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First Visit to Mayo Clinic - Neurology

Posted by rpaige1365 @rpaige1365, Oct 15, 2018

Hello,

I have my first appt at Mayo in Rochester in early November. I am going to the Neurology Department. Has anyone visited Neurology? I was told I will see a resident for my initial consultation.

I have had 13 visits to my neurologists office in the last 12 months. I have well over 60 pages of blood tests and spinal fluid tests. I have seen three different types of neurology sub specialists. I am a little (a lot) nervous that the resident won’t be prepared to help me.

I would love to hear about others experiences with this.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Visiting Mayo Clinic Support Group.

Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Oct 5, 2020
In reply to @kristinincolorado "Traveling to Mayo MN from Colorado: First Neurology AppointmentI completed my intake survey and found out..." + (show)
@kristinincolorado

<p>Traveling to Mayo MN from Colorado: First Neurology Appointment</p><p>I completed my intake survey and found out that I can be seen in Neurology for chronic migraine. I've had migraines for 6 years and can't find a doctor locally (or in Seattle where I used to live) that can find the cause. I'm looking to travel to Rochester in Jan or Feb...but I don't really know what the next steps are.<br />Neurology wanted to schedule an appointment, but shouldn't I schedule more than just 1? I don't want to get there and just have an hour with the doctor and no follow ups scheduled such as MRI and blood work. Also originally I stated that we need to work in conjunction with the Women's Clinic because there is a hormonal component to my migraines. So, how do I get those appointments scheduled? I just feel like I don't know what to do next and don't want to book a flight and hotel for a week when I only have talked to the receptionist and have one appointment scheduled. Is there a Patient Care Specialist or team that makes this all work?<br />I also have lab work from several doctors as well as 2 MRIs that I want sent to Mayo. Not sure how to do that.</p>

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@kristinincolorado You may want to call the neurology department and ask about procedures. If you want to go to Mayo, take the appointment. Sometimes it is hard to get into Mayo and they can be overwhelmed and not accept new patients for particular issues. The neurologist that sees you will arrange other tests or evaluations with other departments (which they try to do while you are there) based on what they find during your exam and they become your link to Mayo for future appointments. For example, I came to Mayo for spine surgery, and my surgeon later arranged an appointment with a pulmonologist at my request when I was returning to Mayo. This summer I asked my spine surgeon for a recommendation to an orthopedic surgeon because I broke my ankle, and he contacted a surgeon there, and they called me for an appointment and I am now rehabbing that ankle. Once you know the neurologist you will be scheduled to see, you can contact them on the patient portal after your patient account is set up. Often an assistant from the doctor's team responds to patient requests. When you send records to Mayo, some other office scans them into the network and puts them in your records, or you can take them with you physically to the first appointment. You can ask what they prefer after you make your arrangements. You might also be able to schedule other normal screenings while you will be there in addition to your neurology appointment although sometimes they are booked months in advance.

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Oct 5, 2020
In reply to @kristinincolorado "Traveling to Mayo MN from Colorado: First Neurology AppointmentI completed my intake survey and found out..." + (show)
@kristinincolorado

<p>Traveling to Mayo MN from Colorado: First Neurology Appointment</p><p>I completed my intake survey and found out that I can be seen in Neurology for chronic migraine. I've had migraines for 6 years and can't find a doctor locally (or in Seattle where I used to live) that can find the cause. I'm looking to travel to Rochester in Jan or Feb...but I don't really know what the next steps are.<br />Neurology wanted to schedule an appointment, but shouldn't I schedule more than just 1? I don't want to get there and just have an hour with the doctor and no follow ups scheduled such as MRI and blood work. Also originally I stated that we need to work in conjunction with the Women's Clinic because there is a hormonal component to my migraines. So, how do I get those appointments scheduled? I just feel like I don't know what to do next and don't want to book a flight and hotel for a week when I only have talked to the receptionist and have one appointment scheduled. Is there a Patient Care Specialist or team that makes this all work?<br />I also have lab work from several doctors as well as 2 MRIs that I want sent to Mayo. Not sure how to do that.</p>

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@kristinincolorado, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @jesfactsmon and @jenniferhunter. I agree with Jennifer that if you have an appointment already with neurology I would just call them and ask about any procedures or other concerns you have.

