Around seven weeks before the European elections, CSU MEP Monika Hohlmeier canceled all public appointments until further notice due to illness. “After a severe viral infection, I was diagnosed with a serious autoimmune reaction at the beginning of this week,” Hohlmeier said in a personal statement on Thursday. She had been struggling with health problems for several months. This diagnosis was made to her during an examination at the Munich University Hospital. “I am completely surprised, but I have to accept the findings. I feel like I’ve had the plug pulled at full throttle.”
Hohlmeier emphasized that she was receiving very good medical treatment. “My health is stable.” Bild was the first to report on her health.
CSU politician Hohlmeier is suffering from an autoimmune reaction – that’s what’s behind it
The diagnosis: complete metabolic derailment and severe autoimmune reaction. Several organs are affected, especially the pancreas and thyroid.
In an autoimmune reaction, the immune system mistakes certain of its own cells for invaders and attacks them. The antibodies are therefore directed against the body’s own cells. The result is usually inflammation of the affected tissue, which can develop into chronic diseases (= autoimmune diseases) and damage organs and tissue. Such autoimmune diseases cannot be cured. However, treatments can prevent damage, for example to the tissue or organs.
There are over sixty diseases that experts classify as autoimmune diseases. The most well-known, which also affect the organs mentioned by Hohlmeier, include:
- Diabetes-Typ-1: Immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that produce insulin
- Hashimoto thyroiditis: chronic inflammatory disease of the thyroid
- Lupus erythematosus (systemic) : can affect various organs, such as the musculoskeletal system, lungs, kidneys, skin, blood vessels or the nervous system
According to “Bild”, Hohlmeier already had similar health problems in the mid-90s: kidney failure and a completely derailed thyroid. The diagnosis at the time was Hashimoto. “I actually thought that I had the illness under control,” Hohlmeier told “Bild”. An exact diagnosis for her current health problems is still pending.
The fact is that Hohlmeier has had to repeatedly struggle with severe viral infections since June 2023, probably also with Covid-19. “I’ve been incredibly tired for months. In the past few weeks I haven’t tasted any food, coffee or alcohol. “I would have preferred to just sleep,” she continued. On Monday she felt so bad that her internist admitted her straight to the emergency room at the University Hospital in Munich. “I couldn’t move anymore and felt like someone had given me knockout drops. My whole immune system had collapsed.”
Hohlmeier deliberately made her illness public
Hohlmeier consciously decided to make her illness public “since the medical treatment and therapy will take several weeks.” Hohlmeier also canceled all appointments. “In view of the medical findings, I have no choice – after very careful consideration and consultation with my doctors – to cancel all public appointments until further notice in order not to endanger the recovery process.” She deeply regrets this, but health comes first. Given the upcoming European elections, the balancing process was particularly difficult. “The work for Upper Franconia in Europe is and remains a matter close to my heart,” explained Hohlmeier, emphasizing that she wanted to “continue it with full commitment” after her recovery.
Hohlmeier is expected to remain in the clinic until Tuesday. Various tests will be carried out there and the politician will be put on medication.
Hohlmeier, daughter of the former Bavarian Prime Minister Franz Josef Strauss, has been a member of the European Parliament for the CSU since 2009. She is in fourth place on the CSU list for the election on June 9th. She was previously a member of the state parliament and minister of education in Bavaria.
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