Mitch McConnell's Battery Ran Out

[Oystein]

In short, the fact that his brain frequently stops working merely makes him a garden variety American politician.

I am pretty certain that the average frequency of brain stoppage for American politicians, or European ones, or even participants in this forum, exceeds 1/day. And typically for hours even.
That in itself disqualifies no one from being a politician.

 

[Oystein]

Not necessarily true. Adults can develop epilepsy after a TBI and other causes: According to the Brain Injury Association:




From the Mount Sinai Hospital:
...

As Absence epilepsy has a clear genetic component, I'd like to see evidence that TBI-induced absence seizures are even a thing.
Agreed of course that a stressed brain can develop forms of epilepsy at any time in life. As my girl friend did, following treatments (surgery and radiation) of a brain tumor. She had those well under control with medication, to the point that I personally never witnessed a seizure with her during the 10 months we knew each other. Such medication is likely to have adverse effects. For example, my g/f took Keppra (I am not implying this is something a patient with absence seizures might take! Probably not), which made her almost constantly tired, sometimes dizzy. And more. Abd Keppra is described as an anti-epilepticum that's easy on the patient! So. Is McConnell taking medication against absence seizures, assuming this is the correct diagnosis?

 

[Segnosaur]

Well, to be fair, Moscow Mitch is married to Elaine Chow, who's family was successful in the shipping business, and who has worked as an executive for companies like Bank of America before she started working for various presidential administrations. So even if McConnell actually had any integrity, he and his family would still probably be rich.

there is strong reason to believe that the success of the Chow family is due in part to McConnell's political machinations.

It is not hard to believe that McConnell's political connections ADDED to the wealth of Chow and her family. But her employment as a banking executive, as well as her father starting a shipping company, both predate her marriage to the turtle. So she probably would have been "rich" even if he decided to spend all his time in his shell and never came out to mess up congress.

 

[Stacyhs]

As Absence epilepsy has a clear genetic component, I'd like to see evidence that TBI-induced absence seizures are even a thing.

Every medical website I've found says absence seizures are usually or thought to be genetically related which explains why they primarily occur in children. From Harvard Health: "Genetic (inherited) factors may play some role in the development of absence epilepsy." Harvard Health also says that "head injury" can be a cause of absence seizures.
I've already quoted and cited Mount Sinai. regarding TBI and absence seizures.

Is McConnell taking medication against absence seizures, assuming this is the correct diagnosis?

Good question. I did note today that NewsNation is reporting that "McConnell does not have seizure disorder, did not suffer stroke, says Capitol physician" but, as discussed before, that is not what the doctor actually said. He said there is "no evidence" but seizures on EEG's do not always show up unless a the test is being run during a seizure.

I think this is a case of "don't believe your lying eyes; believe our word games."

 

[Gulliver Foyle]

Not if you're a WASP.

'Murrikans are so divorced from the religion they profess to love that they wouldn't recognise it if it bit them where the sun don't shine.

 

[Oystein]

...I did note today that NewsNation is reporting that "McConnell does not have seizure disorder, did not suffer stroke, says Capitol physician" but, as discussed before, that is not what the doctor actually said. He said there is "no evidence" but seizures on EEG's do not always show up unless a the test is being run during a seizure.

I think this is a case of "don't believe your lying eyes; believe our word games."

Unless the doctor lied and there IS evidence for seizures on EEG, the standard position of a skeptic should be to whithhold belief while evidence is unavalable. Right?

 

[JayUtah]

I just overheard a local journalist refer to him as "Glitch McConnell." I'm totally stealing that.

 

[Stacyhs]

'Murrikans are so divorced from the religion they profess to love that they wouldn't recognise it if it bit them where the sun don't shine.

That's not restricted to Americans.

 

[Stacyhs]

Unless the doctor lied and there IS evidence for seizures on EEG, the standard position of a skeptic should be to whithhold belief while evidence is unavalable. Right?

I consider watching in live time McConnell exhibiting the classic symptoms of a focal or absence seizure 'evidence'. Other doctors have said the same thing.

I don't think the Capitol Hill physician Monaghan 'lied'. I think he chose his words very carefully to imply that McConnell didn't have a seizure, but he never actually said he didn't have one.

Dr. Brian P. Monahan wrote in the letter that he examined McConnell after he froze and that after reviewing a "brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists for a comprehensive neurology assessment," he found that "there is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, [transient ischemic attack] or movement disorder such as Parkinson's disease."

Note that he said he didn't experience a stroke, but he said there is no evidence he had a seizure disorder. The wording is important.


Dehydration, one of the causes proffered, does not cause 'freezing'

As I quoted Dr. Jonathan Reiner earlier, and clear EEG does NOT rule out a seizure occurred.

Rand Paul, also a doctor, agrees:

“The doctor said that they ruled out seizure disorder from an EEG. A normal EEG doesn’t rule out seizures. First of all, 25 percent of people who’ve had a brain injury end up having seizures after their injury,” he added.

“Now if you get an EEG and it’s normal, does that mean he doesn’t have a seizure disorder? No, that means that you didn’t find it because he didn’t have a seizure while he was having the test,” Paul explained.

“The bottom line is, it is a medical mistake to say that someone doesn’t have a seizure disorder because they have a normal EEG,” Paul said.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Unless the doctor lied and there IS evidence for seizures on EEG, the standard position of a skeptic should be to whithhold belief while evidence is unavalable. Right?

