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Vent, Mayo or Cleveland?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/11/2011 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Still not getting better, and I just found out that the specialist my doctor wants me to see can't/won't see me until OCTOBER. ARGHHH!!

I am on the wait list, but who knows if that will speed things up at all. So I am half considering hopping on a plane and going to either Cleveland or Mayo. I just can't see myself living on semi liquids for months, or worse, not living on semi liquids for months and being in constant pain.

I really am floored by this. These 2 doctors are friends. I have been a patient of the specialists as recently as 18 months ago. I can't believe that it is going to be that long for an appointment. In all my years with this DD I have never had to wait that long for anything.

Ok, done, I will now sit patiently in the corner and suck on my popsicle.
Posted 5/11/2011 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Geez that it a long time to wait for an appt. I can see your frustration. I think both are good options, but have heard alot of good about Mayo. If you can do it I would give it a shot. Hugs!
Posted 5/11/2011 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
I am half serious about it, but I would have no support. it would just be me going, no one else could take time off, and assume I would just have to show up in their emergency department. Or maybe I call ahead and schedule? Not really sure. I just need a bit of time to formulate a new plan of attack. This really has thrown me for a loop. I didn't see it coming, since I have been a regular patient of this doctors and my GI trained with him. I have a feeling that the messages haven't gotten to the actual doctor for some reason.
Posted 5/11/2011 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going to Cleveland on Monday, but I can tell you that unless you just show up in their ER, it will take you a couple months to get in.  I've been waiting since mid-end of March and my appt was originally scheduled for May 25th.  Rheumy was able to get me in within a week, but GI was booked for 1.5-2 months.  They ended up classifying me as an "emergency" which got it moved up by 9 days.  So, it will still be sooner than October, but not a quick process either. 

Posted 5/11/2011 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes you can get some good results closer to home. I don't know which hospital you use now, but would consider Dartmouth Hitchcock, Beth Israel in our area. Mass General isn't the only one that is ranked in the top gastro hospitals. Have heard mixed ratings on Cleveland Clinic in Gastro. My sister used to be head nurse of cardiac intensive care unit there. If you have to go alone, closer to home is better. Also have some good ones in NY City. Just some other options to consider.
Posted 5/11/2011 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Its Beth Israel that I have the appointment with now. I saw a doctor at Mass General years ago, but I don't have a relationship with anyone at that hospital now. I tried to get an appointment with a GI at Lahey a few years back, before my current doctor set up his practice, and it was a 5 month wait to be seen as a new patient. Lahey is within walking distance of the house I grew up in, where my sister still lives, and only 20 minutes from me. But its a longer wait than most of the Boston hospital, or at least it used to be. So I am not too hopeful that the local hospitals are going to do much, unless I show up on their doorstep, which I just may do. I know it was bad of me, but I just couldn't call my GI today. I was too upset and was afraid I was going to be too harsh with his staff. I know it isn't their fault. I needed to take today to calm down and think a bit. I will start over tomorrow. Dartmouth might not be a bad idea. I will have to look into it.
Posted 5/11/2011 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Go online and attempt to make an appointment at CC and get an idea of how long it would take for an initial office call. It only took me 10 days several years ago.

Do the same w/Mayo Clinic. I can't give you any idea on Mayo since I've been going there for some 50 years for either myself or my family. My first time as a patient was 1976. I was taken in as an Emergency (we were there for my hubby's back - I was Dx'd w/Crohn's due to being in one rip-roaring flare at the time). So whenever I call for an appointment now I can always get in no later than 2 weeks.
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