Gastroenterology Patient Stories

While I’m not a musician – or for that fact, musically inclined in any capacity – I now share something in common with Gregg Allman, the rock and roll legend: A second chance at life thanks to an organ donation.

Living with Sclerosing Mesenteritis presents a multitude of symptoms that can be very troubling. But as we learn about the disease, we also learn that ...

I am writing my story of celiac disease. I was diagnosed in March 2008, at the age of 73. I also want to tell my ...

Many people can relate to making some type of sacrifice for the one they love. For some, it’s a move far away from family and ...

This article was submitted by Scott Van Dyke, Carol's husband and caregiver Carol Van Dyke entered Mayo Clinic in June 2002 to discuss treatments for her Hepatitis C which had caused stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver. She had a blood transfusion in 1964 to stop bleeding from a hysterectomy due to a miscarriage. During her three-day checkup, she was told that X-rays had found a cancerous tumor on her liver. So, instead of talking about her Hepatitis C treatments, she was operated on at Rochester Methodist Hospital for the removal of about 10% of her liver. During surgery, another tumor near the first one was also removed. With the “clean cut,” no further treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, etc.) were required.

This article was submitted by Mayo Clinic Jacksonville patient, Fred Page In late summer 2005, after 50 days in a non-Florida hospital, a nurse helped me out of the wheelchair and into my wife’s waiting vehicle. We were going home! Our battle waged with the deadly bacteria pseudomonas had ended. However, a weight loss of nearly 30 pounds, a badly scarred torso and neck, along with a feeding tube, sporadic periods of aspirations and a paralyzed vocal cord clearly reminded us that the overall battle was only changing locations. After a brief while at home, we began to better understand where we had been and where we were then. The extended hospital stay had been laced with life-saving circumstances and events. These included, among others, recovery from a code and having two liters of infection surgically removed from my chest cavity. Although considerable healing had taken place, significant medical needs continued including additional hospital admissions and surgeries to treat the ravages of the battle with infection. These challenges were exceedingly difficult for me and for my family. A very important conversation took place in the summer of 2006 with my attending gastroenterologist. At that time, he shared with us that he believed my needs could best be served in another setting. He went on to say that, with our approval, he would refer me to Dr. Michael Wallace of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Daniel Rothamel of Charlottesville, Va. tells his story of coming to Mayo Clinic for treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis. Here's an excerpt: Once my wife and ...