< PreviousUneasy Street No More Idyllic. Extremely happy. Peaceful. Picturesque. For lifelong area resident Barbara Bee, that’s how her journey began. But Barb began to withdraw slowly and subconsciously, avoiding things more and more over the years. In fact, she started having panic attacks, trouble breathing, and feeling like her heart was racing. That’s when Barb found out she suffers from severe anxiety. She also learned she developed agoraphobia—a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment. In the ensuing years, leaving the comfort and safety of her own home would prove more and more difficult. What began with simply avoiding regular, day-to- day activities and triggers now included putting off even routine medical care—often for long stretches. Until she began seeing Denise D. Wegrzynowicz, DO, who joined St. Clair Health in January of 2023. Their paths first crossed back in 2006. “My experience to that point was one of being talked at. Denise talked with us—she works with me,” explains Barb. “We built it up slowly because her whole thing is, ‘Together we are treating you.’ That created a totally different feeling.” “I knew straight away that, based on her history, overcoming the fear of even leaving the house was a big first step,” says Dr. Wegrzynowicz. “In addition to anxiety, Barb had hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an inflammatory skin condition, and high blood pressure. So from the very beginning, the goal was to find a comfortable balance between how we would address and treat those chronic conditions that could add even more stress and anxiety to her life.” As their relationship strengthened over the years, Dr. Wegryznowicz guided Barb through her chronic conditions while expanding her comfort level regarding other forms of preventative care, like annual mammograms, that she had previously avoided. And through her work with Dr. Wegrzynowicz, Barb has been able to find new passions, like working in a paint shop and transporting rescue animals. “Denise just has a way about her—she’s so calm. So I’m cool as a cucumber when I see her now,” reveals Barb. “As much as she helped me get my anxiety lower than it’s ever been before and my blood pressure well-controlled, the affect she’s had on my whole family is profound.” “What’s really great about the Bees is that I get to see the whole family—her husband, John, and their sons are both patients, too—so there’s lots of notes and stories to keep up with,” explains Dr. Wegrzynowicz. “To me, that’s the best thing about family medicine. My training goes from pregnancy to newborn, all the way through geriatrics. It’s the most special aspect of being a family physician—I get to take care of every aspect of the family.” To learn more about Barb’s story and Dr. Wegryznowicz’s compassionate care for the entire Bee family, visit stclair.org/ housecall-summer-2023. Denise D. Wegrzynowicz, DO, specializes in family medicine and is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She earned her medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she also completed her internship. Dr. Wegrzynowicz completed a residency in family medicine at Crozer- Chester Medical Center. She now practices with St. Clair Medical Group and sees patients at Peters Township Outpatient Center. Denise D. Wegrzynowicz, DO, specializes in family medicine. She sees patients at the St. Clair Health Outpatient Center in Peters Township. “Denise just has a way about her—she’s so calm. So I’m cool as a cucumber when I see her now. As much as she helped me get my anxiety lower than it’s ever been before and my blood pressure well- controlled, the affect she’s had on my whole family is profound.” ~ Barbara Bee To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wegrzynowicz, please call 412.942.8570. 30 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2023 30 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2023PITTSBURGH PA PERMIT NO. 5605 Hughey Publications, LLC P.O. Box 220 McDonald, PA 15057 Allegheny West MagazineNext >