Local diagnostics vs. The Mayo Clinic

[DanielleP924]

I've got a situation and I really need some advice from you guys. So, you all know I have a ruptured L4-5 disk and have had other spinal issues for years. (Those of you who have read my story.) I've seen the surgeon who is in my local practice, which is a Mayo Health Systems organization. He has me scheduled for an Mylogram on January 4th, along with a bone scan the same day. Then I'm scheduled to see him for the results of these tests on January 11th.

Now here's my dilemma. My family was insisting I get evaluated by The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, so I had my family doctor refer me there. They have scheduled me to see a neurosurgeon on January 4th and I'd have to stay in a hotel all week so they can run their own tests on me.

I'm wondering if I should go ahead and have the tests that are scheduled locally done and reschedule my appt. with Mayo in Rochester until after I've gotten the opinion from the surgeon I've seen locally. Or should I just cancel the local tests and go to Mayo and get an opinion from them on what they think I should do about my back. They are likely to run all the same tests I'd be getting done locally.

I'm just really confused here. I have a good friend willing to travel with me to Rochester, which is only 100 miles from where I live. She would stay with me at the hotel and help me get back and forth to Mayo.

Any suggestions, advice?

[Justin]

Hi Danielle,

The Mayo Clinic is a great place and is staffed with a ton of intelligent physicians. Your questions are difficult to answer, as you have a very personal decision to make. I will say that my Dad flew to Texas for evaluation of his spine issues at the Texas Back Institute because he ultimately felt more comfortable being evaluated at a "top" spine institution. I did the same in 2003.

The experience of those performing one's diagnostics is important (there's a difference between the doc that does 5 myelograms a year and the doc that does 50 myelograms a year). It was for me in terms of peace of mind. Ultimately, it is best to "cover all your bases" in the way that you feel most comfortable.

Multiple opinions before any invasive intervention (surgery) are well worth it in my opinion--the more, the better.

[Terry Newton]

Danielle:

I would go to the Mayo Clinic in a heartbeat. I had my first spinal surgery there in 1996. I lived in Michigan at the time and my medical director, who is a University of Michigan Medical School Graduate, referred me there. They took care of me like I was the President of the United States. They are so organized that they do all of your tests in a series so that there is no wait and no nonsense. You have a diagnosis and a plan while you are waiting after all of your tests are done. There is nothing like it in the world. You are going to one of the best the world has to offer. There are royalty that show up there from all over the world.

[Dave]

Danielle,

I'm with the others on this. My wife has a rare condition and the Mayo Clinic is where we go. We could go to U of M in Ann Arbor, which would be covered in full, but the Mayo is the BEST, so we travel and pay the 30% out of pocket.

Top notch facility and service.:thumpup::thumpup::thumpup:

[KBear]

I'd definitely go to Mayo. My neighbor traveled back and forth their for the first 2 years of his leukemia tretment (and we live in Texas). They ultimately moved up there, as his condition worsened and he was needing to be there or close to there at all times.

[DanielleP924]

Well, so far I am getting the impression that going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester is definitely the right move. I'm going to cancel my appointments with my local clinic and go ahead and go to my appt. already scheduled to begin on January 4th at Mayo in Rochester, MN. I'm really nervous about it and hope my friend does indeed go with me. I'm not up to driving myself anyway. I suppose I could manage if I needed to. It's only 104 miles from my house.

Thanks for all the great advice guys!..

DanielleP924

[Cindylou]

Danielle, make your reservation at The Kahler Hotel.....it's literally right across the street from Mayo. Is it a 5 star hotel? Absolutely not. But the convenience of it cannot be over emphasized enough. Step out the door (or go underground and don't go outside at all, if temps are frigid) and you walk right into one of the Mayo Buildings. It has a parking ramp where you can keep your car (after you check in), and literally leave it there till the day you depart for home. I have gone to Mayo (I live in the twin cities) for numerous work-ups over the years, and I would be hard pressed to believe they would keep you there for the whole week. They work like a well-oiled machine and try and get back to back appt's., for you. Of course, sometimes you might have some delay between appt's., and they can stretch into the next day or maybe two, but I have never had to stay for the whole week, and doubt your stay will last that long either. Good luck!!

[DanielleP924]

Danielle, make your reservation at The Kahler Hotel.....it's literally right across the street from Mayo. Is it a 5 star hotel? Absolutely not. But the convenience of it cannot be over emphasized enough. Step out the door (or go underground and don't go outside at all, if temps are frigid) and you walk right into one of the Mayo Buildings. It has a parking ramp where you can keep your car (after you check in), and literally leave it there till the day you depart for home. I have gone to Mayo (I live in the twin cities) for numerous work-ups over the years, and I would be hard pressed to believe they would keep you there for the whole week. They work like a well-oiled machine and try and get back to back appt's., for you. Of course, sometimes you might have some delay between appt's., and they can stretch into the next day or maybe two, but I have never had to stay for the whole week, and doubt your stay will last that long either. Good luck!!

I will look into that hotel. I was hoping to actually find a Residence Inn so I could have the use of a kitchen while I'm there. I really hate to eat out if I can cook something. My husband has a gazillion Marriott points and I figured there's got to be one near the hospital and I'm sure they have a shuttle bus that can take us back and forth to Mayo. Tomorrow, I'll investigate the hotel situation.

Thanks for the information. I will definitely look into the hotel you mentioned.

DanielleP924