Ann Romney says MS flare up gave a "real scare"

Mitt and Ann Romney on "CBS This Morning" on May 1, 2012 / CBS

Updated 11:23 PM ET

(AP) WASHINGTON - Ann Romney, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, had a "real scare" from a "little bitty" flare-up of her multiple sclerosis during the spring, the result of the stress and strain of her husband's political campaign.

"It was just a reminder that I can't keep up the pace," she said Thursday on NBC's "Rock Center."

The flare-up occurred in March during the primaries. Mrs. Romney said she didn't tell anyone at the time because she "didn't want to have anyone worry about me, especially Mitt," when she started "feeling tingling and a little bit of numbness coming back, and I started getting dizzy."

Mrs. Romney was diagnosed in 1998 with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Her condition has been in remission since she received a year of aggressive treatments of intravenous steroids. But flare-ups can occur under constant stress — the kind a national political campaign can create.

Mrs. Romney's recent interviews have put her on display cutting through the campaign din, including her blunt statement that her husband has provided everything that "people need to know" and won't be releasing more tax returns.

Although Mrs. Romney is still largely unknown to a large portion of the public she is well regarded by GOP voters. Mrs. Romney, for her part, has increasingly been out front, fielding questions on issues at the core of her husband's campaign — his choice for vice president, his refusal to release additional tax returns and more. She's also a potent fundraiser.

Ann Romney on taxes: There's nothing we're hiding
Ann Romney on the campaign trail

[singersglen1]

I honestly wonder if she even has MS. A good friend of mine has been almost crippled by it, and everyone I have known with MS experiences highly debilitating symptoms. They have trouble walking, focusing their eyes, and other neurological problems that make daily living a challenge. My friend with MS attends church with me, and she has a hard time walking up the aisle to go to communion. One day, I was behind her and she nearly tripped. She has to use a cane most of the time, and the disease has affected her handwriting as well. She certainly isn't sailing down the stage like she does not have a care in the world as Mrs. Romney appears to be doing. Maybe Ann Romney has a different kind of MS, but she's the only person I have ever seen who hardly seems to have any symptoms. It really makes you wonder.

[suddswife]

It must be nice to have a benign case of MS, 2 flairs in 15 years would be great. I've had 5 flairs in 5 yrs. I wish my insurance would cover acupuncture and dietary therapy. She and Mitt really don't understand what it's like to have to apply for assistance for the 45k per year MS meds. That doesn't include other meds and doctor appointments. It's a drop in the bucket for them. I pray if he gets elected he does not reverse the Davis Bacon Act, that will put me and my family out on the street without any insurance. Romney has vowed to make the entire nation right to work. Look it up.

[Lindag20]

Poor Ann. My cousin has Crohn's disease and is no longer able to work. He was able to keep his health insurance through COBRA and thanks to the health care act the insurance company can't kick him off. Believe you me they've tried every trick in the book as he's now "too expensive" for them to want to cover him. Mitt wants to repeal this act and seems to not understand how that would affect people like my cousin. He can afford his coverage NOW, but with his condition he wouldn't be able to get affordable coverage due to his health issues. The Romneys have so much money this means NOTHING to them, but to the rest of us it's a big deal.

[1988JAck]

Think of the scare she would have had, if she had no health insurance or billions of dollars.

I wish her health was better, but I also wish she would develop some understanding of what other less fortunate people go through with this and many more health issues.

[Lindag20]

Amen to that one. I have Constant Fatigue Syndrome and during the 10 years I had NO health insurance it was a HUGE problem as I couldn't afford health care no matter how many "flare ups" I had with it. The woman is clueless.

[RollotheNorman]

Lady Romney wants the little people to understand her pains, and to understand that because she can't buy her way out of them, Willard should be President. Don't bother to ask about the logic, it would be beneath a gentleman to ask.

[goffredo29]

You can bet the scare didn't extend to how they were going to pay for it.

[cpjohn1]

The Romneys are the biggest whiners! Romney constantly attacks the President and when he attacks back, Romney whines about it, like he is the only one allowed to attack. Now Queen Ann is whining for sympathy votes. These two are pathetic.

[RollotheNorman]

Well you have to remember Willard is not used to one of the "little people" daring to sass him.

[andie52]

Those who rely on Medicare and/or Medicaid to pay for MS treatments will also struggle if Romney gets his way. Although he has not been terribly specific about his plans for for Medicare, he's made clear his intention to transform Medicare into a voucher program that no longer offers the same guarantee of benefits. Romney has been more specific about Medicaid: He intends to turn the program over to the states but with a lot less money, all but guaranteeing that states dramatically reduce either what or who the program covers

[KPeters_from_UK]

Her health insurance will cover all of her expenses. She is one very lucky lady. I wish my eldest son who was born with a pre-existing condition had her coverage.

[A_Canadian_Opinion]

His thirst for power is a bigger priority for him than his wife's health. Romney's an idiot.

[smirk5]

There's no proof that Queen Romney even has MS. Her husband lies about everything and it makes sense he married a wife that does the same thing. The MS thing is probably contrived as a simple vote getter for a small group of people out there that will take sympathy. I want to see the official doctor records that prove she has MS.

[WhatSomeSay]

Actually most people with MS (500,000+ in US) are very concerned that Romney's healthcare laws will affect those of us with MS, even though he knows how much it costs to care for this disease. Most people don't realize or even take the time to research this disease to know what all we go through daily and the amount of Dr. bills we incur each month. His wife will always have it on easy street with her bills, but us, not so much!

I am not a Democrat and will never vote democrat on one notion only.....I don't believe in abortion. I have many freinds that have had them and I still love them, but it is not for me. I don't think I will vote at all in this election. All politicians are crooks anyways. Look at Obama......he changes his stance on so many things from last election to this one even. It is all ridiculous!