Going to Mayo Clinic in early August: Any advice for first time patients?

skunker
Which Mayo?

If Jacksonville Florida,-- then Dr. DeVault would be GI and Dr. Bowers would be surgeon. Both are knowledgeable about the Linx and fundoplications. Don't have any other advice other then get more then one opinion (outside of Mayo). (Look for experience and get ALL questions answered. ).

Set up a Mayo account so you can gain access to reading the doctors notes and test and blood results online-- very helpful and available quickly. . If you have barium at Mayo then call their medical records to obtain copy of disk as this is helpful to carry over to other consults-- might save redo. (They mail the disc to you--and it takes a while to get as it is off campus.

Be prepared to do some waiting but not real bad. They have free wi fi.
A nice dining cafeteria for lunch. Parking is $3 in the garage. Highly recommend this as free parking is a very long hot walk and remember where you parked. Takes a while to get test appointments set up-- they email you the dates and times. We couldn't get them done in one day, one after the other. They were spread out.

Calling or emailing questions to the doctor afterwards did not bring prompt reply back. Try to write down all medical personnel names as you go along as there will be many. Helpful.

Hopes this helps some.

Hi,

Just came on to post a new topic to ask a question and saw the topic about going to Mayo Clinic. I am also going to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a week in early august, for testing, mostly of my colon and lower GI tract. I already have all my tests set up and stuff. Feeling super nervous the closer it gets. I do believe they have free wifi. Of course, right now I can't find the packet of info that I want. But if you go to their website, you should be able to get lots of info. Also, if you are staying overnight in a hotel, I read that some hotels may offer some discounts to mayo patients. Blanking on where we are staying, my mom took care of that part. As for the Mayo account thing, it's super easy to set up, I have already done it. Takes just a minute or two. You will need your patient account # though. Usually you can find that on the info that they send you.

I hope your visit goes well and that they get everything figured out. My GI doc here at home says that the GI clinic there is wonderful. And, just to make you feel better about it, the U.S. News and Report (it's called something like that)(they're the people who rate hospitals, etc, every year) rated Mayo Clinic in MN as #1 hospital overall, as well as #1 in GI stuff.

Good Luck, maybe i'll see you there!!