Miriam extends leave of absence due to ‘hypothyroidism’

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday said she will be going on an extended leave from the Senate after she was diagnosed of a new sickness that she said causes extreme fatigue. Santiago, who has yet to officially attend a single session of the 15th Congress, told Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in a letter that she will be on sick leave for at least a few weeks or at most six months because she was suffering from hypothyroidism. She said hypothyroidism produces “extreme tiredness," which can be cured by medication. “Accordingly, I respectfully request that in the Journal roll call, I should be marked: on sick leave," she said. Santiago asked Enrile to contact her in her house in case of “urgent matters." The website medicinenet.com described hypothyroidism as a condition characterized by abnormally low thyroid hormone production. It is more common in women than in men, and its incidence increases with age. Santiago had already taken leaves of absence before, citing either complications from chronic fatigue syndrome or arrhythmia (abnormal heart rate and rhythm). Santiago had previously said her doctors had told her that arrhythmia could lead to complications like stroke and that she might eventually need a pacemaker to regulate her heartbeat. The lawmaker said two of her younger brothers had died of arrhythmia. On Tuesday night, Enrile patched things up with Santiago after she cried foul over his decision not to give her a committee to lead last Monday. The Senate president also awarded the feisty lawmaker the chairmanship of the committee on constitutional amendments following a meeting in a Makati hotel. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMANews.TV