John Dingell from hospital: 'Rumors of my demise ... only slightly exaggerated'

Former U.S. Rep. John Dingell remained hospitalized Tuesday, undergoing tests in Detroit after a heart attack on Monday.

"Rumors of my demise may have only been slightly exaggerated, but I’m still here and you’re not done with me yet. " the 92-year-old tweeted Tuesday evening.

"Thankful for all of your thoughts, your prayers, and for @RepDebDingell. Just not in that order."

Dingell, a Dearborn Democrat, was admitted to Henry Ford Hospital on Monday morning after he reported feeling "off" and was diagnosed with a "small" heart attack, his wife Debbie Dingell said. 

She expressed relief Tuesday that Dingell's enzyme levels, which had been increasing, stabilized and "hopefully 'peaked' out." 

"I don’t have much to report as they are still doing multiple tests and we won’t make plans for next steps until at least tomorrow," she wrote in a Facebook post. 

"I am for the conservative approach that keeps him safe and does no harm (yes a Democrat said that) so just getting all the facts. I will say all the staff here is getting their dose of 'Dingellisms' and they seem to falling off his tongue today which I take as a good sign." 

John Dingell was the longest-serving member of Congress when he retired in early 2015 after 59 years. Debbie Dingell won election in November 2014 to replace him.

Dingell was last hospitalized in December after a fall. He had surgery in 2014 for an abnormal heart rhythm and had a pacemaker installed in 2015.

mburke@detroitnews.com