For more tips from Connect members, please see these discussions too:
– How to get the most out of a visit? http://mayocl.in/2n5eXSH
– First visit to Mayo: Traveling alone http://mayocl.in/2hgasVG
– Getting your first appointment http://mayocl.in/2iNdgpc
– New to Mayo and first time traveling to MN: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-to-mayo-and-first-time-traveling-to-mn/

REPLY
kristinincolorado | @kristinincolorado | Oct 6, 2020
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@kristinincolorado Hi Kristin, great questions. First I will add @johnbishop to this post as he has..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@kristinincolorado
Hi Kristin, great questions. First I will add @johnbishop to this post as he has a lot of answers to the questions you ask whereas I am less familiar with the ins/outs of how Mayo works.

Also will add @colleenyoung @lisalucier who are both moderators on this site.

There is a group here in the forum that will likely answer many questions for you. Here is the link:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/traveling-to-mayo-clinic/
If you go here you will find a list of discussions about the Mayo Clinic and how it works. Hopefully one of the moderators, or John, will post here soon to give you some answers.
Best, Hank

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Thank you!

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1 reply
Hank | @jesfactsmon | Oct 6, 2020
In reply to @kristinincolorado "Thank you!" + (show)
@kristinincolorado

Thank you!

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@kristinincolorado
Kristin, do you feel a little less overwhelmed and do you feel you have what you need to proceed with your plans vis-a-vis how to go about planning, making appt.s etc.? Just want to know you feel good about things now. Please let us know where you feel things are at? My best to you, Hank

REPLY
1 reply
kristinincolorado | @kristinincolorado | Oct 9, 2020
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@kristinincolorado Kristin, do you feel a little less overwhelmed and do you feel you have what..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@kristinincolorado
Kristin, do you feel a little less overwhelmed and do you feel you have what you need to proceed with your plans vis-a-vis how to go about planning, making appt.s etc.? Just want to know you feel good about things now. Please let us know where you feel things are at? My best to you, Hank

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Yes, thank you so much for checking in. I contacted neurology and was told that when I schedule my appointment (I'm waiting a few more weeks because Feb schedules aren't open yet) the neurology Dr. will review my case and suggest whatever other appointments I need - ie. MRI, bloodwork, Women's Health clinic. And then they will call me back to schedule those. So, I think I'm set. Hoping I can fit it all in, in 4-5 business days. My mom and I will be travelling together from Colorado Springs with an open ended ticket.
Now I'm just nervous that I won't come home with answers. I've been to so many doctors over the past 6 years and all of them basically tell me I'm going to have to live with chronic migraines. But I'm praying the doctors at Mayo can help me. 🙂

REPLY
2 replies
kristinincolorado | @kristinincolorado | Oct 9, 2020
In reply to @kristinincolorado "Yes, thank you so much for checking in. I contacted neurology and was told that when..." + (show)
@kristinincolorado

Yes, thank you so much for checking in. I contacted neurology and was told that when I schedule my appointment (I'm waiting a few more weeks because Feb schedules aren't open yet) the neurology Dr. will review my case and suggest whatever other appointments I need - ie. MRI, bloodwork, Women's Health clinic. And then they will call me back to schedule those. So, I think I'm set. Hoping I can fit it all in, in 4-5 business days. My mom and I will be travelling together from Colorado Springs with an open ended ticket.
Now I'm just nervous that I won't come home with answers. I've been to so many doctors over the past 6 years and all of them basically tell me I'm going to have to live with chronic migraines. But I'm praying the doctors at Mayo can help me. 🙂

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I was also able to mail discs with both of my MRIs to the neurology department. I'm faxing all my labwork over this week. I'll also self carry those with me to my appointments. So that part was really easy.

REPLY
Hank | @jesfactsmon | Oct 10, 2020
In reply to @kristinincolorado "Yes, thank you so much for checking in. I contacted neurology and was told that when..." + (show)
@kristinincolorado

Yes, thank you so much for checking in. I contacted neurology and was told that when I schedule my appointment (I'm waiting a few more weeks because Feb schedules aren't open yet) the neurology Dr. will review my case and suggest whatever other appointments I need - ie. MRI, bloodwork, Women's Health clinic. And then they will call me back to schedule those. So, I think I'm set. Hoping I can fit it all in, in 4-5 business days. My mom and I will be travelling together from Colorado Springs with an open ended ticket.
Now I'm just nervous that I won't come home with answers. I've been to so many doctors over the past 6 years and all of them basically tell me I'm going to have to live with chronic migraines. But I'm praying the doctors at Mayo can help me. 🙂

Jump to this post

@kristinincolorado
Kristin that is all really positive news on you getting everything sorted out with Mayo and your upcoming visit next year. I wish you the very best of good luck and I do hope you find answers to your awful chronic migraine problem. Migraines can be killers to deal with, so debilitating. Best to you! Hank

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