Where to go for Gastritis and other GI problems - Mayo or Cleveland?

Sorry you are needing to go to either place, but they are great treatment places!!

My situation is different than yours, but I can tell you, I just spent a week at Mayo in Rochester for GI stuff, and they were wonderful, absolutely amazing. Very impressed (that doesn't even begin to explain how truly wonderful everyone was...from receptionists to nurses to docs to techs to radiologists, even the people at the information desks and the gift shop). Very well organized, had everything scheduled and laid out before I even went there, and then added a couple appointments as needed. Just excellent.

I was there for testing only. Here at home I go to a very good teaching hospital, but even they did not do some of the tests that were needed. I have severe nerve damage to lower GI tract (also bladder) due to Spina Bifida, and I also have many health issues and am on a ton of meds as well. My care was very well coordinated, but that may have partly been because my GI here at home knew a specific doc he wanted me to see, and they were in contact about my case and made decisions prior to my going there, about what specifically needed to be investigated. But, as I said, it was a very positive experience. I was able to get some much needed answers and should be able to continue my care here at home now. Surgery was recommended, and if I feel comfortable with the surgeon here and he can prove to me that he'll be able to handle my case (my anatomy is rather mixed up due to bladder augmentation surgery, which used pieces of small intestine and my appendix to enlarge my bladder and create a channel from the bladder to a stoma in my abdomen for catheterizing), then I'll do it here. If it seems too complicated or I am not confident in the surgeon here, I would request to have a surgeon at Mayo do it, only downside to that is I live 5 hours away, and the travel along with the cost of hotel for family, as well as hotel for few days pre and post surgery would be a bit much. But, I'll do what I have to do. I would feel very safe with any surgeon there that was recommended by the GI doc there. Would just be tricky w/ coordinating follow-up care, etc.

Sorry for rambling. My experience at Mayo Rochester was just so wonderful. Very thankful for the docs and nurses, everyone there. The only thing I was unhappy with was that the instructions I was sent in the mail did not adequately explain what meds I needed to stop and when. I had even called there and spoke with someone about it to clarify things, but still a miscommunication somewhere along the line, and meds that should've been stopped sooner were not. However, they were still able to do the testing and confident that they got the critical info they needed.

I guess U.S News and World Report (I think i got the name right) just put out their hospital rankings, and Mayo Clinic was #1 overall, and also #1 in GI at the Rochester, MN location. They certainly are #1 in my book! But, as I mentioned, my problems are all lower GI and I was there for GI stuff only, not for any treatment or investigation of any of my other health problems. They have a ton of GI specialists and are equipped to do testing, etc, not available anywhere else.

As for Cleveland Clinic, I have only been there once, and that was about 10 years ago. I went for a second opinion for my bladder problems. Docs there did agree with my urologist back home that bladder augment was necessary. I honestly do not remember much about being there, but I know it was a positive experience and I got what I needed.

Can you ask your current docs for a recommendation of who to see at either Mayo or Cleveland? I would recommend the doc I saw, but his areas of expertise deal with chronic constipation, motility disorders, and bowel incontinence. Don't think he'd be the one for you!

I hope that at least some of my rambling is helpful to you!! If I can answer any other questions or whatever, please email me or I will attempt to follow this thread to check back. In any case, I really hope you get some answers and much needed relief soon! I don't know what your beliefs are, but I feel that my docs and nurses at Mayo were sent by God, they are my angels, I will be forever grateful for my experience there. Will also keep you in my thoughts (and prayers, if that's ok).

Keep me posted on what happens!

Wish I could help you more. If your GP can do a referral, they should be able to give them some idea of what types of docs need to be involved and go from there. I was very impressed with Mayo Rochester, but of course, I can't compare it to Cleveland Clinic (since it's been a long time since I was there, etc). I know that both provide very excellent care, I guess maybe see if your GP knows anyone at either place.

As far as your current docs go, I'm sure you already know this, but, you need some new ones. If you are not even confident in their abilities to dx or help you, and they just push more meds on you, it's time you find someone who actually cares and is interested in being your doctor (that involves working for you, looking for answers and long term solutions, and showing you that they are in this with you--they won't give up or try to run away when things get tough). I very much know that finding good docs is much easier said than done, and sometimes you go thru some bad ones before finding a good one, but don't give up. While a place like Mayo or Cleveland Clinic can help you with things like diagnosis, testing, procedures, and getting you started on a long term solution, you still will need someone closer to home to help you continue that treatment plan and handle more of the day to day sort of stuff. I just mean it wouldn't be convenient to try to do all your care thru a hospital/clinic far away. And any doc you have that feels threatened by you getting a second opinion must be afraid that he/she is doing something wrong or isn't confident in what they are doing.

I guess for now though, you need to focus on getting that second opinion and correct diagnosis. Sorry about my other rambling. Just wanted to tell you that you deserve better and need to continue searching for competent docs at home too! Didn't mean to overwhelm you.

I know this year, I myself have switched primary care docs 2 times, also changed GI docs, and got sent to Mayo to see a 3rd GI. Am also in the process of changing pain docs. It's not easy, but necessary. No giving up!!

Gotta go right now, need to take care of a friend. Will write again soon with more words of encouragement and rambling.

Keep putting one foot in front of the other! You can and will get thru this!