DENVER (KDVR) — Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, of Colorado’s 3rd district, was hospitalized on April 1 at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland after she experienced “severe swelling in her upper left leg,” according to a campaign statement.
Boebert, 37, is known for her controversial and far-right opinions and stances. She also is currently running for Colorado’s fourth congressional district.
According to her campaign, Boebert underwent a CT scan and doctors found an acute blood clot. She was also diagnosed with May-Thurner Syndrome which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is a rare condition that disrupts blood flow by compressing a vein in the pelvis and can lead to blood clots.
She is expected to make a full recovery, according to her campaign.
“I want to thank Dr. Rebecca Bade and the entire team at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies for their great care and providing helpful insight on my recent diagnosis,” said Boebert in her campaign release. “I’m looking forward to making a full recovery and getting back to Congress to continue fighting for Colorado.”
Doctors believe dehydration, travel and extended periods of sitting are potential factors in causing symptoms of May-Thurner syndrome. Additionally, women between 20-45 years old who have given birth are at a greater risk of having the syndrome.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a main complication of May-Thurner syndrome is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, which occurs when a blood clot forms in deep leg veins. Should that blood clot break off and reach a person’s lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening.
Doctors recommended and scheduled surgery to remove the clot and insert a stent to address Boebert’s symptoms, which is a common treatment option for May-Thurner syndrome, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The surgery was completed on the morning of April 2, her campaign explained.
After resting, as recommended by doctors, Boebert is expected to fully recover with “no significant concerns for her long-term health and no hindrance to her ability to perform her duties as a Congresswoman,” according to her campaign.
“We successfully performed surgery on the Congresswoman this morning and expect her to make a full recovery,” said Bade, a hospitalist physician at the hospital. “Patients with May-Thurner Syndrome who undergo the procedure to restore blood flow are able to live and work just as they have in the past after a brief recovery.”