@dizzyjw I would definitely try having your wife's current doctor put in a referral. That is how I was able to be seen at Mayo (MN campus) when I was in a state much like what you are describing. That was a year before the pandemic started, but even then the volume of cases that are presented to Mayo's incredible institution were far more than they were able to handle, and had I not had the referral, I had been told by several (inside Mayo and other people with past personal experiences) that I likely would have been rejected.

Since then, and since the pandemic, the only people I know personally who were rejected by Mayo did not have a referral from a current practitioner, either. And as @colleenyoung suggests above, if your doctor does put in a referral that is initially rejected for whatever reason, please ask him/her to try to refer to a different department. My doctor at home at the time had referred me to a department that I knew wasn't where I needed to go, but the Mayo scheduler assured me that once I was "in," that doctor would likely schedule a series of workups/appointments for me that would ultimately get me where I needed to go - which indeed occurred, and I was seen in several different departments during my time there, ultimately finding help in a department far removed from where my "home" doctor thought I should be.

Continued prayers for you both! I realize how frustrating and exhausting the process is. But there is hope... and I'm glad you thought to pop in here to ask for advice - I hope some of what folks share with you get your wife relief!

God bless,
C

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