Looking for female companion to accompany me while at Mayo, Rochester

Still praying and crossing fingers and toes someone steps in to assist with support.
If they wish, they could look at it like a week's vacation since I will pay for hotel stay at Staybridge Suites and all meals if they prefer not to go home every evening.

Since I'm coming alone, I'm very frightened and need the emotional support, etc accompanying me on the shuttle to the appointments, maybe joining me for dinner, etc.

Hello, Rosebud,

I can well understand the worry you may be experiencing as you anticipate your visit to Mayo. I know that having my spouse along for the trip was a huge support for me each time. I don't happen to see when you will be going there. I wonder whether there might be someone on this list who would be heading there for their own follow-up appointments anyway who could come a little earlier or stay a little longer to provide you with some or all of the support you anticipate that you will need.

I don't know if anyone on any of these lists has mentioned the term, "Minnesota Nice." We encountered so much of that while there that it quickly became much less intimidating (for us) to manage any anxiety around the scope of the place. I, personally, would feel safe traveling with another woman in such an environment and can well understand the challenges of facing that without such a companion.

I do hope you will find what you are seeking. I travel quite a distance for my care there and will not be returning before October if all goes well. Again, if your timeline is shared, I haven't seen it. You might receive more responses with that level of specificity in your request if you haven't done so already.

I send my best wishes for a safe, comfortable experience and my trust that you will receive excellent healthcare and kind treatment...

Gynosaur

@gynosaur42 These are good suggestions.

Hello gynosaur42,
Thank you for your kindness and great suggestions. My appointments start this Wed, 5/24 and if given the absence of response I will very sadly need to cancel my much-needed appointments. I'm so uncomfortable and pain in the right flank area, some other issues and Docs here can't figure it out. I'm in tears thinking about having to cancel and not get the help I need.

The Docs here in Wisconsin, where I live are clueless and just don't care. I've been suffering for 2. 5 years. I have always been so very active in hiking, biking, walking, yoga etc., lovin' my job and miss it so much.

I continue to pray for a miracle that someone would reply and be happy to provide the emotional and positive support I needed. Now the clock is ticking. . .

@summerof42 I have been following your posts and can empathize with your situation. I have gone to Mayo alone many times, including my first visit in the fall of 2020. I’ve also had help from my adult children when needed for surgery or procedures requiring anesthesia. I have a suggestion, if you are unable to get someone to go with you, I would not cancel my appointments, but take the hotel shuttle (ask at front desk when you check in for sign up and times), and when you get to Mayo, ask for assistance to have someone take you by wheelchair to an from your appointments due to your pain. Even though you might not normally require a wheelchair, this may help you navigate to all of your appointments without the stress of having to do it yourself. I know this doesn’t provide the emotional support that you desire but at least you wouldn’t be missing out on this long awaited medical care. After you’re done with your appointments for the day, you can take the shuttle back to your hotel. Sometimes hotel shuttles will even take you somewhere else like a restaurant and pick you up after you’re done. I usually stay at the Home2 Suites and this is the case at that hotel your hotel can also make recommendations for restaurants or other places you need to go. I live out of state as well, and will be going to Rochester on Thursday for appointments on Friday, but I just had surgery 5/1/23, and complications that required re-admission thru 5/12/23, so I can’t help you get around myself. But know that others will be cheering you on!
Don’t give up your appointments, you can do this even on your own! Between the hotel shuttle picking you up and dropping you off at the door and the wheelchair assistance to get you around it is doable. There are maps available online of Mayo and Rochester. There is a restaurant right next to your hotel. I would call your hotel and ask if their shuttle can take you and pick you up to other places in evenings.
I will be thinking of you!

Have you contacted patient services? This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but this would be a good starting point to find a volunteer or someone able to help.
mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/concierge-services

Thank you jennifer0726 and kad1357. I did speak with someone in patient services and they were unable to provide me the support I needed. I wish I could do this alone, I really, really do, but between support needed to make sure I get to my appointments, all the tests needed, and then having the companion needed when I'm back at the hotel whether it be to get the lunches or evening meals, I know in my heart I can't do this alone. Its all so frightening. Plus the terrible pain in the right flank area. etc makes it further difficult.

I love you all so much for offering me suggestions and support. All I can do is pray at this point Mayo will allow me to push out my appointments until I get the support I need. I just hope, God willing, I can hang in there longer.

Bless you & Hugs

@summerof42 Hello again Rosebud, perhaps if you are able to push out your appointments or even for these visits you could look into hiring a college age or even older high school girl or relative to go with you from your area. I know it wouldn’t be a contemporary, but they are often in need of making extra money and have much more energy to assist you. It could be a relative (niece?) or a relative of someone you know, or a job posting at a community college. This just a suggestion.
One thing to keep in mind is if you go to Mayo and they suggest treatment will you be able to have someone assist you to return for treatments, etc.? If this would be an ongoing dilemma, maybe hiring someone temporarily from a health care agency would be appropriate. My heart goes out to you as I can tell that the hope of answers from Mayo is very important to you. Hugs.

I was able to push out my appointment to TUES, MAY 30th. jennifer0726 had a great suggestion. If anyone has reading this post has access and/or knowledge how to to publishing something as mentioned on the Mayo Clinic students or college board or social web site it would be sooooo greatly appreciated. Not feeling the greatest right now.

Unfortunately, I don't have a niece or relative. Recently loss my one sister years go and recently my other sister. It's been rough going through this all alone. My primary is a terrible Doc who truly doesn't care as are the rest of the Doctors I saw in Wisconsin, even when my weight went down to 89 lbs they didn't care, simply said go to the emergency room.

I'm saying extra prayers not only for myself for all the incredible people on this forum who are working so hard to help. Hopefully I will be send a name of someone who will be more than happy to help and save a life.

summerof42 @summerof42
I have also been following your post and wish I could personally help you, but have my own commitments.

If your willing to pay, you may try contacting Visiting Angles in Rochester. They provide a variety of services to seniors.
https://www.visitingangels.com/rochester/home
Another option is care.com under senior care option. Not sure if that would match your needs, but an option.

I hope you find a solution.

Laurie