MayoClinic.org
Don't know what kind of specialist to see
My sister and I have been sick for 3 (me) and 4 (her) years and have not gotten a diagnosis. We are having symptoms from several different systems (neuro, gastro, cardio, etc.) and don’t know what to do. We have seen neurologists (I have seizures; my sister doesn’t), an internist, an endocrinologist and several family doctors, and they all tell us to go somewhere like the Mayo, but they are widely varied in their opinion of what kind of specialist we should see. We have no insurance, but we can pay cash up to a point. We just can’t keep going to different kinds of doctors without some kind of clue as to what we’re doing. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
Did he work in the billing office? When my mom called to try and get an appointment, they first asked if we had insurance. When she said no, they told her we would have to BRING $3,000 WITH US to PAY UP FRONT.
“Before I was diagnosed in either case, I went to several doctors who dismissed my symptoms as being from an easily explained source: stress, bad lifestyle, and later—menopause or too much caffeine.”
Oh my gods, this is happening to me, right now. I am currently trying to get treatment and a concrete diagnosis from doctors who, frankly, do not care about their patients. I was even threatened with being sent to a mental health clinic, just before a blood test (which I had been requesting for monthS) finally came back positive for a condition that I suspected – vitamin D deficiency. I became sick, again, and well.. you can read my profile lol.
I waited an additional *8 weeks* for today’s appointment, only to be told after waiting half an hour in the examination room that my doctor wasn’t even coming in! I had to talk to so many people, just to get the follow-up blood test I was Supposed to get, today.
My cat gets better treatment at the vet. I actually asked the vet, once, if they could pretend I was a cat, but they said they would lose their license if they treated a human.
My mom and sister have a Vitamin D deficiency, but their B12 is fine. I have a severe B12 deficiency, but my D is fine. Was your follow-up test something to determine what’s causing your D deficiency? It takes up to a year to build Vitamin D back up to an appropriate level.
I went on the Mayo clinics web site, the Minn. branch, and it was written, that no one is ever turned away because of the inability to pay, I also called the Arizona branch, and she told me that they don’t take my insurance, but the Minn. branch does….go figure. My advise to you would be to go on the Mayo Clinics web site, and see if they even specialize in what your illness is, and if they do, make aqn appointment with the Minn. branch, and go fgrom there. as far as medical insurance is concerned, you should be able to get on some kind of medical plan, weather its medicare, medicaid or whatever, depending on where you live, again you need to research your options.
Hi.
Based on what I see on the website, it sounds to me like they will work with people who have already been seen (probably in the ER) and can’t pay the bill, rather than accepting patients who want an appointment with one of the doctors, as they told my mom. We have already researched our insurance options. We don’t qualify for Medicaid (have to have kids or be under 18) and the Mayo doesn’t take Medicaid from out of state, anyway (We live in Missouri), and you can get Medicare only if you’ve been on SSI for 2 years, unless you’re a senior citizen; to get on SSI, you have to have a diagnosis, which we don’t.
over medicated.My Mom and Dad where having problems like yours.Stop taking everything you get,look these drugs up and tell your Doctor How they are working for you. If they are not working Stop taking them. Over medicated.Think about it!
It could be more dangerous to just stop taking all your medication. Please do look at this as a possibility and review with your doctor but don’t just stop taking all your meds.
Mayo Clinic Social Serivces may be able to give you some advise and or offer a solution to your financial situation, call them at (507)-284-2131
Call a Financial Representative at Mayo Clinic. If you are considering Rochester then call (507)-266-7075, they should be able to answer this.
This does sound like a credible theory, and just a stab in the dark from me. A collegue I worked with had an unusual allergy to a chemical in plastic and it took a fair few doctors to diagnose and he did move house a couple of times thinking it was something there since he was better when away from home. If all 3 of you have problems I wouldn’t think it was an alergy. Although something elso to consider though, do you still have the same trouble when you live away from home for a while? If you do its something in your house, and that would be a start.
You know what else too, this all rings the bell for ‘inconsistant or low level carbon monoxide poisoning” There is a fair few symptoms that match up. Another avenue to consider but perhaps get your local fire service to examine your house. They have much more sensative equipment than a regular CO2 detector. This was the most interesting link I found on Low level CO2 Poisoning…
http://www.carbon-monoxide-survivor.com/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-symptoms-multiple-exposures.html
I’ve posted a few responces throughout this thread, and I hope they help you in your quest for a diagnosis, please feel free to email me if you need pointing in the right direction as far as dealing with the Mayo Clinic. Best of Luck
Chris