Endocrine surgeons with expertise in parathyroid disease?

Hi Gail

Glad to hear you have the option of pt surgery. The Dr could do a Skype interview with you to save you one trip ? I imagine you have to pay for this surgery out of pocket
I am in Northern Manitoba

Hi Jan, and thanks for your reply. No, Medicare/insurance I expect will pay the lions share of the bill. I'm going to see if they think surgery is necessary and if so, and I like the surgeon, I will have it done on this trip. At first they said I would have to come back for the surgery, but Mayo really works with their patients. Several days after I made the appt, since I am coming alone, and they require that someone be with me for 24 hours post surgery, I had to confirm that staying in a local hotel meets their requirement. The next thing I knew was they called to tell me they booked me for surgery on the 28th. What an incredible place Mayo is! I can't imagine that anyone surgeon that works for Mayo world have any problems with that surgery, but I could be wrong. When I get a minute, probably when I get back, I will have to refresh my memory as to where Manitoba is!!!!!!!!! Gail

Hi @gailfaith,
How are you doing? Given that your appointment at Mayo Clinic is coming up, you must be in the final stages of getting ready to travel. I just wanted to send you a quick note to say that I'm thinking of you and wish you safe travels. I'm certain you'll charm attendants into helping you along the way to make mobility easier between flights. I'm quite sure you're not to shy to ask for help and they enjoy chatting with you.
Happy trails.

Hi @allegro. We haven't heard from you in a while. How are you?

Hi @jmbjar (Jan) and @allegro. I just got back from Mayo where I had the parathyroidectomy. I started off with Dr. Tiegs first, but he told me he would be away for that and the next week so then I coordinated with Dr. Tebben who I also liked. Then I met with the surgeon, Dr. Melanie Richards, who I liked very much. She told me she had done over 4500 similar surgeries, so I felt very at ease with her. After our first scheduled meeting, she kept popping up unscheduled twice more before surgery to update me about test results, etc. At first they weren't sure when they could to it as a needle biopsy had to be done first and the radiologists were booked, but I guess there was a cancellation or something and they got that done and then the surgery the following day. And I was on l my way back to PA the next day. Mayo is so organized, it is incredible. I needed no medication for pain after surgery even though they gave me two different bottles with analgesics. Yes it hurt to swallow but the few times that happens in a day was not worth taking any medication. They only removed one of the four. I stayed at the same hotel in Rochester that I did previously as they cater to Mayo patients. On Saturday I needed to get to the post office and a drug store and they drove me there. Full breakfasts are are complimentary and convenient to your Mayo schedule. However the hotel had changed management as well as their name since my first trip. Since my first trip to Mayo, I have been in weekly physical therapy, and because I would be at Mayo for almost two weeks, I requested PT while there and Drs. Tiegs and Tebben arranged for that. And this trip was my introduction to the Methodist Hospital next door. Last time I was introduced to St. Marys' hospital (also connected with Mayo) when both me and my service dog got sick on something we shared! I no longer have my faithful service dog so I was alone for this trip.

Did your team say anything about taking Calcium supplements the rest of your life?<br>What was the name of your hotel? Kalar Grand?<br>Glad to hear of your success at Mayo!<br><br>

Hi upnorthnancy.... Where are you up north? Thanks for your note. The hotel is now the Centerstone and was a Best Western at Solider's Field previously. Yes, staff at Mayo even gave me a bottle of Ca to start me off, and I will meet with my GP here next week.