@caroljay - here's another way to private message someone that may work for you, from the Mayo Clinic Connect Help Center https://connect.mayoclinic.org/help-center/:

You can send a private message to another Connect member or group of members.

Click the member's username. This will bring you to the member’s profile page.
Click Send Private Message.
Write a subject and your message.
You can add other members to the private message by typing their usernames in Add Recipients.
Click Send Message.
You can disable private messaging in your Settings.

Note: There is a brief period where new members can't send private messages. We do this to deter spammers from spamming community members by private message and to keep the community safe.