Hello @cdhouns,

I have been reading the posts about your daughter's difficult symptoms. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you and for her. I see that a couple of people have recommended a second opinion at Mayo. At one time, I felt as you do, that every hospital system is about the same. However, from personal experience (and that of others who have posted on Connect), I have found that not to be the case.

Research-oriented and multi-disciplinary medical facilities like university medical schools and facilities like Mayo are really different in the way they approach hard-to-treat problems. I've had three surgeries for a rare type of cancer and started off at a relatively well-known hospital in my community. After two surgeries there, I went to a university medical system (about an hour's drive from me) for my third surgery and what a difference it made!

If you can obtain a second opinion for your daughter at a research-oriented medical facility, I would like to hear from you.

Will you post again if you decide to give this a try?