McConnell's spacing out twice in public like he did is evidence. Who says it has to be a lab test? Not to mention he would have had a thorough workup after his first observed petit mal seizure so that doc is lying like the way Ronnie Jackson lies.

Nothing mimics those symptoms that I'm aware of.

 

[dudalb]

That's not restricted to Americans.

THIS.
It is not so much the criticism of the US I object to, its the "and we are so much better then you" attitude.

 

[dudalb]

McConnell's spacing out twice in public like he did is evidence. Who says it has to be a lab test? Not to mention he would have had a thorough workup after his first observed petit mal seizure so that doc is lying like the way Ronnie Jackson lies.

Nothing mimics those symptoms that I'm aware of.

I agree, but I also think Feinstein is just as bad. Both should go.

 

[Orphia Nay]

I just overheard a local journalist refer to him as "Glitch McConnell." I'm totally stealing that.

 

[dudalb]

If you shove some Rosary beads into his hands then it is not meditating. With Rosary beads it is good honest 'Mercan praying.

Rosaries are definently a Catholic thing,and we all know only Protestents can be real Muricans.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I agree, but I also think Feinstein is just as bad. Both should go.

Oh dear, I read that as Oystein at first glance.

I agree, and Feinstein more than McConnell because he probably functions normally in between events. As long as they took his keys away that is.

There have been rare occasions I'm aware of where no one would tell a surgeon they needed to go. It comes from the person who is no longer competent having been in charge up to that point. For doctors it's typically a small hospital and it was up to their colleagues to insist, also hard to do when it's your buddy/equal/peer.

IMO from the outside looking in, no one in either of these Senators' offices has the ability to stand up to them and there is no backup plan or procedure.

 

[Oystein]

McConnell's spacing out twice in public like he did is evidence. Who says it has to be a lab test? Not to mention he would have had a thorough workup after his first observed petit mal seizure so that doc is lying like the way Ronnie Jackson lies.

Nothing mimics those symptoms that I'm aware of.

You are correct of course that it is evidence - but is it sufficient evidence?
A TIA (transient ischaemic attack, aka mini stroke) is also in play.
And some, whatever, third and as of yet unknown cause.

I do agree that it "looks like" a seizure an aweful lot and have that as the most likely hpothesis.

But "looks like" does not equal "is". I'd require at least one further differential diagnostic test that either confirms seizure or rules out TIA.

This is important, because while absence seizures do not disqualify him from office, as a person can otherwise function pretty well with such seizures for a long time without significant deterioration of mental capacity, TIAs do affect the brain's functioning: With every TIA, something is potentially lost. A series of TIAs (which can be silent, symptom-less) can lead to multi-infarct dementia, which does disqualify a person from jobs that require sharp cognitive functions.

Clearly, further diagnosis ought to have been carried out on McConnell following these events - for starters, his own account of how he experiences the events helps in differentiating TIAs and seizures. Imaging methods, measuring blood flow, lab testing of blood sample for signs or risk factors of TIA should be done.

We don't know if any of such diagnostics have been done or which, nor what the results were.

Consequently, I'd expect McDonnell to be on medication already to prevent further incidents - and if we knew the medication, we would more or less know the diagnosis. But we don't know.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

i wonder if this could be a the result of a change in medication ...
which would suggest a generally worsening of health.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

You are correct of course that it is evidence - but is it sufficient evidence?
A TIA (transient ischaemic attack, aka mini stroke) is also in play.
And some, whatever, third and as of yet unknown cause.

I do agree that it "looks like" a seizure an aweful lot and have that as the most likely hpothesis.

But "looks like" does not equal "is". I'd require at least one further differential diagnostic test that either confirms seizure or rules out TIA.

This is important, because while absence seizures do not disqualify him from office, as a person can otherwise function pretty well with such seizures for a long time without significant deterioration of mental capacity, TIAs do affect the brain's functioning: With every TIA, something is potentially lost. A series of TIAs (which can be silent, symptom-less) can lead to multi-infarct dementia, which does disqualify a person from jobs that require sharp cognitive functions.

Clearly, further diagnosis ought to have been carried out on McConnell following these events - for starters, his own account of how he experiences the events helps in differentiating TIAs and seizures. Imaging methods, measuring blood flow, lab testing of blood sample for signs or risk factors of TIA should be done.

We don't know if any of such diagnostics have been done or which, nor what the results were.

Consequently, I'd expect McDonnell to be on medication already to prevent further incidents - and if we knew the medication, we would more or less know the diagnosis. But we don't know.

TIAs don't look like that and if it had been a TIA even if only suspected the reaction of people around him made no sense.

His eye and mouth movements as well as how he appeared when he recovered were indicative of a petit mal seizure not a TIA. Notice how odd those movements were.

You can sit on the fence, your choice of course. But some of us are not so tentative about assessing a patient's symptoms when the basis is pretty clear.

 

[TragicMonkey]

It's the first symptoms of kuru.

 

[Stacyhs]

I watched my mother have two TIA's. In both, she lost the ability to speak for 2-3 minutes. But she did not freeze or stare into space; she was responsive. Her ability to speak came back after a couple of minutes, but it was gibberish. She fully recovered within 5 minutes and said that she was fully aware during the TIA. She understood what I was saying to her when I'd ask her yes or no questions and she correctly responded with a nod or shake of her head. When she could speak again, she knew what she wanted to say, but the wrong words or gibberish came out.

I think SkepticGinger is correct when she points out those around McConnell reacted in a manner that suggests this these two public incidents were not the first or only times he's done this.