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Hiatal hernia and getting treatment at Mayo Clinic

Posted by elleheart @elleheart, Feb 16, 2022

Having struggled with a hiatal hernia for many years and now facing serious issues with it I went to see a surgeon at John’s Hopkins who seriously recommended surgery as my hernia is large. After much research I thought the Mayo Clinic would be the best place to have surgery and an experience practitioner would be best to do the job. Mayo seemed like the best choice as the surgery is no joke. I sent in all my records but found that the hospital was lax in getting back to me. As a nurse myself, for many years, I found this extremely disappointing. I essentially did all the calling to find out the status of my case and was told by one department that I couldn’t be seen there but could surely be seen in the esophageal clinic who could determine the next step in my case. Well no one in the esophageal clinic got back to me so I took it upon myself to call and find out about my case. The woman I spoke to stated my case had been refused and that I should seek treatment locally!! No cogent explanation for why my case was refused. I have excellent health insurance and I have tried all recommendations over the years to reduce the suffering I have experienced with this hernia. Nothing has helped except not eating. Not really a good approach to a health condition. At this point I am convinced that being seen at Mayo is like applying to an elite college. I also suspect having some kind of connection would help open the door for me. I am beyond disappointed as no one would opt to have this surgery if they did not need it. I am not impressed with the experience I had with Mayo it was unprofessional and left me with the feeling that you need “Ruby Shoes” to be seen there.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @linh "I have read online that unvaccinated patients elsewhere are not being considered at all for transplant..." + (show)
@linh

I have read online that unvaccinated patients elsewhere are not being considered at all for transplant surgeries. This leads me to wonder if this is true of other types of surgeries as well(?). Does vaccination status play any part in non emergency surgery acceptance?

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Lin, Mayo Clinic is following national and state guidelines regarding the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and recommends that you receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you. However, vaccination status is not grounds for refusal of treatment, including elective surgeries.

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1 reply
happy2bhere | @happy2bhear | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Oh dear, @elleheart. I can understand your reaction. @happy2bhear, was not speaking on behalf of Mayo..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Oh dear, @elleheart. I can understand your reaction. @happy2bhear, was not speaking on behalf of Mayo Clinic. She and @centre were offering assistance in seeking care should you not be able to get an appointment at Mayo Clinic.

Here in the online forums, words and tone can be easily misunderstood. However, words are the only tool we have. So allow me to say sincerely that no one is suggesting that your condition or needing surgery is a blessing.

Elleheart, I hope your physician will make referrals for you to Mayo Clinic or the institution you and your physician think can help. Fingers crossed that you get answers soon. Let me know if I can help.

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What did I do? I apologize profusely for saying anything. Please don’t take anything I said to heart. Apologies abound. I’ll reread.

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1 reply
happy2bhere | @happy2bhear | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @elleheart "A blessing? A 3cm hiatal hernia? Continual discomfort with a myriad of horrible symptoms despite taking..." + (show)
@elleheart

A blessing? A 3cm hiatal hernia? Continual discomfort with a myriad of horrible symptoms despite taking all prescribed measures including medication (15 years trying to be a good patient taking all advice given). I need surgery. To suggest it is a blessing that a hospital, such as Mayo, giving no response to a patient who has spend time and money sending all appropriate medical documents is absurd and ludicrous. It seems disingenuous. It feels dismissive. Is this the way people at Mayo in Minnesota deal with a patient’s medical issues? Platitudes? Illness is never a blessing and a lack of response to a patient seeking care is indifference and a lack of professionalism.
A blessing is something miraculous that occurs to someone. A thing conducive to happiness. A hiatal hernia is far from a blessing and it is certainly not happiness. The truth is Mayo refused my case not because I don’t need surgery, as has been indicated by two different gastroenterologist, but because there is criteria (that apparently I did not meet) which has not been communicated to me despite my efforts. While your communication may have been an attempt to make me feel better or as you suggested “blessed” it has confirmed in my mind that I would not at this point ever consider surgery at Mayo.
As a nurse and quite educated I am well aware that there are other qualified physicians and I believe it is my responsibility to find them. I have never experienced in my lifetime a physician looking to find me for treatment.
I do not operate my life on the concept of destiny…hard work, gifts you received both monetarily, genetically, lovingly, along with good health is what shapes a life. Having empathy and a personal vision is also quite helpful. I will seek treatment elsewhere.

