What is the matter with Merkel?

Perhaps they don’t know, perhaps it’s a side effect of other medication that would give the media a field day, perhaps she and her family are trying to come to terms with it before they announce it to the world, perhaps they are still waiting for test results before they confirm things...could be any number of reasons why they haven’t announced it.

I think it’s really none of our business at this stage. There’s obviously something going on but she’s entitled to her privacy - it’s not affecting her ability to do her job, it’s just public nosiness.

Whatever the problem is, Mrs Merkel’s health is now going to be the subject of increased speculation, some of it mischievous and damaging. She’d probably be best advised just to come out and say what the issue is. As a very private person, this won’t come easy, but it would stop potentially hurtful and harmful rumours escalating.

Look like an underfed Hausfrau??

Nasty.

Acute dehydration can and does on occasion cause trembling or “rigors” as I have observed, confirmed by paramedics.
Bitchy remarks about an “underfed Hausfrau” could be taken as racist too of course. But be that as it may, although I might have expected a more considered observation.
Ketosis can manifest itself in those who are better covered and not only the skeletally thin.
However, it has now occurred a third time and suggestions of a psychosomatic response are almost as worrying as a physical problem. I have a lot of time for Merkel too and am concerned that her role is taking this toll on her health.
German privacy laws and a respect for the affairs of public figures mean there are very few leaks in national press. Did anybody know that previous German chancellors have successfully hidden health issues in the past?
Helmut Schmidt revealed in 2015 that he had fallen unconscious at least a hundred times during his chancellorship in the late Seventies and early Eighties due to a heart condition.

Reports by the medical fraternity state that dehydration does not and cannot cause the shakes.
Going without food can, but Angela doesn't look an underfed Hausfrau.

I had bad rigors as a reaction to anaesthetics. It was absolutely uncontrollable. Maybe she's on some some of medication? Lots of people her age (our age!) are.

I had rigors once, very frightening and I had no idea what was happening. It turned out to be sepsis.

My initial thought was rigors too Callistemon , Paw used to get them frequently, rapidly followed by temperature spikes and IV antibiotics usually featured shortly thereafter.

I wonder if it could be to do with the extreme heat that mainland Europe is suffering at present.

How could anyone make a joke about this?!

I would have thought by looking at her she was having rigors but that is usually part of an infection and it didn't look as if she is ill with a fever.

I am sure she is receiving the best of attention and hope it is nothing serious.

Never mind politics, this poor woman is ill, and having to try and hide the symptoms on whatever ails her, must be very distressing, as she is in the spotlight all of the time.

Get well soon Mutti.
warm wishes from one woman to another. x

JenniferEccles

Who's made a joke about it?!

She seems a decent and compassionate woman.

There are many politicians whose policies I do not approve of to a greater or lesser extent but if they were clearly showing signs of illness whilst carrying out a formal engagement and trying to keep their dignity, I wouldn’t make a joke about it.

I wish her well and feel very sorry for her, having the eyes of the world and the press on you must be dreadful. She is one of the few politicians who acts with dignity, self control and respect ( and she makes Trump very uncomfortable indeed!).

I'm not that keen on Mrs Merkel's politics, but I certainly do not wish her to be ill or any other bad thing. I hope whatever it is, it is something not serious and easily resolved.
I wish her well.

She looked very uncomfortable and was no doubt aware of the eyes of the world on her. I wish her better and hope that whatever she is suffering from it isn't serious. If necessary I hope she is able to take herself off somewhere quiet out of the public gaze to recover.

I do not like her politics but nevertheless I wish her well.

Of course I wouldn’t wish illness on her and if it turns out she is ill then I would be sorry. However I haven’t liked her since her idiotic ‘all are welcome ‘ policy on immigration brought floods of migrants into Germany and Europe in general

Poor woman to be in the worlds eye whilst unwell.

It could be so many things but who could not feel concern for her.

I wish Mutti Merkel good health, as I would anybody in her stressful position.

And then there’s the people who think it’s something to joke about

I too very much like Angela Merkel, and hope there’s nothing seriously wrong with her

I’m sure she’s finding this scrutiny humiliating, imagine the eyes of the world on you at such a vulnerable moment