I felt the same way when I started going to Mayo back in 2005. I live on the Canadian border, so it's a big deal making sure everything is secure here, making sure hotel reservations are right, all of that. And then thinking about all the poking and prodding and scans and what not. I'm glad you're happy, I think that is wonderful! But after all these years, I'm getting tired. And although it's not the Mayo clinics fault, the shunt they put in back in 2005 started clogging within months afterwards, and has caused me nothing but pain and numbness. It partially functioned so they didn't want to chance causing more damage by removing it.
I'm hoping this will be a very good trip and experience this year, I know something serious is going on, either the Mayo shunt finally fully clogged, or I may need another shunt in my lumbar area. Either way, I'm trusting the Mayo clinic again, I hope they come through for me, and I get a good shunt. I'm only 59 so I could have many more years ahead of me. I've lived with syringomyelia for over 30 years now.