How to prepare for appointment with internal medicine in Jacksonville

winston137, I can see your need to go and the valid fears that it will be all for naught while interrupting your studies. You might see if you can get further testing before you go. Since you only have one month, you could reschedule the Mayo for month or so. Though I imagine you are quite anxious to have this resolved as soon as possible. Have you seen a cardiologist for the chest pain. And what order of doctor are you seeing at mayo. Looking blindly I'd guess pericarditis. A cardiac echo should be able to determine whether this guess is a go. But I'm thinking that with chest pain you should see a cardiologist anyway. If you got to Mayo and they ordered tests, which seems likely, you might have to wait for the test and then wait for the result and could need to return to Mayo at a later date. Sometimes, though, when you see a doctor you have the luck of having chosen one who says, "I know exactly what this is. I've seen this before."
I would want to have as many test results in hand (literally) before taking the time off from school and taking the long drive. You should be able to get an echo, and complete blood work CBC and Metabolic Panel before going.

Look and see who your Dr is. If it is the one I seen, look at reviews before you go and waste time and money.
He walked in said I’ve seen 100’s woman like you, you have fibromyalgia you need our pain clinic. I bought tons of notes and records and he threw them to the side and refused to refer me to the drs I needed. I spent the week going to patient experience and they all felt terrible but nothing tbey could do to make Dr change my diagnosis. Finally my last day I decided to go to fibro clinic. 5 mins in room with Dr Avril he said you definitely don’t have fibro you have an Automatic disorder and need all these Nero test. At this point I had been there 6 days and couldn’t just stay and start over.
The internal Dr refuses to listen and comes in with a diagnosis. It will tell you in portal who you are seeing. Google the name and see if similar stories come up, if so run!

@kdover The doctor in my portal is not a man so I have some hope that It won't have the same. they have already added lots of tests and other specialist to them but also one of them is fibro clinic. I honestly want to just not go because of fear it will be like this and dont know what to do. I have an infectious disease doctor but cant get an appointment near me.

If you can go to fibro clinic and see Dr Avril early in your week then I would. He is straight up, he listens, he looks at notes and be isn’t one to send you to pain clinic if you don’t need it. He will tell you what he thinks it is and get you referred.

@gently

Except that Mayo will do everything over again. Look at your schedule in your patient portal to see what if any tests are scheduled and maybe try to get those done pre-visit. I think most insurance companies know that Mayo does repeats so they will likely cover both sets of tests.

@winston137, you are worried about making a long trip to Mayo Clinic and not getting answers. You're afraid after investing hope and time away from school. you'll be disappointed. That's a natural fear. Internal medicine is a very busy department and appointments are not always easy to get. This means Mayo Clinic physician experts have reviewed your case with their colleagues. Their review likely led them to determine that Mayo Clinic may be able to offer an assessment and treatment plan that you currently not getting locally.

You ask a great question: How can you prepare for the upcoming appointment and help it to be successful?

Here are a few discussions that may help as you prepare for your appointment:
- Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/your-tips-on-how-to-get-off-to-the-best-start-with-a-new-specialist/
- First Visit to Mayo Clinic: How do appointments work? What to expect? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-internal-med-patient/
- Mayo Clinic Patient Portal: How do I find it? Do you use it? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-portal/

I'm also tagging other members who are familiar with Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, internal medicine or both to share their tips, like @phoebeghostwriter @jc76 @jeanern01 @lindes @fourof5zs and @ess77.

@winston137, have you downloaded the Mayo Clinic patient portal?

Hello, @winston137.
I am glad to see you post this comment so you can visit with others that have experienced what you are processing right now. What you feel is completely normal, and you have found a safe place to work through your concerns. I am sorry you are having problems leading you to get up close and personal with Mayo Clinic, but on the flip side encouraged to hear you say they believe they can help you. You have taken a great step and I will stay hopeful with you through this process!

I am a patient at Mayo in Rochester and can tell you about my experience. Colleen provides super helpful information above that will be valuable to review. I can tell you about my initial visit in MN as you wait for others with specific experience with Jacksonville Internal Medicine comment.

I landed at Mayo when I was going in circles at home and losing hope. I did not have one clear specialty that seemed to be my problem and needed to see several. My visit was structured in a way that I had a primary in Internal Medicine during my visit so I saw him at the beginning and end of my visit. From there I saw Cardiology, Endocrinology, Fibromyalgia and GI. The doctor I saw in IM coordinated everything during my visit. I am not sure your visit is structured this same way.

