Jentayler.....re plane ticket for march 31st....once upon a time airlines would allow for changes if there was a documented medical reason.....call airline and ask....nothing to loose.
Also re some of your symptoms .....have you had any cardiac testing there or somewhere else?
Hang in....we are all sending you the white light!!
Terrid

@jentaylor Jen, SO glad to hear from you! Have been wondering about you! Interesting about using oxygen at the pool .. a dear friend of mine always in great pain from back injuries found pool exercise the ONLY form of exercise that relieved her pain plus added to her quality of life and health .. definitely worth checking out the 50 ft oxygen cord! Might also really be helpful to check into this .. gets excellent reviews for increasing lung capacity: Expand-A-Lung Breathing Fitness Exerciser http://www.expand-a-lung.com Read the reviews and how to use at https://www.amazon.com/Expand-A-Lung-Breathing-Fitness-Exerciser/dp/B00JWTRA5I

My advice would be NOT to wait to just get an appointment with Dr. Aksamit .. SAY: "I prefer an appointment with Dr. Aksamit BUT I depart Mayo on March 31 .. and I REALLY want to see one of the MAC Pulmonary Team prior to my departure. WHO can fit me in IF I am unable to see Dr. Aksamit?" .. Jen, be persistent. The squeaky wheel gets the oil .. remember!

Request to see an Endocrinologist .. TELL them about your blood sugar and you are concerned you may have an infection!! This is important! My husband has the same issue .. ANY time he gets an infection .. his blood sugar goes crazy! JEN .. QUIT WORRYING ABOUT BEING A PAIN .. your health is at risk if you have an infection!! GO TO THE 18th floor .. Pulmonology .. tell them about this .. ASK them what you should do .. ASK IF one of the Pulmonary team can get you set up with an Endocrinologist since you are a patient of Dr. Aksamit. REMEMBER .. Mayo deals with the WHOLE body .. working as a team to deal with all health issues .. take advantage of it!! AND keep me posted!!!!!!

"The salt saline neb treatment meant to induce coughing up mucous, did not work for me. I have the hardest time bringing up mucous unless I'm having an acute infection. I have 2 more scheduled go try. Otherwise we have to do a bronch." Jen, hope you don't end up with a bronch .. but what is .. is. I also have ended up with the salt neb treatment ending up "too scant".

"My appointments are scheduled out past my time here which I'm concerned about." One of the appointments is with the immunologist (Scheduled April 3--- my plane ticket is for March 31)." Jen, from my File Cabinet did you read about:
MAYO SCHEDULING .. ONCE YOU HAVE THE APPT https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-for-first-dr-visit-and-testsappt-schedules/
FROM MEMBER @jillnc The one thing I wish the first dr would have told me is that when you get this schedule of tests/appts/blood work, you can go to the desk and see if they can get you in earlier. I had tests and appts spread over 4 days and was able to get all testing done within the first day and a half. Then I was able to get 1 of my 2 addl appts moved up. Which was nice because they ordered additional tests and I had pretty much freeded up a whole day (which was quickly filled with more tests). Everyone is very helpful. Just ask as you don't want to walk to the wrong desk to be told you have to go elsewhere

ESPECIALLY **Rochester we have a "checker desk" located in the Gonda lobby and admissions area where patients can talk with a representative, discuss what appointments they would like to get into early and the checker desk does the calling to rearrange the patients schedule. This is strictly for consultation not testing. Also, please keep in mind that not all departments accept checkers but the majority do.

THIS IS A GREAT IDEA YOU SAID: On March 31st I'm scheduled for a teaching session with the endocrinology teacher, focusing on behavior related to diet & paying attention to both carb AND fat (my triglycerides are in the 600's!!!!) Next appointment is scheduled with the immunologist, which aside from pulmonary, is the most important one for me to see! So tomorrow when I'm done, about 10:30, I will head over to the immunology dept & camp out for the day in hopes of getting in. Then if I do, great! If I don't, I'll try the next time I have free & the next time & the next time & so on, until I either get into see him or I have to fly home! If I can get into to see him, that would be awesome! Then the next day I would work on getting into GI/hepatology which is important but not as pressing as the others. Right now, it's scheduled for May 2.

Jen, you CANNOT BE "I'm overwhelmed with all of the info going into my brain." What you CAN do is take LOTS OF NOTES to read when you get home. That is what I do .. knowing there is no way I am going to remember all that I am hearing. Focus on serenity .. trusting the process .. being grateful you are where you are .. attitude of gratitude! Put your energy into what you can control .. let go of what you CANNOT control! I know it is a very scary process to hear all this . but know we are all here .. behind you .. rooting for you .. you are NOT alone .. we are here supporting you .. sending you LOTS of positive energy and lots of hugs! Katherine

@tdrell, Terri, how are YOU doing? Still hibernating?! Hugs! Katherine

Katherine...thanks for asking....yes...semi hibernating since started coughing for almost full day since return from busy hectic 2 weeks in lovely Tucson. Stamina increased mucus gone from yellow/slightly green...using inhaled bronchodilation...opted to treat it with rest and regular meds and nasal irrigations vs going to urgent care since I was improving and I knew I would see
My excellent allergist yesterday,,,,, my lungs were clear without thebrochodilator...mucus color clearing up meaning probable viral...but because we in 2 weeks..go on another air flight to west coast...and will be with new born grandson ....a short burst of oral steroids would be indicated....so I started them this morning....really gives me energy...but still coughing and mucus....meanwhile after several phone calls the Sleep apnea equipment place called to set up appt for CPAP....I said...let us wait til back from trip...don't want to start using ...since Medicare does initial surveillance for use and I think it is nuts to drag it on plane....use in a hotel at the beginning etc.
Will also have cardiac testing upon return to be sure there are not cardiac reasons for mucus and fatigue...so dear Katherine I am looking forward to summer and no Dr visits and tests ...hope you are continuing to progress in recovery! Terrid

If you get a note from your doctor, the airline will refund the penalty charge for changing your flight.
Terry

<br><br><br><br><br>Good to know.<br> <br><br>

Hi @tdrell I am looking at a 12 hour flight, I was planning to wear a mask, was just wondering if you wore a mask on the plane? Or if anyone else out there has tried wearing a mask on a plane and weather it worked to prevent bugs?

@gggolfs, GG , wondering how you're doing? Can you check in and just let us know how you are? Hugs to you! Katherine

@heathert .. Heather I wore the below one for a 5 hour then a 11 hour flight! Really pretty comfy and cuter than the previous ones I have had. Hugs! Katherine

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TRAVEL-MASK and Air Supply Mini-Mate Personal Ionic Air Purifier--Black I was traveling to a VERY air polluted area .. I did a LOT of research and found there was a BETTER mask than the 3M N95 mask .. PLUS could looked kinda cute! I found it decent to breath with. I now will carry it as needed. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KK2NSVK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cambridgemask-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01KK2NSVK&linkId=f4be07a257cb28b462c1db1dc0c037ab
Hope you find this helpful! Katherine ALSO use: Air Supply Mini-Mate Personal Ionic Air Purifier--Black https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B6CMZ4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

thank you so much @katemn!