Two week countdown - Mayo Rochester

@nana75165 Hi Nana, you’re about to embark on a new path to hope and health. My experience with Mayo has been nothing less than stellar and I know I’m not alone in that assessment. You’ll be in excellent hands. I know there will be other chiming in with answers so I’ll keep mine brief.

Here’s a Mayo guideline for new patients. It’s very beneficial to getting the best out of your appointments. However, the teams you meet are also great with gleaning information from you which will be beneficial for them. But organization is the key.
How long is your stay? Please keep in touch and share your story! Wishing you all the best, Lori.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/preparing-for-your-visit/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-appointment.

@nana75165, I suggest scrolling through some of the discussions in the Visiting Mayo Clinic group for tips. Here are a few discussions to get you started:
- 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/
– Tips: Traveling to Mayo to get medical care safely during COVID-19 https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/your-tips-traveling-and-getting-medical-care-safely-during-covid-19/
- Packing for our trip to Mayo Clinic. What to bring? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/packing/
- Tips for your first Mayo Clinic visit and tests/appt schedules https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-for-first-dr-visit-and-testsappt-schedules/
- What to expect at Mayo Clinic, Rochester https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-to-expect-at-rochester/
- First visit to Mayo and traveling alone: Winter advice? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/first-visit-to-mayo-and-traveling-alone-winter-advice/

My tip: there is an underground pathway system in Rochester called The Subway. It connects most of the medical buildings as well as some hotels and restaurants in the downtown core. The Subway itself is a souterrain mall of shopping and restaurants. Coming from a southern state, I think you'll appreciate the protected passageway. What department is your first appointment with?

I have appointments scheduled for 2 weeks, but there is a break of several days, so they are trying to get that last appointment moved up. It makes it tricky with flights and hotel arrangements, but we are going to just go with the flow and not stress about it.

@nana75165 ~ Less than one week to go before your first trip to Mayo-Rochester. Are you all set now and feeling comfortable about the journey, lodging, finding your way in the clinic? I know over the course of postings we’ve covered quite a bit of territory. Were you able to get your last appointment moved up in the schedule so that you can get everything done in one stay? Wishing you the best possible outcome to your appointment! Keep in touch!

Hi Lori! Thank you for checking on me! 3 more days and we’ll be on the plane headed to Minnesota! We’ve been busy gathering medical records. My PCP did a great job of pulling together a synopsis of my care since I’ve been his patient for a very long time. My Rheumatologist, Neurologist, and Endocrinologist also prepared records from over the last year since I was referred to them. We were able to get that appt that was at the end of the 2nd week moved up to the first week. As of right now, I have appts with 4 doctors and 4 different tests scheduled in the first 3 days. We’ll see what needs to be added once we are there and are open to however long it takes to get the care I need. We are all set with our hotel/shuttles/maps, etc. Thank you again!

@nana75165 By now you’re at Mother Mayo as the locals call it or, as my husband and I say, The Mother Ship. I hope all is going well for you and your husband.
I spent almost 5 months there so I’m pretty familiar with every nook and cranny. It’s a shame Covid has the campus in a reduced state of normal activity. When I (we) was there, thousands of people from all over the world walked those halls and foyers daily. It was so special. Frequently a doctor, nurse, staff member, patient, caregiver...would be at one of the 3 grand pianos in the beautiful common areas. There’s a sense of calm assuredness in those hallowed halls. I hope you can feel it too! All the best...Lori.

It’s the end of Day #3 of doctor appointments and tests. This place is incredible! We’ve been impressed with all 4 specialists we’ve seen as well as every nurse, tech, and volunteer! We’ll be hanging out in Rochester over the weekend and possibly return to Texas on Tuesday. Thanks for the encouragement!

@nana75165 Wonderful news that you’re getting “Mayo-naised”! Visiting Mayo truly spoils us for any other medical facility, doesn’t it? It’s suppose to be a beautiful weekend. Enjoy Rochester~there are so many great areas to explore. Downtown there’s the River walk along the Zumbro River, Cascade Creek and Bear Creek. Lots of parks, Pill Hill, Soldier field, Silver lake... Lots of stores for shopping and great restaurants. And of course, I wish you the best possible outcome to all the tests. ☺️

An opening became available on Friday afternoon, so we were able to move our Monday appointment up. The good news...that appointment is a big one, so I won’t have to worry all weekend. Friday will be a big day, but we will get to fly home on Saturday.
After the 4th day of appointments and tests, I’m still completely impressed!

@nana75165 Good morning! Thought I’d pop over to see how your experience was at Mayo-Rochester. Were you able to get any answers for your medical concerns? I hope all is well! It’s quite a process with all the testing but done so efficiently and quickly!

I’m in Rochester right now for a few days. It’s supposed to be 80 today and gorgeous. Last we chatted you were going to spend the weekend here before a Monday appointment. What exciting things did you find to enjoy? Did you sample any good restaurants, hiking, etc? I’m sure other’s would love to know the actives you found while in Rochester. Lori