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How far have you traveled for treatment?

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Posted 11/14/2014 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Over the past year since my illness(es) began, I've been told by various doctors to seek help at Mayo or Cleveland Clinic.

I haven't, because I don't really feel it's come to that point, but I was wondering if anybody here could share experiences about traveling to other states or areas to receive treatment.

Can anyone share their experience, good or bad?
Posted 11/14/2014 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I met with a few surgeon's in the Cleveland Clinic.  I thought those hot shot Doctors with a God complex were just in TV and movies, wrong.  It seems to be alive and well at my local Cleveland Clinic.

I'm sure many on here travel for treatment.  Mine is like 15-20 minutes one away.

Posted 11/14/2014 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hope Walgreens doesnt find out!! This is exactly why I think their criteria is unconstitional since it is forcing us to seek care only in our immediate area and confining us to sometimes poor or under standard of care.
Posted 11/14/2014 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Everyone except my gp ( a block away) and gyn (15 mins) is 60 to 90 mins away.
Thank goodness I don't have to use a walgreens....the flags would be flying.

Post Edited (Daesin) : 11/14/2014 10:23:54 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/14/2014 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
There simply are no really good doctor's near me, so it's always between 35min. to 1 1/2 hour drive time and so usually my hubby will take 1/2 a day off for me to help drive me to appointments, costs 6 to 8 dollars for parking for endocrin doctor and about 10.00 for my pmd parking...
Posted 11/15/2014 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Almost all my doctors are at the same hospital over an hour's drive. I drive myself, almost never have anyone available unless it's a big emergency or surgery.

I drove myself to all my cancer radiation treatments, except the last one - too sick. An hour each way there too.

I'm changing insurance for next year so I will be covered if I go out of state. Since my high deductible policy is ending, I can get into a Medicare "supplement" without any medical questions.
Posted 11/15/2014 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
You can have good doctors just about every where and bad doctors too, and what one person might think is good, to another, they might think the same doctor was bad. I have known allot of people that have went up to Minnesota to Mayo Clinic and thought the place was great, and then I know a few people like my self that went there and was really disappointed with the place.

Many years ago I went up to Mayo Clinic, and it was close to a 5 hundred mile drive one way to go up there, and I spent close to a week there getting test, and all they did was redo all the test I had previously had done by my PCP and with no new results. They didn't even address the problem that I originally was referred for, and went up there for! The only thing they made clear was that they were not happy that I was on pain meds, (at that time it was 20mg of Oxycontin every twelve hours), Anyway they had an immediate opening in there out patient addiction program and they wanted me to go through it right away! The program was close to month long, and they wanted me to start immediately ( I think they had a slot expectantly come open and wanted to fill as soon as possible! I did go and talk with the people running the program and they agreed that it probably would not help the problem that I went up there for, so why go through it?) Anyway I told them NO! and left and never went back! My PCP back home was not happy with what they did, and thought I had just wasted my time going up there. ( the only reason I did was because my daughter is a nurse there, and she wanted me to come up and be evaluated by them)

I am not saying that Mayo Clinic is not a good place, nor the Cleveland Clinic or any of the other big well known medical places. I just think you can have good experiences and treatment at other places too! The question is, Is it worth the travel to go to some of these places????? And that is a question that can only be answered by the person that does it! You might be very happy that you made the trip or very disappointed!

White Beard
Posted 11/15/2014 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
Anything is an hour away for me--we live way out in the country--and my wife is so kind to drive me. My medicine can make me car sick, though that seems to be under control now, but just riding in a car with the swaying motion is painful, unless I sit in the back seat and brace against the left door.

So I've been going to a local small-city cancer clinic an hour off, but I've wondered if a further clinic would be so much better. Cleveland Clinic is about five hours, for instance, and a doctor locally has mentioned it. Problem is, there's not much more (or less) anyone could do for me, because my pain isn't really a puzzle. They know it's due to a tumor that can't be fixed in the long run.

These answers are really helpful, because it sounds like further big-name clinics/centers are not necessarily better for everyone, especially if travel is an issue. Obviously some still might find them individually worthwhie.

Thanks to backtolife for asking the question, because it's very helpful.
Posted 11/15/2014 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
It's not an easy question to answer, I've travelled over 5 hrs for treatment which was excellent however I was too shattered to take it all in. The upside to this was, they gave me contacts of clinics/groups nearer to me which I never even knew existed and which helped me immensely and I made some lovely friends there past/present.......

Post Edited (Hammy71) : 11/15/2014 6:38:26 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/15/2014 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Hammy71. Welcome!

Would you please Post New Topic - near upper left- and introduce yourself so we can all welcome you. This is a great place to share and receive information plus encouragement. We're glad you are here!
Posted 11/15/2014 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not considering going, at this point. Turns out one of the best doctors in the world to treat pudendal nerve damage/entrapment along with PGAD is only about 40 minutes from me (at the hospital where my husband was born, and where both of his grandparents died, actually.)

I was wondering because the other specialist and leading researcher for the disorder is in San Diego, and he reached out to me (through a friend of mine who is a patient of his) and said he'd make time for me right away. But, it isn't the type of thing that can be cured or even treated really at one visit, and with the closer resource, I'm satisfied with not going.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's all very informative!
Posted 11/16/2014 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
I moved out of state for my uber researched based Rheumie. He worked near my hometown so it wasn't a difficult transition. But I wouldn't do it again unless I absolutely had to (ie had a life threatening illness that stumped local clinicians).
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