Case Wewerka

Case Wewerka, a 58-year-old business owner from La Crosse, Wis., was finally at a point in life where he was ready to shift gears, phase out of his business and take life at a more leisurely pace.

As owner of a chain of auto parts stores and an electrical company, his responsibilities included managing operations as well as overseeing more than 125 employees. Over time, the related stress had taken its toll, and he knew he needed to make some lifestyle changes in order to improve his health.

Case took action. He had put on weight, so he changed his habits and lost 30 pounds. All three of his children were involved or becoming involved in the family business, so he transferred more responsibility to them. He began to exercise more frequently, and, in general, pay closer attention to his health. Everything was moving in the right direction.

Shortness of Breath

Unfortunately, Case's efforts alone couldn't prevent what was happening, and one day, while exercising, he began experiencing shortness of breath. Case went in for a checkup, and the doctor performed a nuclear stress test. The results showed he was suffering from severe coronary blockage and would likely need surgery.

Case had been to the Mayo Clinic in the past for treatment related to arthritis, and had decided at that time if he ever had another serious health issue, he would go to the Clinic for help.

"The second I received the phone call from my doctor, I knew my next call would be to the Mayo Clinic," said Case. "I've always been impressed with the facility and the people who work there."

The Maze Procedure

After Case's evaluation, he met with Thoralf Sundt III, M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic, and they determined bypass surgery would be the best option. A maze procedure would also be performed to treat a pre-existing problem with atrial fibrillation.

Mayo Clinic is one of only a few medical centers in the United States that performs the maze procedure. The maze procedure is a highly complex surgical treatment that can cure atrial fibrillation (abnormal or irregular heart rhythm) by creating barriers to the electrical pathways, in the form of scar tissue in the atria (the heart's upper chambers).

In the procedure, the surgeon creates multiple cuts into the atria muscle in an intricate pattern, or maze, and then stitches the incisions together to produce scars. Because the scars do not carry electrical signals, they interfere with stray electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation and, as a result, allow the heart to restore a regular, coordinated heartbeat.

"I Don't Need It"

Prior to the surgical procedure, Case was offered a massage to help him relax and be better prepared for surgery.

"I said, 'No, I don't need it -- give it to someone else who really needs it,'" said Case. "I didn't believe something so simple would make much difference. You could even say I thought of it as sort of a 'girlie' thing."

Massage therapy is part of the Healing and Enhancement Program at Mayo Clinic, which is a concerted effort, specifically in cardiovascular surgery, to improve care, especially as it relates to pain management in hospital and clinic settings. According to Dr. Sundt, myriad conventional and complementary therapies can be employed to address pain and anxiety, but generally they are not applied in a coordinated fashion.

"Pain control is a priority for us, and massage has brought about remarkable results in terms of pain management," said Dr. Sundt. "A second benefit is it helps control anxiety and tension. If someone is anxious, their perception of pain is much worse. But if you are relaxed, you can break the cycle of pain and anxiety."

Recovery Slow and Difficult

Dr. Sundt performed the surgery, and both bypass and maze procedure went well. Case was grateful the procedures were successful, but his recovery was proving difficult. For several days he had virtually no sleep, and when he did, he experienced strange, unsettling dreams. Once in a while things would make sense, and all the while, the pain was intolerable. Case was at wit's end.

"It was just grim. I was knotted up and could not get comfortable no matter what I did. Then, I found myself getting depressed, and this is not at all normal for me," said Case. "I had numbness in my hand and fingers too, and was in excruciating pain."

Once again, Case was offered a massage, and this time he said yes.

"Mr. Wewerka is an intelligent, successful businessman," said Dr. Sundt. "An open-heart surgical procedure can be extremely difficult for people like Case who are used to being in control -- then suddenly they aren't. When he had the massage, it was very helpful in terms of gaining control of the situation."

An Incredible Difference

"That one massage made an incredible difference and was a significant turning point for me," said Case. "It was like my muscle groups relaxed and my skeletal system went back into shape. I could literally feel my body getting back to normal. And after the massage, I had my first real night's sleep. From that point on, things rapidly improved."

Case had a second massage that aided in his recovery, but he also credits the staff at Mayo as having a significant role.

"The staff support and encouragement made a huge difference. I really appreciated their professionalism and everything they did," said Case. "I think I made such rapid progress due to a combination of support methods: diet, education, cardiac rehab, as well as the massage."

Since the surgery, Case has lost another 30 pounds and exercises daily. "In the process leading up to all of this, I had gotten in horrible shape," said Case. "But after something like this you say, 'Thank God I'm alive,' and you take it one step at a time. You actually appreciate things like sweating and dieting."

Case continues: "My outlook has changed. I just feel thankful to have a functioning brain and no significant complications. And I felt blessed by my exceptionally speedy recovery."