesday.
“The senator’s physician recently informed him that he will likely be ‘pretty much as good or higher than his best days post-stroke,’” Raju added.
Fetterman’s health struggles began May 13 of last yr, when he suffered a stroke throughout the final days of Pennsylvania’s Senate primary campaign.
The commonwealth’s then-lieutenant governor was left with hearing and other cognitive issues that dogged him throughout his general election campaign against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz and led to special closed captioning technology being installed on the Capitol Constructing after his midterm election victory to assist him conduct his work as a senator.
Fetterman’s lengthy hospitalization at Walter Reed has been the results of his doctors “attempting to get his ‘medication balance exactly right,’” in accordance with Raju.
“As an illustration, doctors learned his blood pressure med was too high, which can have contributed to dizziness when he went to GW hospital last month,” the CNN reporter said, referencing the senator’s hospital stay immediately before his clinical depression diagnosis.
Fetterman’s camp provided a glimpse of the senator hard at work in pictures posted to Twitter last week by his chief of staff.
“Productive morning with Sen. Fetterman at Walter Reed discussing the rail safety laws, Farm Bill and other Senate business,” the politician’s top aide, Adam Jentleson, captioned the photographs of the 53-year-old politician.
“John is well on his technique to recovery and wanted me to say how grateful he’s for all of the well wishes. He’s laser-focused on PA & will likely be back soon,” Jentleson added.
On Feb. 27, Fetterman’s communications director said that the senator was “doing well” as he continues treatment, which he noted can be a “weeks-long process.”
“We don’t have so much to update folks with since there’s no real news to report except that John is doing well, working with the wonderful doctors, and stays on a path to recovery,” Joe Calvello said in a tweet last month.
“John is visiting with staff and family each day, and his staff are keeping him updated on Senate business and news,” he added.
