Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist

@artscaping Oooooh, that was an unprofessional thing for the local surgeon to say! I was very lucky when living in Los Angeles County, that my two specialists often conferred with each other, although they were not in the same medical group. Between them, they have guided me along my current path. Thanks to a member here reaching out when asked, I was able to connect before my move to a well-respected, Mayo Clinic trained specialist a couple of hours away, whom I will see for the first time tomorrow. He has agreed to take my case and has communicated with my former hematologist-oncologist.
Ginger

@cacoon6 and @ees1, as you prepare for your visits to Mayo Clinic, Rochester you may be interested in reviewing the discussion in the Visiting Mayo Clinic group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/traveling-to-mayo-clinic/

Loads of tips, advice and ideas on what to expect.

@artscaping
I had a nearly identical conversation with a Dr. on my local team while pursuing an experimental combined surgery/kidney transplant at Mayo. He was absolutely convinced I would come back as a cobbled together mess. Fortunately my instincts were right and my Mayo surgery was such a success that my cautious local doc is now referring other patients for the same surgery combo. I think he had seen a few bad cases come back to him and didn't want the same thing for me.
On the flip side I have struggled with my Mayo experience on the "back end" of transplant. The "team" approach lacks the ability for any one person to know you and your journey. I tried to get around the system and scheduled my visits with the same Dr. after transplant but succeeded for only a short while, now I get who ever has an opening on their schedule. The post transplant teams and nurses especially are overwhelmed with hundreds of patients cases and it's almost impossible for them to know you as a person.

I had a local doctor who didn’t play well with others, I had not thought much about it until my husband got multiple myeloma and another local doctor said if he went for a second opinion to a cancer center or Mayo not to come back. That is when I decided the politics of health in our area was fostering this. Then we went to Mayo and found out what it was like to have care that actually cared about the patients and not just keeping every medical dollar in the local system. This is why I now seek out doctors that are willing to coordinate with others, even if it means a bit of driving.

@gingerw, it sounds like you have found a great collaborative solution. That was my experience. The two or three orthopedic surgeons (different body parts) all supported each other, discussed options, and priorities. After a successful TKR, my surgeon asked me to come with him to visit other surgeons because I walked immediately and had no issues. Then I made a video for him to use with educational programs. He was a guiding light in my life.

@auntieoakley

I'm so sorry your husband's doctor was so harsh. It's devastating enough to have such a tough diagnosis but to add a comment like that on top of it must have been devastating. I'm glad you found your way to Mayo.

I am so baffled by the rivalry amongst medical institutions, it is childish at best.

I agree with you that Mayo is different and very special, I am blessed to have had such great care. Some places I have been the doctors get a kick-back for the tests they prescribe but not at Mayo, if you get a test it is because you need it. Mayo's transplant department would be even better if they had a lower nurse to patient ratio post transplant and if there were greater continuity between the patients and their post care doctors.

I'm glad you and your hubby didn't listen to your local doc. I agree a little longer drive if very worth it. How is your hubby? Is he ok?

@auntieoakley Two years ago I was part of a county health plan. When I rebelled against the nephrologist assigned to me, I changed and went out-of-network for a new kidney dr. In turn, she discovered concerns that should have been addressed years ago, and referred me to a hematologist-oncologist [had to go out-of-network] I remember my primary telling me, "Well, I think this is all overkill. Needless bloodwork and tests" showing to me he [as a representative for the county medical plan] just didn't want to spend the money to have healthy patients. Yep, right on the spot I dressed him down, referring to past lab results, and questioning why he as my primary didn't recognize and address the trend spotted. While I get all my results in print, I am still not a medical professional to stitch them together.
My new primary in this area is happy to work with others.
Ginger

Anyone know how to print this entire thread (iphone)? Thanks!!

@ees1
Open a blank Microsoft Word page (or whatever you use), copy each conversation which you wish to keep and paste them on the Word page. Voila!

@auntieoakley, I can so relate. I think I could have improved treatment outcomes if I had been that brave. I grew up in the '50s when physicians were Gods. I broke an ankle roller skating while on vacation. It had to be set just right by a specialist who said the break was hard to see but that he caught it in the X-rays.

Upon returning to my home town and visiting the family doctor, he refused to get the x-rays or talk with the orthopedic specialist. Then he convinced my parents to let him remove the cast and told me to just walk on it and everything would be o.k. Of course, it wasn't and I had to have surgery later to repair the break by putting a leash around the ligaments so they didn't get torn by the bone fragments. Wonderful!!!!!! and I was all of 19. So I began my adult life with a chronic condition and distrust of doctors of any kind.

My mother actually paid her old high school friend a visit because he had been asked to do the new X-rays. He acknowledged the findings but refused to speak up against a colleague.

Finally, I am changing and the experience at Mayo has been immensely helpful. First and foremost....do no harm. May you have a harmonious and beautiful day. Chris