I Don't Know Why I Didn't Think Of This...

Yesterday my mom called with an idea and a plea for me. She wants me to come home for a while and have a comprehensive look at what's going on with me at the clinic. Home is Rochester Minnesota, for those who don't know, this is also the home of the Mayo Clinic. Her beef is the same as my beef has been since leaving home, nothing is connected, doctors don't work together, and I'm left to piecemeal the big picture. I'm not qualified to determine what is missing in this quest to relieve myself of all this pain.

Growing up in a place like Rochester I assumed the Mayo way was how medicine was done in the USA. I've been horrified by what I've seen since. Don't get me wrong, I'm crazy about my neurologist (who just so happens to have been trained at Mayo) and I know there are other great doctors all around the world. What I don't understand is how tried and true best practices can be long ago established but not practiced by so many clinics, hospitals, and private practitioners. Honestly, in this day and age, it is unacceptable laziness. Anyway...

I know a really amazing internist there who is already familiar with my medical history and who could serve as my PCP, directing me to the specialists who could help take a snapshot of my health. They would all communicate with each other. Best of all, it would happen quickly. Mayo is fantastic about getting tests and results quickly. The truth is that my medical issues have become very complicated and that is maybe what Mayo is best at - complicated.

It's so frustrating here. For example I had my MRI, then had to wait 3 weeks to see my doctor for the results. And even then, she hadn't received the results from the hospital where the MRI was done. Even when she got the results she wasn't able to determine what it meant, nor was she able to tell me what sort of a specialist I needed to see to get answers. If I was in Rochester I would have had the results within 24 hours of the test. And they would have set me up with whoever I needed in addition.

I don't know why this never occurred to me...but my mom is right. I'm extremely fortunate that Rochester is my home. I'll have a place to stay and food to eat for as long as I need, courtesy of mom. I would be a fool not to take advantage of this good fortune. Now, I just need to wait a couple more weeks to see doctor and get things started.

I'm excited about the chance to make some quick progress here. I'm also thrilled at the thought of going home for a couple weeks or so. It has been almost 3 years since I've been home and I miss everyone so much.

The anxiety about flying is already taking hold. Maybe my doctor can provide me with some drugs to help me through the flights.