Plans coming together for trip to Mayo

[heather]

OK! I'm getting excited now! My plans for getting to the Mayo this summer are finally coming together! I've talked my mom and step-dad into going w/ the boys and me. My step-dad's family lives in Nebraska. We'll have a 10 hr. drive there and then it's another 7 hrs. from there, but the drive will be worth it, I'm sure! I thought we'd leave on a Sat. and drive to his families and rest for a few days and then drive to Rochester for the appt. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on what to plan for the visit. My other one was 6 yrs. ago and I don't really remember all the procedures, not to mention I was soooooooo sick and out of it. I wondered if we could leave NE that morning and get there around noon and have an afternoon appt. I'm also taking my boys to been seen and am going to try and talk my brother into tagging along, although I don't know if he can be off work that long. I am looking at the 1st or 2nd week of June and hope to see Dr. Ommen. Any advice? Thanks!

[tschribe]

Good luck and I hope your plans come together as desired. Tom

[Reenie]

I don't have any advice but I'm glad the plans are coming together. It's great you can make a kind of family vacation out of it all.

[mbcube]

Make your appoint with Ommen ASAP. I assume these guys are busier in the summer than winter. If you haven't seen him before plan on a day, possible 2 days for tests. You'll likely have your appointment with him in the later part of the first day of tests. This is a full day of running around and occasionally wearing a paper gown. I'd advise not to have kids in tow that day (there is plenty of stuff in town & nearby to keep them all busy). Glad your getting there & getting to spend some time with the family!

[heather]

When I was there before I saw Dr. Freeman. So, yes, this will be my first time seeing Dr. Ommen, but I've heard he is the best there in the HCM clinic. I am having the boys seen too. So, not sure how all that will work out! I will call and ask them for the best thing to do.

Thanks!

[Cynaburst]

Heather - Glad you are all making the trek. Do plan on having a couple of days in Rochester. You will have testing done on the first day (starting with fasting blood test early in the morning) and then tests throughout the day. You won't see Dr. Ommen until you have had most of the tests done.

As for the boys, you might have their tests being done at the same time, so you might need to have even more days in MN so that you can be with them during their tests and get seen yourself....call the scheduling lady for Dr. Ommen, and ask her how you should plan it. The pediatric folks may work differently.

[Janet]

My Mom (diagnosed with HCM and received ICD in 2003, myectomy at Northwestern 2007) was just at Mayo for the first time to see Dr. Nishimora on March 24th and 25th. Her first day started at 6:45AM with blood work, 7:30AM EKG, 8:15AM chest xray, 9:00AM received 24 hour Holter monitor, an unscheduled trip to the ER for some problems she was having and then finally at 12:35PM a 2 hour echo. The next day she dropped the Holter off at 9:00AM, then had a 10:15AM appointment with Dr. Nishimora which lasted four hours after seeing everyone she needed to see. She was scheduled to see the EP at 9:15AM on the 26th, but that was cancelled since they didn't feel she needed to see the EP at this time. She will be returning on April 7th to be admitted for a double valve job on April 10th at St. Marys. Keeping our fingers crossed she can have it done.

My Mom did wish she could have eaten something between getting the Holter and the echo, but the trip to the ER cancelled that. I would just make sure you find the time to eat so you don't run yourself down.

They stayed at the Kahler Grand which is a little older type hotel, but it was satisfactory for their needs.

I echo others about getting your appointment as soon as possible so it can coordinate with your plans.

Be well to you and your family, Janet

[heather]

I have an appt. date!! Yeah! June 1st. The scheduling secretary said that instead of making appts. for the boys, Dr. Ommen wants me to get their recent echos to him to review and we'd take it from there. I've been trying to get the dr. office who did the echos to send them for quite some time. I'm going to ask one more time and if I have to I'll just drive down there and get them myself (2 hr. drive). So, we'll see. I was trying to get my brother to go w/ me too, but I don't think he's going to be able to be off, so I'm going to see if he can mail in an echo too! Thanks for all your suggestions and thoughts!

[mandksiders]

You are going to LOVE Dr. Ommen and his fantastic nurse! They put my mind at so much ease. I go see him again sometime in July.

Good luck!
Kaye

[mbcube]

Heather - Also get Dr. Ommens contact info and if your having problems getting films/echos/notes, contact Ommen's group & they can request them. Sometimes a doctor's request gets it done. Bring protein bars to eat when your on the run there & also for the boys. Best of luck!

[CindyI]

Hey Heather,
I will also be at Mayo on June 1. I have appointments starting around 7:00 and then see Dr. Ommen about 2:30 or 2:45...can't remember for sure right now. What time is your appt with him? I'd love to meet you and say hello if we have the opportunity to run into each other.
Cindy

[heather]

I haven't gotten my schedule yet, but I'll let you know. I think I have all my testing done on Mon. and then see him on Tues! I'd love to get together!