Dianne Feinstein Suffering From Previously Unknown Complications From Shingles Illness

[babylonsister]

Dianne Feinstein Suffering From Previously Unknown Complications From Shingles Illness
The Democratic Senator's office says she is suffering from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a complication from the shingles virus that can paralyze part of the face.
MARY CLARE JALONICK
May 18, 2023, 06:35 PM EDT


WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office said Thursday that she is suffering from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a complication from the shingles virus that can paralyze part of the face, and that she contracted encephalitis while recovering from the virus earlier this year.

Feinstein, 89, had not previously disclosed those medical details, though she said in a statement last week that she had suffered complications from the virus. The longtime California senator returned from a more than two-month absence on May 10 after weeks of questions about her declining health and whether she would be back in the Senate at all.

Adam Russell, a spokesman for Feinstein, said that the encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, “resolved itself shortly after she was released from the hospital in March.” Feinstein continues to have complications from the Ramsay Hunt syndrome, Russell said.

Russell confirmed the two complications after the New York Times first reported them, raising questions about whether she had been hiding the extent of her illnesses. Upon her return last week, Feinstein was using a wheelchair and noticeably thinner, and has appeared confused at times when speaking to reporters or being wheeled through the halls.

more...

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bc-us-senate-feinstein-shingles-complications_n_6466a6c9e4b03557393503c0

[riversedge]

1. DiFi will be in office till Jan 20, 2025. Right........

She will not seek re-election in 2024.

I had originally thought it was ok--reluctantly--for her not to resign early so another can be put in her place. Yet, given this new information,--and she looks so weak and fragile---, I have to say that I wish she would resign now and I hope her friends-and Dem leaders encourage her to do so. The Dem Majority is already sparse and we have 2 senators who are not always to be counted on. We have a lot to accomplish in the next 2 years and Pres Biden needs ALL on board. I did not want to say this but it is reality IMHO.

[FBaggins]

4. Perhaps not that long

I think she may step aside once the voters select her replacement in the primary in early March

[quaint]

18. Most likely two Democrats will face off in the general.

I don't think the primary will be her deciding factor.

[FBaggins]

26. It will indeed be the deciding factor

It seems clear that the primary will narrow the field down to Schiff and Porter.

At that point - the calls for Feinstein to step aside will end and she’ll probably call it a career. Newsome will then appoint a placeholder who is not running

[Sympthsical]

22. The primary won't be deciding, I think

Because you'll probably end up with the two highest Democratic vote getters, then it becomes a matter of who the other candidates' supporters coalesce behind.

Jungle primaries, much woo.

[FBaggins]

24. Doesn't matter

Because at that point it will be too late for whoever Newsom would have picked to keep the seat.

An appointee doesn’t become the incumbent on the ballot. Once it’s too late to get on… this nonsense ends

[Retrograde]

40. Her term ends at 11:59EST Jan. 3,2025

as do the terms of all representatives and all senators up for reelection.

What happens if she leaves office between the CA senate primary and the general election is an interesting question

[Hortensis]

2. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is reportedly painful and can affect hearing.

And she could still be recovering brain function after encephalitis, which apparently can slow thinking.

Poor Senator Feinstein. We'd all like to know her reasoning for deciding to continue on instead of resigning. In spite of her statements that she'd make that decision "later," it's probable that she decided well before and that whatever strategic factors might have contributed haven't changed.

[Nixie]

29. Exactly. It sounds like she is cognizant of a strategy and is

sticking to it. When all the noise about reporter’s interpretations is stripped away, what is coming from
her is that she is not going to be pressured to resign. Sounds like she knows who is after her.

[Hortensis]

32. Umhm. We all know her decision before was to serve out her term,

therefore that she intended the next senator would be decided by California voters in 2024, without giving special incumbent advantage to an interim appointee by Newsome.

Unfortunately, all this noise and conspiracism are not being directed at the huge danger from the traitorous Republican senators conspiring against the American people.

[MrsCoffee]

3. Cuz we really need round 2 of this thread.

Cue more concern, ageism, accusations and conspiracies.

Think it’s time for me to take a break for a while.

[riversedge]

5. I did not see the first thread. First I have posted about this new information about her

condition.

[BigmanPigman]

12. I've been reading about her here since

some time last week and thought to ask my mom about it on Mother's Day. I know that the two times I have been in the pharmacy this week I noticed people getting the Shingles Vax so hopefully her illness will help others by getting a vax for it too. I did last year and they were worse than COVID vax and the second was worse than the first but after hearing from family and friends and neighbors who had Shingles I decided the vax was the way to go.


https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17920055

[BeyondGeography]

13. Got my first shot yesterday after I read about this

It had been on my to-do list but you know how that works. Had a bit of a rough night but minor compared with my first Moderna shot. Side effects seemed like a small price to pay.

[BigmanPigman]

14. "A small price to pay"

is the perfect way to look at a vax. My arm was sore for several days but that is nothing compared to getting Shingles. After hearing first hand accounts of what getting Shingles is really like and I moved it up on my "to do" list.

