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Afraid of coming to Mayo, but I need a diagnosis

Posted by babyblues262 @babyblues262, Dec 26, 2024

I'm currently waiting to see if I can get an appointment with Mayo. I have a variety of issues and my doctors in my hometown don't have any answers for me. My cardiologist suggested that I go to Mayo. But the more I think about everything that could potentially be wrong, the more scared I get. Then I get more anxious and feel physically worse. Which then leads me to do more Google searches, find more obscure syndromes and conditions and the cycle continues. I want an answer and yet I don't know if I can emotionally handle it. I'm afraid of being 4 hours from my family and being told something is seriously wrong. Just the thought of that alone is enough to make me cry. I'm working myself into a panic attack and can't seem to stop these thoughts.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 1 day ago
In reply to @rfh1957 "I am having a similar experience, but about to go up to the Mayo Clinic for..." + (show)
@rfh1957

I am having a similar experience, but about to go up to the Mayo Clinic for my third visit in about a month. My fear is more based on things like: did I forget to pack everything I need, will I be alert for an early morning appointment, will I be bored and lonely over the weekend, will I be accepting of all of their recommendations, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have a large support group to provide me reassurance that everything will be ok. I just have to trust that it will and may have to adapt to some physical limitations. I can say that the Mayo clinicians are very thorough, provide results almost immediately, and are courteous and friendly. The facilities are unbelievably clean and I'm sure their diagnostic and treatment is state of the art. The best strategy for me is to plan every detail ahead of time and complete one or two little pre-trip tasks each day, like organizing my meds, withdrawing cash from an ATM, etc. and just letting the future happen without worrying about it too much. I learned that surfing the Internet to read about my problems is a bad idea, because it causes more worries and leads you to believe that you have more ailments than you really do. Good luck and try to focus on the present moment.

Jump to this post

@rfh1957, wise counsel to plan carefully for your visit - control what you can control. And for the things that you can't control or may go slightly differently than planned, focus on the present. You see to have well test coping mechanisms to manage your fears.

For the question "will I be bored and lonely over the weekend"? I have a thought. Have you ever used Mayo Clinic's Concierge Services? It's a free service and may be able to give you ideas of things to do on the weekend. There might be interesting tours or self-directed activities you could do.

Here is information for Contacting the Concierge Services:
– In person: Concierge Services desk
Mayo Building (lobby level, in the International Center)
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No appointment necessary
By phone 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday: 507-538-8438
Email: concierge@mayo.edu

The Concierge services are physically located in Rochester, MN, but they can answer questions about any of the locations.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/concierge-services
Do you usually go to Mayo Clinic on your own?

REPLY
1 reply
rfh1957 | @rfh1957 | 11 hours ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@rfh1957, wise counsel to plan carefully for your visit - control what you can control. And..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@rfh1957, wise counsel to plan carefully for your visit - control what you can control. And for the things that you can't control or may go slightly differently than planned, focus on the present. You see to have well test coping mechanisms to manage your fears.

For the question "will I be bored and lonely over the weekend"? I have a thought. Have you ever used Mayo Clinic's Concierge Services? It's a free service and may be able to give you ideas of things to do on the weekend. There might be interesting tours or self-directed activities you could do.

Here is information for Contacting the Concierge Services:
– In person: Concierge Services desk
Mayo Building (lobby level, in the International Center)
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No appointment necessary
By phone 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday: 507-538-8438
Email: concierge@mayo.edu

The Concierge services are physically located in Rochester, MN, but they can answer questions about any of the locations.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/concierge-services
Do you usually go to Mayo Clinic on your own?

Jump to this post

Yes. I go alone, because I live alone. My wife died last June, and we didn't have children. My sisters are not willing or able to go with me. I have a minister and a friend from church whom I can call. Unfortunately, I am not very ambulatory, which keeps me from going out much. I do bring books, an iPad, and earbuds with meditation and relaxing music to listen to. That way I can watch my favorite TV programs and movies.

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