Ms. Patricia Benjamin talks about her experience with pancreatitis and the care she received at Mayo Clinic.
See also a video with Dr. Santhi Vege, Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic’s nationally recognized Pancreas Clinic treats patients with diseases of the pancreas. The Pancreas Clinic is staffed by doctors from multiple specialties.
As a 14-year-old, Ann Strom understandably had knots in her stomach about starting her freshman year of high school.
These knots, however, did not go away.
Following several weeks of abdominal pain, Strom and her parents began to suspect that her upset stomach was more than the result of nervousness or flu.
After a series of tests conducted by her family doctor came back negative, Strom was transferred to a specialist at a University Hospital. Several more rounds of tests, including Strom’s first colonoscopy at the age of 14, ultimately diagnosed her with Crohn’s disease in Oct. 2003.
Throughout high school, Strom alternated between several different medications in an attempt to control her symptoms. At one point, she was taking 14 pills a day. One in particular had terrible side effects, including feeling jittery, shaking, an elevated pulse and a red, puffy face.
“It’s kind of hard to deal with,” said Strom. “High school is a lot about appearances, so sitting there with a puffy, red face isn’t really fun.”
As Strom transitioned out of pediatric care, she began to consider other medical facilities for treatment. “I decided, after my mom had a doctor at Mayo, to switch my care to Mayo,” said Strom.
Upon arriving at Mayo, Strom met Dr. David Bruining, who recommended an aggressive re-assessment of her diagnosis. This time her testing was felt to be most suggestive of ulcerative colitis, not Crohn’s disease, as the cause of Strom’s condition.
“For patients like Ann, it is important to seek out help as they are not alone in their struggles,” said Dr. Bruining. “There are many treatment options available for patients with IBD.”
Though hopeful that this diagnosis was the correct one, towards the end of her freshman year of college Strom was still plagued by fatigue and abdominal pain.
“I was kind of at the end of the line when it came to medication options,” said Strom. “I could go back on high dosages of medication that caused really bad side effects that I hated in high school, or another option would be to have surgery.”
After much deliberation, Strom chose surgery. She completed a series of three surgeries, with a final take-down procedure in Oct. 2009.
Since then, Strom is back to her “new normal.”
“I’ve been feeling the best I’ve felt since I was 14 years old,” said Strom.
Here’s a video of Strom describing her journey through diagnosis and surgery:
This post was submitted by Lauren Rothering, a summer intern in the Mayo Clinic Department of Public Affairs in Rochester.
Each year, Marnie Hensel, of Wayzata, Minn., comes to Mayo Clinic for her annual checkup through the Executive Health Program. During her visit in early 2004, physicians noticed a spot on her lung x-ray. A biopsy found that it was lung cancer in the earliest stage (1A), and it was completely removed. Six years later, with no further treatment, Mrs. Hensel is still cancer-free and says that she’s “Mayo’s biggest booster.”
In the video below, Mrs. Hensel shares her story and how she considers coming to Mayo Clinic a “mini vacation.”
This post was submitted by Natalie Zheng, a summer intern in the Mayo Clinic Department of Public Affairs in Rochester.
When I walked into Dr. Sunanda Kane’s office at Mayo Clinic, I was crying. I had been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease not long before, and I was devastated by the news. I know some people who have Crohn’s, and they were not doing well. I had one baby and knew I wanted to have another, and I thought the diagnosis was basically a death sentence.
Before learning I had Crohn’s, I’d had 12 to 14 years of ups and downs with gastrointestinal issues. Doctors offered different diagnoses like irritable bowel syndrome and anxiety. It wasn’t until I had more intensive testing through Mayo’s Gastroenterology and Hepatology I Department that the Crohn’s was discovered.
I am fortunate to be an employee at Mayo. I’ve worked here for 10 years in secretarial and phone receptionist roles, and recently became a Registered Nurse. When I was working on the phones, I’d hear people’s opinions about the care and expertise at Mayo – how it was world-class. I feel very fortunate to have Mayo’s resources close to home.