[moonscape]

23. A friend of mine went blind

from shingles. She got it in her ear and it affected her optic nerve. She went to ER but they failed to identify the cause of her beginning vision issue. Had they given her an antiviral like acyclovir, it most likely would have saved her sight.

Yeah, good on you for getting Shingrix!

[babylonsister]

7. I did not see another thread on this, sorry. nt

[patricia92243]

11. Yes, you need a break. I had not seen "Round 1" and many others and I

appreciate the post.

[mysteryowl]

19. This is the first time I am seeing this.

[obamanut2012]

30. seriously

I am not even much of a DiFI stan, and this is getting gross at this point.

[SheilaAnn]

6. Apparently her ego is still intact..n/t

[mysteryowl]

20. I think it is workaholism and inability to let go of power.

RGB did this too.

[NotVeryImportant]

33. Basically...

I agree.

[Hortensis]

35. But is it TRUE? Her decision to serve our her term is ALSO

a decision to allow California voters to decide who will be their next senator, without giving special advantage to an "incumbent" candidate appointed by Gov. Newsome to serve out her term if she resigned.

That can be kind of big, depending on the situation, and it is something all long-time officeholders see play out with the retirements of others and foresee for their own.

Anyway, it's likely she has various thoughts on this, no matter which rules. I don't decide what to make for dinner without a number of factors coming into play.

[FBaggins]

36. It could also be that she prefers Schiff (or perhaps Porter)

Senior politicians often want to influence their successors’ selection. Sometimes that’s just an endorsement, but either way it’s a natural desire.

But we should have a default preference for the democratic process absent a bigger issue than what we’ve seen here.

[Hortensis]

39. Absolutely. It would be strange if she didn't have some preference,

but it seems very unlikely that any of the three currently running would cause her to make exceptional personal sacrifice in hopes it might ultimately assist or cut one out.

People who have that kind of power can't do anything without ripple effect, in this case from staying in or resigning. A desire to finish out her term and her planned work, while her party has the majority, would be for a standard, normal departure and an ethical course.

Agree 1000% that "we should have a default preference for the democratic process..."

And a default commitment to truth -- whatever it is.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

8. Living in a Senior facility now, I see how health and age go hand in hand

The average age of the residents where I live is 84. Some are spry, many are not. Most have walkers, wheelchairs, or motorized carts. Some are in excellent shape, most are not.

As one gets older, the ability for the body to fight off infection declines. If one cannot get in physical fitness, the body breaks down faster. Illnesses take longer to recover from.

In Sen. Feinstein's case, a combination of her age and physical abilities due to a severe illness is taking its toll on her. It has become evident now that her Senate days may be coming to an end. It is for her to decide to step down. Ill health can happen at any age.

[3Hotdogs]

10. "It is for her to decide.." That would be fine if it was just her and her family that were affected.

But it's all of us.


The bad news, if she resigns, Newsom gets to give one person a head start in the next primary.

[judesedit]

9. Don't forget, the repubicons are making it so she cannot be replaced.

Keep that in mind. We need her there as long as that is a condition.

[Irish_Dem]

17. It's like we are at war, and we are all enemy combatants.

Even a very ill DF.

[mysteryowl]

21. Well this would be horrible, as we know they are.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Encephalitis can damage the brain and cause long-term problems including:

Memory loss (amnesia); personality and behavior changes; speech and language problems (aphasia).

[Farmer-Rick]

16. I have to wonder how long ago she was vaccinated

Or what version of the vaccine she got. Most vaccinations would protect against those horrible complications of the disease.

You should get the shingles vaccine every 7 to 8 years, unless you have immune disorders.

But I guess no vaccine is 100% effective especially as you get older.

Poor woman, I saw my spouse suffer through shingles complications. It was horrible. It is the leading cause of pain related suicide.

Get your vaccines. You don't want to suffer through the pain and complications.

[Casady1]

25. My friend got the vaccine

and he still got it. I got shingles in my forties and it is the sickest I have ever been and my face was numb for 2 years.

[babylonsister]

27. I didn't know about getting another vaccine

after 7-8 years. I got the vax about 5 years ago, so will need to check that out. Thanks!

[BlackSkimmer]

28. A friend of my mother's had that. It's extremely painful.

She was unable to even participate in their weekly bridge game, much less serve in the senate.

[ripcord]

31. I'm from California and I will say this in every thread on the subject

I have a great deal of respect for Governor Newsom but I don't want him choosing the next senator from California.

[BeyondGeography]

34. Choose someone who agrees to be a placeholder

Lots of precedents for that.

[FBaggins]

37. Entirely reasonable- but won't happen

Unless she holds on until the primary process is locked in (candidate filing deadline at least?)

The moment Feinstein gives in to calls to step aside now - the noise will instantaneously shift to calls for Newsome to “keep his word and appoint a woman of color”.

[BeyondGeography]

38. True

I forgot that bit of political brilliance.