I had hit a systemic circulation crisis and I am sure Mayo’s integrative approach is what has helped me, continues to help me! They initially gather information and decide if they can offer anything to help. Then, they are conservative in their approach to explore all possibilities before moving on. Once they know what needs done they are aggressive to act. I have gotten the most from my care when I’ve been able to buy into their process, and this has not always been easy. I promise, it is well worth it!!!!

You symptoms sound familiar to me and I am interested to learn more about what your schedule looks like. If you are comfortable sharing, what tests and appointments do you have lined up? Will you be able to bring someone with you when you visit?

@winston137
Although I think all Mayo Clinics are outstanding, Mayo Jacksonville has been voted the best hospital in Florida now for several years. I have been a patient there since 2006. I went there to get a second opinion on my medical issues like you and remained a patient there with great doctors and treatments.

It sounds like your post you have already sent them your medical records, is that correct? If not contact them and try to set that up prior to your visit. There is a way to do that medical institution to medical institution and Mayo can set that up also.

Your post says you are seeing internal medicine doctor first. This is usually a first step (I have a internal medicine doctor I see every 3 months) he/she will order tests he/she thinks are needed and or refer you to a specialist for additional exams or tests they need.

I would caution you to think carefully about delaying an already given appointment date. Since I have been a patient at Mayo Jacksonville now for almost 20 years I can say they have become huge with thousands and thousands of patients. Patients come there from all over the U.S. and other countries. If you cancel a given appointment and asking for a later one that might take several months to get another appointment. You may have better luck with internal medicine section than specialists but if I cancel an appointment even with my internal medicince doctor it usually takes me 3 months to get another.

I am not a medical doctor and please just passing on my experience with your symptoms as have had them myself so not a diagnosis attempt just comparing yours to mine. My syptoms that were like yours were diagnosed as bronchitis. I went through a lot of inhalers and medications to finally find something that work for me. Has anyone done allergy testing on you? I have a couple.

You say you have had this for several years stemming from inflamation. Who gave you diagnoses of the inflamation and what from? Same for low grade fever? And did they treat it? That will be questions internal medicince should know prior to your appointment.

What I would expect is Mayo internal medicine will exam you, go over your medical and mental health history and review test you have already have had. That has always been what I have gone through when I first went there. That will help them decide on which ones they want to do over or new ones.

I think until you get internal medicene doing a physical exam and going over your medical and mental health history you won't know much on what test they will want to do.

Since you have been accepted Colleen mentioned the portal. That is an extremely valuable tool to send messages to/from your medical professionals you will see a Mayo Jacksonville. If you know your internal medicine doctor that should already be on portal and listed as upcoming appointment with who you are seeing and who it is, a pre appointment check in to do, etc. Since they gave you an appointment most likely a specific internal medicine doctor has been chosen to see you and that would be on portal.

You mentioned taking a flight and then an extended drive. You do know that Jacksonville has an airport that is not far from Mayo Clinic. Using Jacksonville airport you would not have an extended drive from airport to Mayo Clinic.

Good luck and if I can help in any way with information on Mayo Jacksonville let me know. Mayo Jacksonville has web sites to help with accomadations. There are many very close including a Marriott Courtyard that is on Mayo Clinic property.

@jlharsh
I have a variety of blood tests as well as breathing tests and heart and a nerve test. most of them Ive had before over the past few years. All except the breathing tests. I was thinking about trying to get those done ahead of time because ive had issues with breathing in the past and know what medications help and then would have time to start that, then it would be helpful for then to narrow down what it might be.
If that's something I could do before would it be send a message in the portal to ask that?

@winstron137
Based on my experience you should absolutely send a portal message or call with any/all questions you have. They will want to help you.

I agree with @jc76, be prepared for them to perhaps repeat some testing you have already done. They are in the best position to know if the tests they have scheduled need to be timely when you are there, or perhaps provide more comprehensive information than what you’ve had done at home. They absolutely will want to know what testing has been done and what you’ve tried as treatment(s). Again, well worth contacting them. You will NOT be bothering them.

Did you contact Mayo directly for your appointment or did your doctor at home request a referral? What led you to Mayo Clinic?