All the thanks for Health Systems Management

My name is Claudia Dammann, my husband Dennis retired from Local 49 December 2005; we have relocated to Paynesville, MN where many of our family members live. When the first letter came out with the Health Dynamics Screening invitation in spring 2007, I knew we had to go through with it.

            My husband and I both went through your Health Dynamics Health Screening in July, 2007 last year in Waite Park, MN.  We were both very impressed with the complete physical we had.  Dennis could not do many of the lower body work outs that I did that day but came out of the physical with flying colors “a picture of health” with the exception of his left knee.  He has since had a total knee replacement and is doing fantastic!

            I, on the other hand, didn’t turn out so healthy. When we had our consultation a few weeks after the physical, the consultant said, Claudia, I am concerned about you!! Wow, our mouths dropped to the floor, because I never get sick, I am the picture of health.  Little did we know, my Liver numbers were up and that was cause for concern.  He suggested I have my MD do another Lipid Panel in the near future or as soon as she felt it should be done.  She waited 2 ½ months, and did another Panel and my liver numbers were up another 13 points, not bad but, up more. I told her about the slight pain I had been having near my sternum, I also mentioned the light headedness, dizzy spells. She checked my liver and said it didn’t feel enlarged; at that time she ordered an ultrasound to check liver, gallbladder and stomach. The ultrasound showed many masses on my liver, now I have to have a CT scan, which showed one large mass on the right lobe of my liver just below my sternum.  That was the reason for the slight pain that I had been brushing off, as it “just being older” and working a very physical new job. Well after many, many tests, it was determined that I have cancer, the tumor, located near my sternum was caused from 2 bile ducts in the right lobe of my liver. I have Cholangiocarcinoma and I am recovering from surgery. 

            I was referred to an Oncologist at the Coburn Cancer center in St. Cloud, he read and looked over every inch of the tests I had been thru and finally said, the cancer is contained in the tumor on my liver and it is operable. My surgery could only be done in two places in MN, The Mayo or the University of Minnesota.  I chose to have surgery at the U o M because it is closer to our home, Paynesville.

            December 19^th, 2007 I had 70% of my liver removed at the U o M, we learned that you need 25% liver to survive and after the resection I would have 30% left lobe remaining. The liver is the only organ that re-generates itself.  

            I was discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve and on my way home to my family.  Although all of our children, grandchildren, and our siblings were overjoyed to have me home, I don’t remember much of my 2007 Christmas Holiday. 

            We are very grateful for the opportunity to have had the Health Dynamics Screening that our health insurance provides for us.  I may have never known about my liver numbers being elevated if we hadn’t had the screening done. I am one who has a physical every year.  Most cases such as mine are inoperable by the time the disease is diagnosed. 

            I’ve gone through 12 Chemo treatments, I am in remission, and I’ll have to have blood work and CT Scans every 3 months for 2 years. It will be a year in October since I was diagnosed with this disease.  I will beat this liver disease thanks to your health clinic and my MD‘s persistence.

            Thank you for giving us the opportunity to attend the Health Dynamics Screening Clinics. We will attend another clinic in 2009.