Intro from Jackie Sanders: The connections I’ve made in the dental hygiene community are some of my most valued relationships. Since graduating in 1996 and staying involved in the profession, I’ve made some lifelong friends. One is Patti DiGangi, who I met when I worked for Sunstar, and she quickly convinced me I needed to attend CareerFusion. This led to my personal growth and finding one of the people I can always turn to.
This past year, I had the opportunity to get together with Patti and Kandra Sellers, and we continue to discuss how we can make a difference in our profession. Patti may not be out on the speaking circuit any longer, but she still has a whole lot to share. Here is Patti’s story about where she’s been the last six years.
Patti's story
I'm attending the best continuing education program ever, and it's called "My Life." Allow me to explain.
This "My Life” CE course has been the longest and most challenging learning experience that anyone could imagine. I’ve spent many of my adult years managing my medical care and allergies, as well as incorporating my life experiences into the CE programs I presented to oral health professionals worldwide.
Since September 2019, when I had what was called my “first stroke,” I've been on an interesting and challenging health journey, and it’s been my focus for the last six years. After the “first stroke” diagnosis, I was put on the usual regimen of Plavix and Crestor to prevent future strokes. As my journey through a battery of medical diagnostic tests continued, I learned that my September 2019 incident was not my first stroke. Fast forward to April 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I was hospitalized with another stroke.
This stroke and hospital stay had a different outcome; we found out that I’m a nonresponder to Plavix. This means Plavix was not working to prevent additional strokes. Therefore, my doctors had to find other medications for me.
Many other medications in the same category as Plavix also did not help and were ruled out. Because I have a very complex medical history and I take a laundry list of medications and allergies, finding an alternative drug to help prevent future strokes was very complicated. I was referred to a vascular neurologist as the best person to determine my drug regimen.
The day after my vascular neurologist appointment in August, I had another stroke. This one was different; it robbed me of my ability to speak. You got it. I was a professional speaker who couldn't speak.
Dysphagia causes difficulty swallowing, affecting speech and the ability to eat and drink. I lectured countless times in the past about dry mouth and problems with clearance, but now I was living it! I began speech therapy twice a week for nine months. I've gained back most of my speech, but I'm still working on improvement. I now live with what I had educated others about.
Prior to my health crisis, I had an eight-year plan for selling my company, and the good news is this did happen. But my health has resulted in me changing my plans to focus on myself and my healing. But I’m jumping ahead in my story.
More roadblocks to overcome
I ended up in the hospital again on Thanksgiving 2020. Due to COVID, my family could not be by my side. My doctors were concerned about the results of my CT scan and wanted to keep me overnight for an MRI. They didn’t think I’d had another stroke, but they didn't have my previous medical records.
Remember, I’d had a stroke that affected my speech and now I was alone in the hospital with no one to speak for me or offer background information to the medical personnel. My anxiety and frustration when faced with these barricades to my care were overwhelming and continue to this day.
Due to operational confusion caused by COVID, my records were sent to my internist but not to my vascular neurologist. He finally received them on December 20. Immediately after reviewing them, he called to say I needed a brain scan, which I had on December 23. This was also the date I transferred ownership of my company to the new buyer, which eliminated a huge concern for me.
I was then told that I needed a brain biopsy ($10,000) and a spinal tap ($6,000), both of which I had on December 26. It was not the Merry Christmas I’d been hoping for. As a precaution, I was kept in the hospital overnight and the next day I had another stroke!
I was alone with serious medical problems and no one to advocate for me. I was finally sent home from the hospital with high-dose steroids, and I began chemotherapy. This was prescribed to help control the rare disorder of central nervous system vasculitis, which is essentially inflammation in the brain. All the medications worsened my oral health challenges as well.
Since my health crisis coincided with the COVID crisis, I had to receive care without my family by my side. With a compromised immune system and extensive allergies, it was important for me to weigh the risks of the COVID vaccine. My medical team determined that the vaccine was the best option for me, and at least that process was uneventful.
Fast forward and it was reported that some immunocompromised individuals were not gaining protection from the vaccine and that they should have an antibody test. We know vaccines don't always protect someone from infection 100%. The hope is if someone contracts a virus the antibodies in their system will fight and decrease the effects of severe infection.
As orsl health professionals, we learn the importance and risks of polypharmacy; while some medications help certain conditions, they may worsen or cause others. This is another part of my medical challenge that has a wide-reaching impact on my daily life. I needed the medications for a life-threatening illness, but they made my speech, dry mouth, and clearance issues much worse. Quality of life is important too.
Why I'm sharing my journey
Now I’m taking the opportunity to share with my colleagues once again. Take a moment to think about those patients and loved ones who are immune suppressed and decided not to get vaccinated due to their health risks. My compromised immune system puts me at a greater risk for severe COVID outcomes. But did you know some reports conclude that severe immunocompromised individuals may not convert an immune response from the vaccine? Antibody testing may be indicated to ensure a conversion has taken place.
This “My Life” CE course is giving me the opportunity to educate once more. Throughout many years of speaking, writing, and teaching others based on science and my own experiences, I’ve promoted lifelong learning. I’m pleased that through my business and the team at DentalCodeology, we’ve provided quality content and education to oral health professionals.
Learn about the ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation
