Giuliani: Hospital visit was a result of a “headache worse than I’ve ever had”

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Giuliani: Hospital visit was a result of a “headache worse than I’ve ever had”

December 22, 2007 1:39 PM

ABC News' Jonathan Greenberger reports: Three days after turning around his campaign plane and checking into a hospital after experiencing flu-like symptoms, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani says he is in "fine health."

"I feel great now, I feel terrific, I've been tested out, everything came back 100 percent," said Giuliani, in an exclusive interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.

Giuliani said his hospital visit was prompted by a "terrible headache" that began developing Wednesday morning while he was campaigning in Missouri that got progressively worse.

"It got really bad at night, when I was speaking to a crowd and did a press conference," said Giuliani. "I got on a plane -- I imagine what happened is the pressure of the takeoff made the headache worse than I've ever had."

Giuliani told Stephanopoulos he did not black out, and he made the decision six or seven minutes into the flight to turn the plane around, return to St. Louis, and check into Barnes-Jewish Hospital for a series of tests.

Until today, Giuliani and his campaign had not discussed the details of the tests he underwent, but in his interview with Stephanopoulos, Giuliani said he was checked for "everything."

"I mean you'd have to ask my doctor everything they checked for. I mean he put out a statement that I'm in very good health, that every test came back normal," said Giuliani. "They tell me I'm in very good health."

The statement Giuliani referred to was not, in fact, issued by his doctor. It came from his campaign.

Giuliani, who survived a bout with prostate cancer seven years ago, also admitted that he has not released all of his medical records from the past week in part because he is still waiting to get some of the cancer tests back. He said he expects the full medical records to be released sometime after Christmas.

For now, though, Giuliani said he’s been given a clean bill of health.

"I saw those doctors, they released me," said Giuliani. "I saw my doctor again yesterday and the only thing they advised me to do is to take one aspirin a day -- which is not even a prescription."

The full interview with Stephanopoulos airs Sunday morning on "This Week."

Below is an excerpt from the interview:

Stephanopoulos: One big question this week – how you feeling?

Giuliani: I feel great now, I feel terrific, I've been tested out, everything came back 100 percent.

Stephanopoulos: Take us back through it, because the symptoms on Wednesday night must have been so severe to have you turn around that plane. What was going on?

Giuliani: It was a terrible headache, I mean all day -- it got worse all day. It got really bad at night, when I was speaking to a crowd and did a press conference with Sen Bond. Got on the plane. I imagine what happened is the pressure of the takeoff made the headache worse than I’ve ever had.

Stephanopoulos: Did you black out?

Giuliani: No. My staff was very concerned so we turned around. I actually made that decision. Were only 6 or 7 minutes out. It actually made no sense to get on the plane. I probably thought of it. Once I got on and the pressure got worse I said let's turn back. They decided, you better really check him out. And they did really check me out.

Stephanopoulos: So what did they check for? What were they worried about?

Giuliani: They checked everything. I mean you'd have to ask my doctor everything they checked for. I mean he put out a statement that I'm in very good health, that every test came back normal. What I'll do now is – there's also, I’m a cancer survivor. So there's always the issue of cancer, so I'm going to have him put out a statement and then you know make everyone really comfortable that I'm okay. But they tell me I'm in very good health.

Stephanopoulos: Yeah, we'd actually like to talk to your doctor about it to find out what kinds of tests were performed, what the results were, what the final diagnosis was.

Giuliani: After Christmas he can address this himself.

Stephanopoulos: After Christmas?

Giuliani: Well, he’s tied up until then and also I've got to make sure I get all the cancer tests back, and he's going to put together a complete picture. So that he can address himself to the whole thing so people can be assured –

Stephanopoulos: So you will put out all the records after Christmas?

Giuliani: He's going to put out everything that's appropriate to show that I'm in good health.

Stephanopoulos: There were some questions, though, about why no one was allowed to speak with the doctors on Thursday. Why the delay?

Giuliani: I don't –

Stephanopoulos: Why the delay in talking to the doctors, finding out what kinds of tests were given?

Giuliani: I think the statement was put out right away.

Stephanopoulos: Well the bottom line was put out, but no one knew what kinds of tests were performed.

Giuliani: I see, I see. Well, he'll address all that. He'll address it all also in the context of having had cancer, what my situation is right now, that I'm cured of cancer. And that my PSA test has come back negligible. The whole group of things like that he'll address himself.

Stephanopoulos: But you saw the doctors in St. Louis, your saw your doctor on Thursday in New York, yesterday --

Giuliani: I saw those doctors, they released me, said I was in fine health, nothing to worry about, no prescriptions even. So –

Stephanopoulos: And you saw your doctor again yesterday?

Giuliani: I saw my doctor again yesterday and the only thing they advised me to do is to take one aspirin a day -- which is not even a prescription.

Stephanopoulos: And you're back on the trail?

Giuliani: I'm back on the trial, ready to go, hail and hearty, feeling great and you know actually reassured by the fact that I had so many different tests and they all came back 100 percent.

December 22, 2007 in Dodd, Chris | Permalink | User Comments (67)

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sounds like he's thinking about withdrawing like he did in the senator race against clinton

Posted by: Jerry | Dec 22, 2007 2:11:46 PM

I sincerely wish Rudy the best, but this is worrisome. Such a severe headache CAN be a sign of serious problems, some of which are life-threatening. Before proceeding with his Presidential campaign, Rudy owes us a COMPLETE medical report from his doctors, not the syrupy say-nothing "report" we got from wife Judith on ABC News the other night. Her so-called "statement" had "cover-up" all over it. Please, Rudy... tell your doctor(s) to release everything.

