Michele Bachmann Campaign Disputes Report That Migraine Headaches 'Incapacitate' Candidate

This post has been updated.

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's campaign is pushing back against a story published online by the Daily Caller on Monday night suggesting the conservative congresswoman suffers from headaches that can "incapacitate" her for days.

A former aide to Bachmann told the Daily Caller that when a former communications director to the congresswoman left her office, the Minnesota Republican experienced medical symptoms that landed her in the hospital "within 24 hours." Bachmann and the former staffer, Dave Dziok, were reportedly on good terms at the time of his departure.

Dziok declined to elaborate on the situation that unfolded at the time, but told reporters that the episode experienced by Bachmann should not be received as a cause for concern.

Dziok did not speak to the Daily Caller for the story.

Citing three individuals who have worked in close proximity to Bachmann, the Daily Caller reports that it was not an isolated incident, and that Bachmann suffers from migraines on a regular basis and has been hospitalized multiple times as a result.

When asked by Politico about the story, Bachmann spokeswoman Alice Stewart reiterated what she told the Daily Caller in response to the contents of its report.

"She suffers from migraines and they’re under control with medicine," said Stewart before going on to dispute that the headaches can prove "incapacitating" for the congresswoman. She told Politico that claims included in the story are "bogus" and that she has never witnessed her boss experiencing medical symptoms as described in the piece.

Bachmann formally declared her candidacy for president of the United States in the key early primary state of Iowa last month.

"We can win in 2012 and we will," she said in launching her campaign. "Our voice has been growing louder and stronger. And it is made up of Americans from all walks of life like a three-legged stool. It's the peace through strength Republicans, and I'm one of them, it's fiscal conservatives, and I'm one of them, and it's social conservatives, and I'm one of them. It's the Tea Party movement and I'm one of them."

Since her announcement, Bachmann has found success in connecting with voters on the right side of the aisle and has made headway in the polls. The Republican hopeful, however, also hasn't failed to stir controversy on the trail.

A new survey out from Public Policy Polling shows Bachmann running at the head of the Republican presidential primary pack.

Click here to read the report released by the Daily Caller.

Correction: This post previously indicated that Dziok spoke with the Daily Caller, which is not the case.

Comments

[nnealj1]

05:24 PM on 07/22/2011

I was surprised to learn that Bachmann had a brain in her head with which to have migraines...live and learn....

[shepsbabe]

05:16 PM on 07/22/2011

I am a chronic migraine sufferer. I have been to 7 specilists, even traveling out of state, without getting any relief............or as Bachmann says, 'getting my migraines under control'. I would certainly like to know the name and location of her doctor.

[giant1]

02:42 PM on 07/21/2011

Migraines are a serious health condition and Ms. Bachman deserves sympathy. However, as awful as migraines can be, they are a chronic and not life threatening. If Ms. Bachman is being admitted overnight to a hospital for migraines she is receiving treatment that an average Joe wouldn't get.

Doesn't seem right that someone so dedicated to denying others health benefits should be able to abuse the health care system like that.

[ghostcommander]

02:37 PM on 07/21/2011

Bachmann is already mentally incapacitated. Heck she doesn't know the difference between John Wayne the actor and John Wayne Gacey, the serial killer.

[shepsbabe]

05:23 PM on 07/22/2011

tee hee

[giant1]

02:33 PM on 07/21/2011

I wonder if her headaches are anywhere near as severe as the headaches she gives me every time she opens her mouth ?

[shepsbabe]

05:24 PM on 07/22/2011

tee hee

[TheWM]

10:32 AM on 07/21/2011

I have migraines. They used to incapacitate me, fa sher. For a long time, although I knew there were prescription meds specifically made to treat migraines, I didn't bother to look into them. In retrospect it seems very strange to me that it took me so long to try those meds.

But hey, surprise, the meds actually work. It's amazing. I couldn't believe it, it was like a miracle, there are pills that make the migraines go away. And they don't incapacitate me.

I can't think of one good thing that has come out of Bachmann's career so far, but if this flapadoodle encourages more migraine sufferers to look into treatment options, that would be a very good thing. I urge them to look into it. I'm very glad I did.

[shepsbabe]

05:23 PM on 07/22/2011

I would seriously like to know what meds you take as I have been to 7 specialists (even traveled out of state) without getting any relief. I agree with you that this is a good thing to be brought out to the forefront in the news. Whether it be for migraine sufferers to seek help or to educate those who think a migraine is simply a headache.

[TheWM]

05:41 PM on 07/22/2011

Wow. 7 specialists. I doubt if any of this will be new to you, sorry to say.

I used to take Midrin, but that's being taken off of the market. Once Midrin couldn't be had any more, I switched to Imitrex, and that didn't do a thing for me. Now I take Maxalt, which works for me. Obviously, what works for one migraine sufferer doesn't necessarily work for another.

Also, of course, your doctor should be on top of negative interactions with other meds, if you take other meds.

And also, of course, if you have no insurance or bad insurance, these meds can sometimes be expensive.

I hope you get it sorted out and get some relief. Good luck.

[Stephanie Eaton Agosta]

10:09 AM on 07/21/2011

I guess if Bachmann wants to see "birth records" then she ought show her medical records.

[RockyGibraltar]

08:45 PM on 07/20/2011

How can you tell when she is incapcitated or acting the way she usually does?

[katie1100]

08:32 PM on 07/20/2011

additionally, if one doesn't get their medication in time (which will control the blood vessels in one's brain), the time of the aura attack, then it will, can and does completely incapacitate someone. i can't speak during an attack, i can't see and uncontrollably sick to my stomach. i don't like her politics at all, besides that...what if she's in the middle of international talks and gets an attack..these are serious. i don't know. i feel empathy for her now, these are tough!

[shepsbabe]

05:26 PM on 07/22/2011

I WISH I got the aura so Iwold know when to inject Imitrex.

[katie1100]

08:24 PM on 07/20/2011

They just released that she gets migraines with 'aura'. I get migraines like these, they're not just a bad headache. An aura is similar to a stroke, depending on symptoms, for me, my vision is imparied, my speech is slurred, the entire side of my body goes completely numb, from head to toes, mouth, tongue, i get confused, often have blacked out. This are serious headaches, an attack on the brain's blood vessels and serious. The pain is unbearable and I too have had to go to ER, hospital for relief, often times days worth of unbearable pain and vomiting.

So, it's not just a headache and she does get the aura. They're like mimi strokes and very serious!

[TheWM]

10:34 AM on 07/21/2011

I thought all migraines came with aura. Mine always have. And yes, they're not even remotely like regular headaches.

Do you take migraine medication? It's worked amazingly well for me.

[shepsbabe]

05:28 PM on 07/22/2011

I do NOT get the aura prior to a migraine.....I wish did, so I would know it was time to inject Imitrex.

[worfff]

07:07 PM on 07/20/2011

She looks like a migraine headache

[Stephanie Eaton Agosta]

10:08 AM on 07/21/2011

she gives me a headache

[Blew Balls]

03:24 PM on 07/20/2011

The Bachmann Headache The Bachmann Headache http://blewstate.net/2011/07/20/the-bachmann-headache/

[desertdweller]

03:11 PM on 07/20/2011

Not tonight Marcus; I have a headache.

[daniele7ster]

02:52 PM on 07/20/2011

Whoops! I sense a chink in the armor.

[brokerallen]

02:19 PM on 07/20/2011

Maybe that is why Bachmann wants the poor, the disabled, seniors and gays to suffer. Misery loves company.