One of my Mayo secretary friends recommended Dr. Kane to me. Dr. Kane focuses on pregnant women with Crohn’s. She has a great manner and personality and has been absolutely fantastic. She sat down with me and explained things like the different severities of the disease, which made me feel calm and more in control. Dr. Kane told me, “I promise you will not die from this disease.”
Mary and baby David
I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Kane. I hope to continue to stay healthy, and I plan on having more children in the future. Dr. Kane took me from being devastated to having hope and for that, I am very grateful.
Here is a photo of our new baby boy, David James!
David James
This post was written by Mary Diderrich, an RN at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, who recently gave birth to her second child.
Bonnie Lenz, a patient at Mayo Clinic shares her story of the cosmetic side effects chemotherapy and radiation had on her personal appearance and the positive impact the Mayo Clinic Erickson Hair and Skin Care Center and the Look Good…Feel Better program made during her treatment.
14-month old Michelle Ernsdorff
Michelle was part of a clinical trial led by Gerald Gilchrist, M.D., a Mayo Clinic pediatric oncologist. During the trial, Michelle developed scoliosis secondary to the radiation therapy. For the next 12 years the Ernsdorffs struggled with medical expenses, as well as the non-medical, out-of-pocket expenses that came with regularly traveling 175 miles from Dubuque, Iowa to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Michelle and her father, Mike
Today, Michelle is a healthy and successful woman. Despite her battle with cancer and scoliosis, she has completed several triathlons and a marathon. Most recently, she was the Vice President of Marketing for a company that manufactured fluorodeoxyglucose for PET scans. Through her work, Michelle was able to interact with cancer patients and give them hope as she shared her own story.
Michelle recently started Compass to Care: The Mike & Sandy Ernsdorff Childhood Cancer Foundation in honor of her parents. With her experience working in the medical field, Michelle realized that her parent’s situation was similar to many families that deal with medical-related travel costs. Her vision is for Compass to Care to aid with the financial responsibility dealing with scheduling, hotel stays, flights, as well as reimbursing families for gas, bus fare, parking fees, meals and many other expenses as they travel for medical care.
Michelle and her mother, Sandy
“All the incidentals, especially with families, add up. And when the parents take time off work, the family income is reduced,” says Ernsdorff. “It’s important to raise awareness of these travel costs, and it’s my hope that Compass to Care will provide families with the financial support to enable them to travel in order to receive the best cancer care for their children.”
Ernsdorff says that Compass to Care was recently able to fund their first family. On July 9, 2010, Compass to Care will be officially launched in Dubuque, Iowa. For more information, visit www.compasstocare.org.
“Mayo Clinic has been so important in people’s lives all over the world,” Ernsdorff said, “And Compass to Care will enable families to not worry about the travel costs that come with seeking the best medical care.”
This post was submitted by Natalie Zheng, a summer intern in the Mayo Clinic Department of Public Affairs in Rochester.
On July 10, the Florida campus unveiled a new sign viewable from a mile away. The new mark on the Davis Building prominently displays “Mayo Clinic” day and night to those traveling the busy highway to and from the coastal communities.
And, it’s not just a standard sign with letters on a building – it’s an aluminum and screen wall 18 feet high and spanning 90 feet between two elevator penthouses. It was built in four panels anchored through the roof and tied to the structural steel. The panels were each raised and lowered into place by a helicopter.
The technology is similar to the display on top of Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona. It uses perforated film allowing LED lights to shine through it creating a white illuminated letter at night. During the day, only the blue film color is visible, displaying blue letters.
However, the sign in Florida had to meet one criteria that wasn’t necessary in Arizona: it had to withstand 120-mph wind loads in case of a hurricane. It also had to be visible from a mile away. To test the legibility of the letters at that distance, full size test banner letters were temporarily mounted and checked from one of the significant distance points – the San Pablo Bridge.
The original mark on the Davis Building displayed “Mayo” for about 10 years. It was removed about two years ago while a new solution was designed.
This article was submitted by Kathy Barbour, Public Affairs communication consultant in Mayo Clinic in Florida.
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