Posted by: rmberryman | Dec 22, 2007 2:11:54 PM

Sounds like it might have been a migraine. I suffer with those from time to time and once or twice they were so bad that I blacked out. If all his tests came back negative, there's a good possibility the doctors will diagnose that as a migraine.

Posted by: TheMom51 | Dec 22, 2007 2:26:42 PM

He was really cured by his endorsement from Pat Robertson and the 700 Club. They just happen to be praying and mentioned that someone with a bad headache would be miraculously cured. Works every time!

Posted by: steve | Dec 22, 2007 2:37:31 PM

Rudy has a history of dropping out of a race when he starts to realize he can't win. That's what he did in 2000 when the polls were clear that Hillary was going to clean his clock, and that's probably what he's thinking about doing now that he's off the radar in virtually every poll. He's way behind in N.H. (not even campaigning in Iowa), behind in Florida, and behind in the national polls. I think he'll drop out in the next two weeks.

Posted by: Dave J. | Dec 22, 2007 2:38:34 PM

Americans want real change and we want the most qualified candidate to win in 2008.
America is the largest enterprise in the world and only one candidate from either party is qualified to run that enterprise which is why I'm voting for Mitt Romney...........GO MITT!

Posted by: Allen Ridge | Dec 22, 2007 2:43:09 PM

Call me Rudy. I have fought for 40 years have "the worse headace ever" often & my insurance denies coverage for prevention coverage. Try being a severe migraine sufferer, and a TMD sufferer from an accident with 6 surgeries under your belt and having to fight your insurance carrier constantly. I'll be willing to bet you've never had the double headache: the physical pain and pain of insurance denial, appeal, denial, appeal, denial. Sorry you were ill, but everyday people truly suffer.

Posted by: jane | Dec 22, 2007 2:59:10 PM

This man does not look well at all. Look at his color something like a sheet. He needs to get off of the campaign trail NOW. God knows if he didn't contract something from the towers coming down. He walked around the area without any pertection over his mouth or nose. He looks horrible just look at his color?
If I were his wife I would give him two choices me or the campaign?
He is not going to make it so he should pick his heath over trying to be President and that is a fact.

Posted by: Carol R Hill | Dec 22, 2007 3:14:35 PM

wonder if his HMO tried to diagnose him via the telephone like mine did to me? BET NOT! John Edwards is right ~ there are 2 Americas.

Posted by: dali | Dec 22, 2007 3:54:28 PM

Interesting. I also thought Rudy looked very pale on Friday night's ABC News, but I thought it was maybe just the lighting or camera, or even my TV set. Since the country first became aware of Rudy Giuliani in 2001, he has aged considerably and very noticeably. Politically, I don't think he can withstand the religious onslaught of the Republican Party's two currently-leading candidates. As a former Republican, I can attest to the fact that it is NOT the same organization it once was. The term "Theocon" perfectly describes today's Republican Party hierarchy. Rudy may have "proclaimed his faith", but is clearly not religious enough to be nominated. He should consider his health and resign from the campaign now, and perhaps he can recover from whatever is ailing him.

Posted by: rmberryman | Dec 22, 2007 3:57:45 PM

Addendum: There is ONE candidate running for the GOP nomination who is more like what the Republican Party USED to be: Ron Paul. Ron Paul is actually closer to a Libertarian, but is currently the most sensible candidate running in EITHER party, even if the media mostly ignores him. Mr. Paul believes the United States should be LESS involved in everyone else's affairs. Hear, Hear! And he is NOT a theocrat!

Posted by: rmberryman | Dec 22, 2007 4:03:05 PM

Why in today's society where HIPAA legislation has been put in to place to protect our privacy over medical records, do we think we have the right to bombard this man over his health records?

Posted by: juli | Dec 22, 2007 4:03:18 PM

The HIPAA laws (which are obstructive) have already "protected" the "rights" of the Virginia Tech mass murderer and allowed him to commit his crimes. My wife works in a hospital where even parents cannot get information about their own kids and vice-versa! And when it comes to a man running for President, we SHOULD have a right to know his medical condition(s). Rudy had my vote until a couple of days ago, but now I will NOT vote for him unless his medical records are released.

Posted by: rmberryman | Dec 22, 2007 4:52:40 PM

Rudy gives me a headache. We live in a St. Louis suburb. We were not looking forward to this guy coming here. We know his connection is Kit Bond. This guy also gives us a headache. Rudy, give it up, you have too many skeltons in your closet to be our President. We don't need our goverment run by the New York Mafia. Why were you working so fast to have the buildings of the World Trade center hauled away so quickly? We would like to hear from some NY Firemen and NY police about this.

Posted by: Jo T | Dec 22, 2007 4:52:51 PM

Maybe those enormous choppers are growing into his everloving skull.

Posted by: Joe | Dec 22, 2007 4:58:57 PM

I can't wait till the Paulbots go back to playing xbox and hitting their bong. They are annoying!

Rudy's tests will be released! Did you read the interview? It just takes a few days to put it all together, especially b/c of the weekend and Christmas.

Posted by: Kevin | Dec 22, 2007 5:03:24 PM

He probably feels guilty about all the lies and distortions he makes up. What a foul man! He is just another shepherd of the sheeple.

Posted by: amanda | Dec 22, 2007 5:04:46 PM

Why has this board turned so hateful?

Posted by: rmberryman | Dec 22, 2007 5:24:29 PM

Rudy is not with NY mafia; in fact, he cleaned up the town after two terrible mayors. Businesses left town, there were no jobs, people were afraid to ride the subway. Rudy fixed it, you weren't in NY at the time, I was.

Posted by: jean | Dec 22, 2007 5:34:48 PM

Bill Clinton never released his records. Neither does Rudy.

Will Hillary release all of hers?

Posted by: Jack Tabb | Dec 22, 2007 5:51:41 PM

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