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Ok I apologize and rescind all my words to you. I DO NOT REPRESENT MAYO OR ANYONE AT MAYO. I DO NOT VOLUNTEER FOR MAYO. I AM only a user of this platform.

I did not intend to discount your pain or your issues finding a doctor.

I was relating my personal experience w stage 3 cancer and some of my friends’ experience w doctors, medical offices in general.

Whenever it becomes a trial to get a response from a particular doctor or office, often we look elsewhere. We don’t want to get involved and discover our first experience was a foreshadowing of future care. That is ME and MY FRIENDS. I was speaking of our way of looking at the medical world.

In no way did I or would I discount your problem with platitudes. I feel your pain in your writing and told you how we deal with it to find a solution and move us off of limbo.

My apologies once again.

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elleheart | @elleheart | Feb 17, 2022
In reply to @happy2bhear "What did I do? I apologize profusely for saying anything. Please don’t take anything I said..." + (show)
@happy2bhear

What did I do? I apologize profusely for saying anything. Please don’t take anything I said to heart. Apologies abound. I’ll reread.

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No problem. I think most people mean well. Good luck to you and take good care...

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centre | @centre | Feb 18, 2022
In reply to @elleheart "Dear @centre At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from..." + (show)
@elleheart

Dear @centre

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us…
-A. Schweitzer

Your thoughts and suggestions were very helpful and I believe I was a bit naive regarding this whole process. I plan to to go back to my primary physician and trouble shoot this again.
As Mr. Rogers said “Look for the good people”.
Thank-you for taking the time to give me really good advice and thank-you for being one of the good people…

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You are most welcome and thank-you for the wonderful quote, which I am writing down in my journal.
Take a look on YouTube for the song “Tubthumping” by the band Chumbawamba- a part of the chorus is “I get knocked down, but I get up again, ain’t nothing gonna keep me down. I get knocked down, but I get up again, etc.” , I sing it to myself whenever I need an extra dose of determination.
Last thoughts from my heart- as the young people say, You go, girl! You got this!

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elleheart | @elleheart | Feb 18, 2022

Can we clone you x 10? Wow! Sending wishes that all the best things come your way….🌹

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Feb 18, 2022

This comment is not made in reference to Mayo or any other specific institution, but to the condition of medical treatment everywhere right now. There will be unacceptable waiting, full stop. I live in rural Oregon and I have a friend who has been waiting to get scheduled for bowel surgery for colon cancer for 4 weeks already. My husband waited for months and months for a pet ct, to see if his cancer had spread to his bones and thereby determine if he was treatable with radiation. Delaying treatment for months. Covid has broken a system that was in many cases was working at almost capacity due to corporate modeling before covid came. Unfortunately no one can give you or sell what they don’t have.
It is horrible and I agree you must be suffering terribly but you are not alone in this suffering. Please continue to ask your doctor to do referrals to places you think are competent. Once you are in it is easier to judge but getting in is a difficult task in this time of covid. Have you researched a list of places you might find excellent care?

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lindes | @lindes | Feb 18, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Lin, Mayo Clinic is following national and state guidelines regarding the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Lin, Mayo Clinic is following national and state guidelines regarding the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and recommends that you receive a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you. However, vaccination status is not grounds for refusal of treatment, including elective surgeries.

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This is correct! I will have surgery at the Mayo on Feb 24, and nobody asked me for my vaccination status. I have to pass a Covid test a day prior to surgery, and if this turns out negative, I will have surgery.

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2 replies
elleheart | @elleheart | Feb 18, 2022

Agreed. Covid has changed the fabric of everything. Have been able to see Doctors fairly regularly out here on the East coast but I guess it depends where you are seeking treatment. Best wishes and safe keeping to all those waiting for care…

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1 reply
happy2bhere | @happy2bhear | Feb 19, 2022
In reply to @lindes "This is correct! I will have surgery at the Mayo on Feb 24, and nobody asked..." + (show)
@lindes

This is correct! I will have surgery at the Mayo on Feb 24, and nobody asked me for my vaccination status. I have to pass a Covid test a day prior to surgery, and if this turns out negative, I will have surgery.

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What test are they doing? Wasn’t the test outlawed in Dec for giving more positive than negative?

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